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The original item was published from 11/16/2020 6:15:00 PM to 12/17/2020 1:31:39 PM.

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Posted on: November 16, 2020

[ARCHIVED] Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Plain Image with City logo and text stating Coronavirus update

We remain committed to the health and safety of our community. Your health and safety is our top priority and we are committed to working together to help our community get through this together. Information continues to change rapidly, please check back often for updated information regarding resources for residents, seniors, businesses, and more.

For up to the minute updates, please visit the City accounts on Facebook (@cityofgilroy), and Instagram (@cityofgilroy).  For emergency alerts, please sign up for AlertSCC and Nixle.




Novel (new) Coronavirus
Stay healthy and up to date on novel coronavirus.
 Public Health Department
Nuevo Coronavirus
Manténgase saludable y actualizado sobre el nuevo coronavirus.
 Public Health Department



On August 28th, 2020, the State released its Blueprint for a Safer Economy (“Blueprint”), which created a tiered system of COVID-19 restrictions that all counties in California must follow. On November 16, 2020, Santa Clara County was moved to Tier One (Purple). The State’s website includes information regarding the Purple Tier and its impact on businesses and activities. Impacts include the closure of indoor dining, which was already planned in Santa Clara County for November 17, 2020, as well as the closure of all indoor activities associated with gyms, museums, zoos and aquariums, places of worship, and movie theaters. Shopping malls and all retail establishments must reduce to a maximum of 25 percent capacity.


As always, Santa Clara County residents and businesses must follow both the State and County Health Officer Orders, and where there is a conflict between the two, the stricter Order must be followed.

Additional information is available at the links below.

California Blueprint for a Safer Economy

State FAQs Button

County Order

County FAQs

 

Current City Services

City facilities and buildings will remain closed to the public in accordance with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s revised shelter-in-place orders, until further notice.  Essential services provided by the City such as emergency services and water and sewer operations will continue.

The following City services have closed facilities, but are still providing service to our community remotely:

Community Development - call (408) 846-0451

  • Building Services:  Per the updated May 4th, Santa Clara County Shelter in Place Order and as permitted under the State Shelter Order. All small and large construction activities are allowed to continue under the Construction Safety Protocols listed in Appendix B of the Shelter in Order.

On-site inspections will only be conducted on those sites adhering to safety protocols outlined in Appendix B. Some inspections may be performed remotely through the use of photos or videos. Please view the Building-Safety-Division page for more information or call 408-846-0451. Electronic building plan submittals are being accepted and reviewed. All electronic submittal communication will take place over email, phone, or other electronic means. Send your electronic plan submittal to PlanSubmittal@cityofgilroy.org.

  • Code Enforcement: Code Enforcement staff are currently only responding to life/safety matters. If there is an immediate threat, please call 9-1-1. For non-urgent life/safety code enforcement matters, please call 408-846-0451 and leave a message. Someone will respond within two business days.
  • Encroachment Permits: The City will continue to issue encroachment permits for essential work, and to support projects identified as essential by the County order. No other work will be permitted in the City right-of-way at this time. If you believe your project is classified as essential and requires an encroachment permit, please submit the permit application via email to permit.tech@cityofgilroy.org. The permit application is available on our City website at http://www.ci.gilroy.ca.us/244/Encroachment-and-Transportation-Permits. You should receive a response within two business days.
  • Fire Inspection, Hazardous Materials and Wastewater Pre-Treatment: Fire Prevention staff are currently only responding to life/safety matters. If there is an immediate threat, please call 9-1-1. For non-urgent life/safety fire inspection, hazardous materials or pre-treatment matters, please call 408-846-0451 and leave a message. Someone will respond within two business days. There is limited review of new construction plan checks for essential projects/operations.
  • Housing Services: Housing staff are providing limited, remote services including the review of quarterly reports and payments to agencies that are CDBG and Gilroy Housing Trust Fund recipients. Staff will reach out via email requesting quarterly reports.
  • Planning Division:  Remote service is available for Planning applications. All communication will be conducted through email, phone or other electronic means. New applications are being accepted at this time. 

Due to limited staff availability, turn-around times may be delayed. For questions about the status of applications already submitted to Planning, please call 408-846-0451 and leave a message.

Human Resources/Risk Management - call (408) 846-0228


Finance - call (408) 846-0420

  • Business Licensing: We are unable to renew or process new business licenses at this time.  Business license holders in need of renewal will be allowed to continue to operate their business during the closure. We will follow up with license holders once the shelter in place order is lifted and City Hall is opened to the public.
  • Utilities: City Hall offices are currently closed and we are not able to receive payments in-person. Payments can be made online at https://www.onlinebiller.com/gilroy/or mailed to CITY OF GILROY, PO BOX 398842, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94139-8842.
    • Monthly statements are being issued;
    • Payment plans are available, please email your request to UB@cityofgilroy.org or leave a message at (408) 846-0420;
    • Late penalties will not be applied to bills that become due during the closure of City Hall;
    • Water service will not be terminated for non-payment;
    • To stop or start water service, please submit the service application via email at UB@cityofgilroy.org, fax to (408) 846-0421 or mail to the Finance Department, City of Gilroy, 7351 Rosanna St, Gilroy, CA 95020;

For questions regarding water service or payments you may contact Finance Department staff via email at UB@cityofgilroy.org or leave a message at (408) 846-0420. Please note we are experiencing a high volume of customer contacts and response times are taking longer than usual.

The City is still providing essential maintenance and operations for local utilities water and sewer, such as:

  • Water
    • Maintain Water Supply and Treatment
    • Ensure the safety of all wells, mains, pump stations and reservoirs
    • Water service turn-ons
    • Water quality testing
  • Sewer
    • Maintain safe waste water collection system
    • Ensure the safety of siphons and pump/lift stations
    • Maintain Sewage Treatment operations

Public Works - call (408) 846-0451

  • Development Application Review and Engineering: Public Works staff are currently reviewing development projects, proceeding with inspection of projects, coordinating and reviewing maintenance agreements, and providing stormwater compliance reviews as necessary.
  • Encroachment Permits: The City will continue to issue encroachment permits for essential work, and to support projects identified as essential by the County order. No other work will be permitted in the City right-of-way at this time. If you believe your project is classified as essential and requires an encroachment permit, please submit the permit application via email to permit.tech@cityofgilroy.org. The permit application is available on our City website at http://www.ci.gilroy.ca.us/244/Encroachment-and-Transportation-Permits. You should receive a response within two business days.
  • Transportation (Hauling) Permits: Transportation permits for hauling of material to support essential services will continue to be permitted by the City. Please submit the permit application via email to permit.tech@cityofgilroy.org. The permit application is available on our City website at http://www.ci.gilroy.ca.us/244/Encroachment-and-Transportation-Permits. You should receive a response within one business day.

Recreation - call (408) 846-0460

  • Public Parks and Facilities: Public parks are open, however, playgrounds, dog parks, handball courts, and basketball courts are closed. Tennis courts are open at this time.  The City will continue to ensure the safe operation of parks with weed abatement, opening and closing parks, and emptying trash bins. The City will also continue to maintain essential buildings with increased custodial services.
  • Recreation Classes & Programs: All recreation programs including adaptive, adult, preschool, youth, sports, and youth programs have been canceled. Refunds will be automatically issued. Please contact the Recreation Division for more information at 408-846-0460.  Check out our Virtual Recreation Center for activity ideas and virtual activity resources.
  • Reservations of City Facilities & Public Parks: All reservations for City facilities and public parks will be canceled with automatic refunds.
  • Senior Center: All senior programs are canceled.  Box lunches and the Second Harvest Food Bank Brown Bag will continue to be provided.

Partner Agencies

Recology South Valley 

Gilroy Unified School District 

Gavilan College 

Information for Businesses and Employees Button

Preventing Spread

Sick

Resources-

COVID-19 Testing

The Public Health Department recommends that those with COVID-19 symptoms be tested. The Health Department is also recommending testing for the following groups of people even if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19, including:

  • All persons with or without symptoms who have been exposed to someone who was confirmed to have COVID-19;
  • Any frontline or healthcare worker who regularly interacts with members of the public and cannot maintain social distancing at work (ideally test once a month).
    • This may include those who work in healthcare, homeless shelters, jails and other custodial settings, food banks, public safety/emergency response, food service, grocery, construction, delivery, janitorial, transit, or social work, among other jobs.
  • All persons who work in skilled nursing facilities (ideally test every two weeks).

Gilroy Testing Sites are Located at the South County Annex and Gavilan College

Testing can also be requested through your healthcare provider.

Additional Testing Resources

Food and Meal Resources

Financial and Rental Resources

Utility Resources

How You Can Help

Additional Resources

Stay Informed:

Information is changing frequently.  The Health Department has a webpage dedicated to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in English and Spanish at www.sccphd.org/coronavirus.  The City of Gilroy will also keep a direct weblink to the County Public Health page at www.cityofgilroy.org.

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