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HomeMy WebLinkAbout16. Continue Return to Office Plan discussion Page 1 of 4 Item 16. CENTRAL SAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION PAPER MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 SUBJECT: RECEIVE OVERVIEW INFORMATION AND HOLD A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION REGARDING THE RETURN TO OFFICE PLAN RELATED TO THE COVI D-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE, AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON THE RETURN TO OFFICE TIMELINE SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT: EMILY BARNETT, COMMUNICATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION-COMM SVCS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS INTERGOV REL MANAGER TEJ I O'MALLEY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 9-, Roger S. Bailey General Manager ISSUE The recent surge and severity of COVI D-19 exposures at the national, state, regional, county, and employee levels has prompted a review of Central San's current timeline to return any remaining remote office-based workers onsite on or by September 30, 2021. BACKGROUND At the J my 15, 2021 Board meeting, the Board voted to return any remaining remote office-based workers onsite on or by September 30, 2021. However, the recent surge in the pandemic, mostly attributed to the more severe Delta Variant, has increased COVI D-19 cases within Contra Costa County and with Central San employees. Additionally, on August 2, 2021 seven Bay Area Health Officers, including Contra Costa County, issued health orders requiring the use of masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, to help prevent the spread of COVI D-19. These Orders are a restrengthening of restrictions in response to the recent surge. While as of August 24, 2021 83.7% of eligible County residents (12 years of age and older) have received at least one dose of the COVI D-19 vaccine, cases among the vaccinated as well as unvaccinated September 2, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 154 of 199 Page 2 of 4 continue to rise.A recent study from the University of Oxford, as well as real world data, indicates that vaccinated individuals who contract the Delta Variant of COVI D-19 carry a similar amount of coronavirus as those who catch the disease who are not vaccinated, increasing the ease of transmission between both the vaccinated and unvaccinated. This accounts for the number of breakthrough infections (those vaccinated that catch COVI D-19), as well as an overall increase in total COVI D-19 infections in the community and nation. The new evidence about Delta Variant transmission prompted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)on July 27, 2021 to reverse course and change their recommendations to include the following: • recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission • recommendation for fully vaccinated people to choose to wear a mask regardless of level of transmission if they are immunocompromised or around an immunocompromised person • recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have come in close contact with someone suspected or confirmed to have COVI D-19 to be tested three-five days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result • recommendation for universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status While vaccination continues to offer the best protection from catching COVI D-19, a recent study by the CDC has shown vaccine efficacy has dropped from 91% in April 2021 to 66% in August 2021 due to the Delta Variant. However, vaccines continue to still be highly effective in preventing hospitalization or death should a vaccinated person catch the disease. Therefore, Central San continues to encourage employees to get vaccinated. Unfortunately, modeling of the Delta Variant peak and decline in California and the Bay Area has been estimated from two-three weeks to two months or more. Health experts say community behavior drives the modeling inconsistency.As people travel/congregate, whether people practice social distancing and masking, and vaccination rates all drive transmission of the COVI D-19 virus. Additionally, schools throughout Central San's service area have just begun returning to in-person instruction. The full impacts of those returns, and whether the community will see an increase in cases from school attendance, will not be fully realized for approximately three weeks. While modeling of the Delta Variant is important, newer highly transmissible variants such as Lambda and Epsilon have health officials concerned as initial lab studies suggest they may be more resistant to vaccines. There are upcoming meetings planned between the Biden Administration and CDC that will determine a likely boosters rollout for all Americans to combat the Delta Variant surge. Locally, the Delta Variant continues to impact the residents of Contra Costa County.As of August 24, 2021, the hospitalization rate increased by 13.7%. Currently the County falls within the Moderate Range for Hospitalization Surge. The County has been resolute in continuing to promote vaccinations within the community, and Contra Costa remains one of the highest vaccinated counties in California. Wastewater agencies, similar to Central San, are determining the best course of action to address the recent Delta Variant surge and their return to office plans. Recently, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, East Bay Municipal Utilities District, Contra Costa Water District, City of San Jose, Sonoma Water, San Bernardino Municipal Water District, City of Roseville, Rancho Water, Orange County Sanitation District, and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts have all delayed their return to office plans. The agencies have either seen an increase in employee COVI D-19 cases, including on-site transmission (employee-to-employee) and breakthrough cases, and/or are responding to the Delta Variant surge. Recently, Central San has experienced a number of employee COVI D-19 cases, including employee-to- employee exposures.Additional employees who are not exhibiting symptoms, but may have been exposed are in quarantine per the District's COVI D-19 Exposure Prevention Plan. The impact of the Delta September 2, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 155 of 199 Page 3 of 4 Variant surge on Central San is shown in the recent increase in employee cases. Only 13 employee COVI D-19 cases occurred from March 2020 through July 2021 (16 months). Since August 4, 2021, four COVI D-19 employee cases have occurred with one being a breakthrough case. Currently, our Collection System Operations (CSO) location has met the CAL/OSHA"outbreak" definition triggering mandatory employer paid weekly testing as well as other required measures which will lessen the chance of transmission in the workplace. These measures include, but are not limited to, moving work outdoors, remote work where possible, and restructuring work to lessen population density. While the hope is that no further employees become exposed to COVI D-19 on or off site, with the current Delta Variant surge, the likelihood is high for further employee cases. On July 30, 2021, Central San's Human Resources required attestation of each employee's vaccination status. The information provided is as follows: Fully Vaccinated 240 75.71% Partially Vaccinated 4 1.26% Unvaccinated 21 6.62% Choose not to disclose 52 16.41% Total (employees, temps 317 & interns) ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS The Board could choose to keep the current September 30, 2021 Return to Office timeline. FINANCIAL IMPACTS There are no financial impacts attributable to this action. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Administration Committee heard the original Return to Office matter; however, this item to consider updating the schedule was not taken back to Committee, but rather taken directly to the Board due to time constraints. RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION Staff requests the Board approve a delay to the Return to Office Plan for remaining remote employees until a future date is determined. Stratedc Plan Tie-In GOAL ONE: Customer and Community Strategy 1—Deliver high-quality customer service GOAL FOUR: Workforce Development Strategy 1—Proactively plan for future operational staffing needs, Strategy 4—Meet or exceed industry safety standards GOAL FIVE:Infrastructure Reliability Strategy 3—Protect personnel and assets from threats and emergencies GOAL SEVEN:Agility and Adaptability September 2, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 156 of 199 Page 4 of 4 Strategy 1—Maintain a safe working environment for employees and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic Strategy 2—Plan ahead for scenarios of direct adverse impacts September 2, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 157 of 199