April 14, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sara Floor, Communications Manager
916-650-8119; email: sfloor@counties.org

SACRAMENTO – California State Association of Counties (CSAC) issues the following reaction to Governor Newsom’s press conference on April 14.

“There is no higher priority of local government than to protect its residents. County public health departments are the front-line responders to COVID-19 and need immediate funding to maintain operations, hire communicable disease investigators and handle the lasting ramifications of this pandemic.

California State Association of Counties is encouraged that Governor Newsom is crafting a thoughtful, strategic and science-based plan to lead California out of the COVID-19 crisis, in coordination with our neighboring states. While county input, data, and collaboration is critical for any reopening roadmap to succeed, counties urgently need significant, sustained support from the state and federal government to continue essential public health, public assistance, and other critical services at a time when our communities need them most. Local public health departments are experts in communicable disease testing, tracing and isolation and should remain in the lead role for tracking COVID-19 recovery data, as they have the experience and appropriate training to follow the law, guidelines and accreditation requirements.

It is paramount that we respond and emerge from this pandemic in a manner that saves lives and positions our economy to refuel as quickly as possible. Counties pledge to continue the strong partnership with the state to ensure our communities are safe and our residents are supported.”

California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is the voice of California’s 58 counties at the state and federal level.                                                                                 # # #