To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Renewal of California COVID Network of California Laboratories for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Whole Genome Sequencing (COVIDNet) Platform State Standard Agreement with California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the State Standard Agreement with CDPH regarding access to the COVIDNet Platform; and
2. Authorize the Director of Public Health, or a designee thereof, to sign the State Standard Agreement; and
3. Authorize the Director of Public Health, or a designee thereof, to sign all future amendments and documents directly related to the State Standard Agreement upon review and approval of the County Administrative Office (CAO), County Counsel and Risk Management.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
DISCUSSION:
SARS-CoV-2 is a contagious virus that causes COVID-19, a respiratory illness that led to the COVID-19 pandemic. CDPH implemented COVIDNet in 2021 to aid in conducting whole genome sequencing of COVID-19 specimens to better inform outbreak investigations and public health surveillance. COVIDNet transformed how laboratory scientists and epidemiologists approached the detection, characterization and investigation of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission and containment, allowing California health jurisdictions to better trace and track outbreaks, including those that would have previously gone undetected, to inform public health action pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 100325.
The COVIDNet State Standard Agreement sets forth the understandings and obligations of the Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory and CDPH with respect to its participation in COVIDNet as a Diagnostic Testing Lab and as a Sequencing Lab. This State Standard Agreement is a renewal of the previous COVIDNet State Standard Agreement which was ratified by your Board during the meeting of May 3, 2022. The three-year term begins upon execution.
Accordingly, DHHS - Public Health recommends that your Board approve the COVIDNet State Standard Agreement.
Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Public Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments and any other documents directly related to the attached agreement with CDPH, after review and approval by the CAO, County Counsel and Risk Management, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in responding to any future COVID-19 outbreaks in Humboldt County.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
There are no direct costs associated with the attached agreement with the CDPH.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
There is no additional impact to current staffing as the Public Health Laboratory has been participating in COVIDNet since Oct. 26, 2021.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board may decide to not approve the State Standard Agreement from CDPH. However, it is not recommended as CDPH requires SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing to be reported in the COVIDNet system.
ATTACHMENTS:
CDPH COVIDNet State Standard Agreement
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 05/03/22
File No.: 22-468