County of Ventura COVID-19 Update 6/16/20

Good Afternoon, Here’s your COVID-19 update from the County of Ventura.

22 new cases

1,655 total cases

47 hospitalizations

13 in the ICU

409 active cases under quarantine

448 new people tested

39,204 total people tested

Ventura County Pandemic Rental Assistance Program may provide temporary rental assistance for Ventura County residents with very low incomes who owe past-due rent because of a hardship due to COVID-19. Online applications will be accepted June 17 – July 1, 2020. Learn more at www.vcemergency.com/rent.

Ventura County Business Assistance Grant Program applications launch June 24-July 8, 2020. The program includes grants of $5,000 for small businesses to alleviate impacts from COVID-19. Learn more at www.vcreopens.com.

COVID-19 drive through testing sites are located at:

Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Rd., Ventura CA 93003
Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd., Moorpark, CA 93021
Ford Dealership, 128 S. Hallock Dr., Santa Paula, CA 93060
Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard, CA 93033 (Fri-Tue)

No appointment or insurance is needed.
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 10 am to 7 pm.
No cost.
You simply drive up and get tested while seated in your vehicle.

Hall of Administration Reopens: The County of Ventura Hall of Administration located at 800 S. Victoria Ave. in Ventura has reopened for in person services. The building had been closed to the public to limit the spread of COVID-19. Community members and employees will go through a temperature screening at the entrance of the building before entering. Use of masks and other personal protective equipment is supported but not required. The building has a 140-person capacity to allow for social distancing. Community members are encouraged to continue to utilize on-line services as much as possible at www.ventura.org.

Hall of Justice: The Ventura County Superior Court has also reopened. Masks are required to enter the Hall of Justice. For information about the courts please visit http://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/. The Public Defender’s Office also resumed in-person services this week. There is a pop-up site located in the courtyard between the Hall of Administration and the Hall of Justice at the Ventura County Superior Court located at 800 S. Victoria Ave. The pop-up tables will be open weekdays at 8:00 a.m. and will remain open during the morning and afternoon criminal case calendars.

Current clients and new clients that want but cannot afford their own attorney for a criminal matter, are asked to enter the Government Center from Telephone or Hill Roads and park in lots E or F. Then proceed to the courtyard between the Hall of Administration and the Hall of Justice to check in at the Public Defender table.

The Public Defender’s Office will gather contact information and ask new clients to allow attorneys to appear for them in court. Depending on your situation—you may not need to enter the courthouse. In many cases, the Public Defender Attorney can appear on the case in your absence and set it for a future date. We will then have an attorney assigned to the matter. The newly assigned attorney will then contact the client to discuss options (settlement, trial, etc.) over the phone or by email.

Masks are required to enter the Hall of Justice. Community members are asked to wear masks when consulting with the public defender’s staff and to remain socially distanced.

Public Defender Todd Howeth says, “Our goal is to keep our clients safe by reducing to a minimum the number of people who must enter the Hall of Justice. Having staff outside will allow us to just that.” People who must personally appear on their case will be asked to wait outside until asked to enter the Hall of Justice so we can maintain social distance in the courtrooms. If you are a current Public Defender client, we ask that you contact your attorney or call the front desk at 805.654.2201 before you come to court to coordinate your appearance with your attorney.

The mission of the County of Ventura Office of the Public Defender is to ensure equal justice for our clients by providing exceptional legal representation.

Food Share Pop-up Sites

6/16 5 pm El Rio, Rio Mesa High School, 545 Central Ave

6/17 3pm Oxnard, College Park, 3250 South Rose Ave

6/18 3 pm Thousand Oaks, Conejo Creek South, 1300 E. Janns Road

6/19 3 pm, Santa Paula, Harding Park, 1330 E. Harvard Blvd

6/20/20 12:30 pm Moorpark, Ruben Castro Charities, 5700 Condor Drive

Distribution is for residents of Ventura County. Proof of residence/address within Ventura County is required at all distributions. AG card is ok. All distribution locations are primarily drive-thru with walk-ups being accommodated as able at each site. Food boxes are limited to one box per ID on a first-come, first-served basis. https://foodshare.com/

More information about resources at www.venturacountyrecovers.org