To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Ratify the Memorandum of Understanding with Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Inc. for SARS-COV-2 Genomic Sequencing
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Ratify the executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Inc. to provide genomic sequencing of SARS-COV-2 specimens in efforts to understand transmission of COVID-19 within Humboldt County.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory (HCPHL) has been conducting local testing for SARS-COV-2 to identify patients who have contracted the disease, COVID-19. Testing allows Public Health's Communicable Disease Prevention and Control unit to identify the prevalence of the disease within the community and conduct investigation and monitoring of positive cases in efforts to mitigate transmission of COVID-19.
Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Inc, or, the "Biohub," is a medical research collaborative comprised of researchers from several California universities. To better understand the origin and nature of regional transmission of COVID-19, the Biohub is conducting genomic sequencing of SARS-COV-2 in various regions. The Biohub has generously offered to provide genomic sequencing services of positive samples collected by HCPHL at no cost to HCPHL. This opportunity will provide Public Health increased understanding of local transmission, which will assist in COVID-19 investigations.
On March 17, 2020, your Board ratified a State of Emergency declared by the Humboldt County Health Officer in response to the pandemic of COVID-19. Public Health's emergency response services have been activated for local testing, surveillance, public education and administration of disease control.
On March 26, 2020, your Board authorized all department heads to execute agreements related to the declared COVID-19 emergency. This item before you...
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