COVID-19 Information - May 2020
- 05-27-20 - Learn how to maximize your investments during COVID-19 crisis
- 05-27-20 - Is your business ready to reopen?
- 05-26-20 - Mission Viejo showing gratitude to front-line workers with large art project
- 05-26-20 - Where residents are required to wear face coverings
- 05-23-20 - County of Orange Moves to Stage 2 Reopening
- 05-22-20 - Free COVID-19 Testing for essential workers now available
- 05-19-20 - Mission Hospital's Chief Executive shares a special message about the hospital, patient safety, and COVID-19
- 05-14-20 - Great Plates Delivered Program starts delivering food to seniors Monday
- 05-12-20 - Great Plates Delivered seeking restaurants to service seniors during self-isolation
- 05-11-20 - County grant will help 1,500 dislocated workers
- 05-07-20 - With golfers following COVID-19 guidelines to a tee, golf cart use returns to Casta del Sol Friday
- 05-07-20 - City reopening Marguerite Tennis Pavilion Friday with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place
- 05-05-20 - Mark your calendar for upcoming Food Drives benefiting folks in need
- 05-01-20 - Strict safety measures at Mission Hospital are protecting patients, caregivers
May 27, 2020
Learn how to maximize your investments during COVID-19 crisis
With the ongoing pandemic wreaking havoc on the investments of many, the City of Mission Viejo has teamed up with certified financial planner Travis Allen to host the following online courses.
Coronavirus and Your Investments
The worldwide coronavirus lockdown has affected everything from daily lives to the value of investors' portfolios. In this timely course, we will cover COVID-19's impact on the global financial and real estate markets and how to use both time-tested and opportunistic strategies to navigate the current market environment and keep your investments and financial planning on track.
#55744 / Th / June 11-18 / 1:30-3:30 pm / $39 / Online
Investment Basics
Are you new to investing or confused about your investments? In this straightforward course, you will learn the basics of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, annuities and life insurance. We'll also cover IRAs, 401ks and other retirement plans and the importance of asset allocation and diversification to manage risk. Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to analyze financial news and understand your investment statements.
#54431 / Wed / June 10-24 / 1:30-3:30 pm / $39 / Online
#54433 / Wed / July 8-22 / 1:30-3:30 pm / $39 / Online
Successful Retirement Planning
Are you on track to retire comfortably? This personalized course will show you how to determine your ideal retirement age, how to maximize your retirement savings and pensions and the latest retirement income strategies to minimize taxes and make sure your assets last a lifetime.
#55743 / Th / June 25-July 2 / 1:30-3:30 pm / $39 / Online
Optimize Your Social Security
You've paid into Social Security your entire working life, so it's time to learn the best strategies to maximize your lifetime benefits. This in-depth workshop will cover when to claim Social Security.
#54432 / Tu / June 9 / 1:30-3:30 pm / $25 / Online
May 27, 2020
Is your business ready to reopen?
The Orange County Health Care Agency and Orange County Business Council are hosting webinars this week to help businesses prepare to reopen.
The webinars are from 3:30-4:15 pm on May 28 (retail industry); May 29 (restaurant industry) and May 30 for other business sectors.
To take part in the webinars, RSVP to ETeam@ochca.com for meeting information.
May 26, 2020
Mission Viejo showing gratitude to front-line workers with large art project
In an effort to recognize the amazing healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines, the City created and installed a large art project in front of the new cancer center near Mission Hospital.
The project dubbed "Gratitude Letters to Honor Healthcare Workers" called for volunteer groups painting letters spelling "thank you" measuring 4 feet by 8 feet. With social distancing in place, masks and gloves, the volunteers painted the letters last week at the Potocki Center for the Arts.
"It was so great to watch the groups work together on a theme, color, design and collaboration for each letter," said Cultural Services Supervisor Dru Maurer. "The installation is colorful and will hopefully cheer up the front-line workers as they come and go to the hospital."
The art project is designed to leave a lasting mark on the men and women working tirelessly and selflessly during this COVID-19 crisis. The City is grateful to the following groups and individuals for their creative efforts.
T - Family Assistance Ministries
H - Mission Hospital Staffer - Elsie Holdridge and volunteers -Lillian Aranda, Valerie Gutierrez
A - Mission Viejo Friends of the Arts
N - Abriana Gutierrez, Diane Bottles, Georgia Bottles, Ben Bottles
K - Members of Saddleback Church and Bob Knoke
Y - Little League District 68
O - Mission Viejo Activities Committee - Marillyn Brame, Pam Smith, Cathy Allen, Julie Zanio, Robert Breton
U - The Nunez Family
May 26, 2020
Where residents are required to wear face coverings
With the different directives being issued as California slowly reopens, the City of Mission Viejo is reminding residents where face coverings are required.
Face coverings are required anywhere you come within 6 feet of others who don't live in your household. That includes the following:
- Waiting in line to go inside a store
- Shopping in a store
- Waiting for or riding on public transportation
- Riding in a taxi or other ride-service vehicle
- Seeking health care
- Going into facilities that can stay open
- While at work
- When at the beach or an outdoor museum
You can find more information at ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus.
May 23, 2020
County of Orange Moves to Stage 2 Reopening
The County of Orange plan to accelerate local businesses into Stage Two has been approved by the State of California. With adaptions, in-person dining reservations, retail shopping with social distancing and curbside pickup, manufacturing, offices (when telework is not possible), outdoor museums and other limited services will be allowed to re-open.
As a follow-up to the State's approval of an immediate Stage 2 reopening, the County's Health Officer issued a new order with recommendations to help slow the spread of COVID-19 now that the acceleration into the later phase of Stage 2 has been approved. The new order includes necessary preventative measures regarding the wearing of face coverings in public spaces, business re-opening guidelines, and instructions for persons exposed to COVID-19. Implementation of these guidelines was one of the criteria the California Department of Public Health considered before approving the plan to move further into Stage 2. Residents are encouraged to read the Health Officer's Order in its entirety by clicking here.
May 22, 2020
Free COVID-19 Testing for essential workers now available
Appointments are now available for free COVID-19 diagnostic testing at State sites in San Juan Capistrano, Buena Park, Orange and Santa Ana for symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare workers, first responders, social service workers and other essential employees who don't have access to testing through their healthcare provider or employer.
To make an appointment, visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call 1-888-634-1123. To learn more about COVID-19 and testing, visit ochealthinfo.com/covidtest.
A Special Message from Mission Hospital
Mission Hospital's Chief Executive shares a special message about the hospital, patient safety, and COVID-19: https://youtu.be/oSLHj8lln5k.
May 14, 2020
Great Plates Delivered Program starts delivering food to seniors Monday
The Great Plates Delivered Program is now taking applications from seniors for the new meal delivery program administered by Age Well Senior Services.
For folks who qualify, the program provides breakfast, lunch and dinner daily delivered by a local restaurant at no charge. The program also provides economic relief to local businesses while supporting seniors quarantined at home.
Individuals interested in the program must meet the following criteria:
"¢ Aged 65 or older or 60-64 and at high-risk as defined by the CDC
"¢ Lives alone or with one other program-eligible adult
"¢ Not currently receiving assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs
"¢ Affirms an inability to prepare or obtain meals
"¢ Other qualifications may apply
Meal delivery begins Monday and runs through June 10, unless extended. Registration is available at this link. Folks can also call 949-382-6098 for assistance with the application process.
Restaurants interested in participating can find more information at this link or by calling 949-855-8033.
May 12, 2020
Great Plates Delivered seeking restaurants to service seniors during self-isolation
The County recently announced the Great Plates Delivered program to support seniors and local businesses needing assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. The program calls for local food providers to deliver three nutritious meals a day to folks at high-risk from COVID-19 to support them staying home and healthy. The program will also serve as a form of economic relief to local businesses and workers struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic.
In Mission Viejo, the City is working with Age Well Senior Services on the procedures for individuals to register for this service, which will be announced in the near future. However, restaurants interested in applying for the program can find more details at this link or by calling 714-480-6450.
May 11, 2020
County grant will help 1,500 dislocated workers
The County of Orange has received a $900,000 grant from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to provide economic support for dislocated workers.
Orange County residents whose employment recently ended as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for the Orange County Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) program. The program is designed to meet employer needs by helping job seekers upgrade skills, obtain employment, gain credential and improve job retention and increase earnings.
The grant will support approximately 1,500 Orange County residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and need assistance.
Orange County WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker program participants are eligible to receive up to $800 reimbursement for essentials such as housing, utilities, childcare and transportation costs.
Dislocated workers can enroll in WIOA through OC One-Stop Centers located in the cities of Irvine and Garden Grove. For more information, call the Economic and Business Recovery Call Center at 714-480-6500. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, OC One-Stop Centers are providing services by appointment only.
May 7, 2020
With golfers following COVID-19 guidelines to a tee, golf cart use returns to Casta del Sol Friday
The City of Mission Viejo will reintroduce golf cart use at the Casta del Sol Golf Course on Friday, May 8 - a week after the course's reopening and successful display of social distancing.
Since the course reopened with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place, the community has embraced the chance to golf while following new procedures. With many requests for the use of carts to return, the City has placed additional COVID-19 guidelines for their use.
Golf carts will be available on a first-come, first-served based on availability, and golfers will have to adhere to rules such as one person (household) per cart. Golfers will continue to be required to wear masks and practice social distancing (staying six feet apart) including with everyone in their group. In order for carts to be disinfected between each rental, patrons will be assigned a cart number and carts must always remain on the golf course. For added convenience, the facility will provide a golf bag drop-off rack by the entry gate for golfers to unload their golf bags before parking.
These extra measures have been put in place to ensure golfers are limiting their exposure to the virus and to maintain the mandated social distancing criteria. Course marshals will continue to monitor the course to ensure the strict guidelines are followed.
May 7, 2020
City reopening Marguerite Tennis Pavilion Friday with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place
The City of Mission Viejo will reopen the Marguerite Tennis Pavilion on Friday, May 8 with stringent COVID-19 guidelines set in place by the CDC, Orange County Health Care Agency and United States Tennis Association.
As the facility reopens, the City is requiring patrons to become familiar with the new process for making reservations and registering for lessons. This first phase of reopening is only for singles play and private lessons.
To ensure social distancing and other State and County COVID-19 directives, several health and safety guidelines are in place for players to follow before returning to play.
The City of Mission Viejo will continue to follow State and County guidelines and will open additional programs and City facilities when it is deemed safe and the proper measures to protect the community are in place.
For more information, contact 949-470-3061 or tennis@cityofmissionviejo.org.
May 5, 2020
Mark your calendar for upcoming Food Drives benefiting folks in need
In an effort to help residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and give others a chance to give back, the City will continue hosting Food Drives with fun themes and music.
Following the May 2 food drive that resulted in 8,000 pounds of food collected, the City will host additional drives from 9-11 am on May 16, May 30, June 13 and June 27 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.
Donations sought include peanut butter and jelly; pasta and pasta sauce; cereal, rice; hearty soups; and other food items. You can take part by placing food items in your trunk, driving up and simply popping your trunk for staff who will collect the items. You will stay in your vehicle, and social-distancing guidelines will be followed.
For more information, contact 949-470-3061 or fitness@cityofmissionviejo.org.
May 1, 2020
Strict safety measures at Mission Hospital are protecting patients, caregivers
The City is working with Mission Hospital to remind residents that if you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency such as a heart attack, stroke or severe injury, do not let COVID-19 concerns stop you from seeking care. The hospital continues to take strong precautions to protect everyone who enters from being exposed to COVID-19.
The hospital's safety measures include screening all people who enter the facility, following strict masking guidelines and isolating patients from the moment they present with infectious symptoms and continuing throughout treatment.
In contrast to some hospitals in major metropolitan areas, Mission's emergency department is not overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, and the vast majority of the patients in the emergency department and hospital are not COVID-19 patients.
"While there has been great focus recently on providing lifesaving care for those diagnosed with COVID-19, Mission Hospital continues to be a safe place to receive all types of emergency and critical care," said Seth Teigen, chief executive at Mission Hospital. "The safety of our patients and caregivers is our No. 1 priority."