AGENDA ITEM REPORT
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In recent week’s community agencies serving homeless and precariously housed individuals have experienced a need to provide temporary isolation housing for clients that have tested positive for COVID-19. Social distancing measures within community shelter and congregate site agencies have significantly limited the ability to provide adequate spaces within existing facilities that do not put staff, other clients and the larger community at risk. In consultation with the Housing and Human Services Branch of the Unified Command, and guidance from the Lawrence Douglas County Health
Department, the most feasible solution to future needs to isolate a client is to temporarily house clients in hotel rooms for the designated period of time depending on the circumstances.
The local health officer is ordering that Douglas County support non-congregate sheltering options as described above and detailed in the order.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Emergency Public Health Order
EMERGENCY ORDER OF LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER AND DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSION
Emergency Public Health Order issued on this 8th day of September, 2021, to provide support of non-congregate sheltering for individual meeting certain criteria to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Douglas County, Kansas, pursuant to the authority provided in K.S.A. 65-119, K.S.A. 65-l29b, K.S.A. 65-201 and K.S.A. 65-202 and other applicable laws or regulations.
Medical, Scientific and Legal Justifications for Order
1. The Local Health Officer is authorized and required, pursuant to K.S.A. 65-119, K.S.A. 65-l29b, K.S.A. 65-201 and K.S.A. 65-202 to exercise and maintain supervision over known or suspected cases of any infectious or contagious disease during its continuance, and to issue orders seeing that all such cases are properly handled and that the provisions of the Kansas public health laws as to isolation, quarantine and disinfection are duly enforced.
2. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Douglas County Local Health Officer, all recommend implementation of community mitigation strategies to increase containment of the virus to reduce spread of COVID-19.
3. The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting epidemic in Kansas and Douglas County continue to threaten the life and health of our citizens and visitors, as well as the economy, and remains a public disaster affecting life, health, property and the public peace.
4. The Local Health Officer believes community mitigation strategies is necessary due to the continued influx of new cases and new strains, in order to allow the resources for contact tracing and exposure notification to be able to address the community spread of the disease and to ensure the capacity of other local resources is adequate to meet the need.
5. The purpose of this order is to provide community mitigation strategies to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in light of the continued influx of new cases and new variants, which may be more transmissible, including but not limited to the Delta variant.
6. The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strain in Douglas County, resulting in a rapid increase in new cases and numerous outbreaks.
7. In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the establishment of non-
congregate shelters is vital to Douglas County in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19.
8. Locations where individuals live and or work in congregate settings experience significantly higher cases and higher rates of transmission of COVID-19.
9. Healthcare workers, emergency/first responders, and public safety officials who
Page 2 of 4
are unable to quarantine or isolate at their domicile; community members who are homeless, members of treatment programs, or otherwise currently working in, exposed to, or living in congregate settings are at a high risk of COVID-19 in addition to a higher risk of transmitting the virus to another individual in the home or workplace.
10. Seeking shelter in non-congregate settings in shown to be the most effective way to reduce the spread of this infectious disease.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED by the Local Health Officer pursuant to the above authorities, that:
1. To preserve the public health and safety for healthcare workers, emergency/first responders, and public safety officials who are unable to quarantine or isolate at their domicile; community members who are homeless, members of treatment programs, or otherwise currently working in, exposed to, or living in congregate settings, and their household members, except for those individuals who are incarcerated, Douglas County will support non-congregate sheltering options including:
a. Suitable college dormitories, hotel, and motel facilities to expand non-congregate sheltering capacity;
b. Provide shelter management and support to non-congregate sites including feeding operations, laundry, and cleaning; and
c. Coordinate a plan to establish such facilities to enable continued work of healthcare workers, emergency/first responders, public safety officials, and individuals who are otherwise currently working in, exposed to, or living in congregate settings to maintain emergency systems and supply chains.
This order shall become effective as of 12:01 a.m. on September 9th, 2021 and remain in force unless it is otherwise rescinded or modified by the Health Officer or Douglas County
Commission.
IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 8TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021
Dr. Thomas Marcellino Local Health Officer Douglas County, Kansas
Page 3 of 4
Approved and Adopted by:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF