What is SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County?
Recognizing the challenge COVID-19 poses to the community, SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County is a partnership between the County of Santa Cruz and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County designed to facilitate a community-based plan for moving forward. It is based on four principles:
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SLOW THE SPREAD
Until a vaccine and human immunity are in place, we must use the tools we have to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect lives. These include:
- Physical distancing measures
- Expanding public health testing, case investigation, contact tracing and isolation and quarantine capabilities
- Expanding healthcare capacity and PPE availability
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ADAPT AND ADJUST
In order to continue offering services, we recognize changes are necessary to minimize harm. These include:
- Modify physical distancing measures for businesses, schools, childcare facilities and community
- Maintain and monitor testing, contact tracing and isolation and quarantine capacities
- Maintain and monitor public health and healthcare capacities
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VACCINATE AND TREAT
Once a vaccine is available, we must:
- Develop a vaccination plan to coordinate equitable, risk-based distribution
- Increase capacity for mass dispensing
- Implement agreements with private and public partners to be dispensing sites
- Ensure ability to develop and administer therapeutics to meet the demand
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ELEVATE READINESS
COVID-19 will change the way we function as a community. Our task includes:
- Elevating readiness for next public health emergency
- Strengthening Public Health infrastructure and workforce
- Evaluating and improving Public Health information systems