• Santa Ana's rent and mortgage increase freeze will end May 31, but the state’s eviction moratorium remains in place until 90 days after the governor declares the state of emergency is over.
• The state is moving into “phase two” of our stay-at-home order, which reopened certain businesses starting Friday, May 8. Here’s what’s open now (for delivery or curbside pickup only): bookstores, music stores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing, and shoe stores, home and furnishing stores, sporting goods stores, florists
• The majority of Fall 2020 will be online. A small number of courses (bio labs, chem labs, CTE classes) could be held on campus. "We'll follow the Governor, not the county. We’re putting together plans on the basis of what we know today. Hard to project what will happen two months from now,” said Chancellor Martinez in a live interview with el Don’s Editor in Chief.
• Option to take any class as Pass/No Pass is extended through June 25. Class taken under P/NP won't impact GPA, but student transfer may be affected. "If your intent is to transfer, make sure that campus will accept a class that’s Pass/No Pass,” said Chancellor Martinez.
• Some beaches are starting to reopen for active recreation after last week's closures. Safety guidelines remain in place for coastlines in cities such as Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Dana Point.
• CARES Act emergency financial aid grants are going out to students this week, RSCCD Chancellor Marvin Martinez said in a live chat with el Don editors Thursday. If you haven’t received your grant yet, and believe you are eligible, contact the financial aid office.

• In a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Newsom stated that California has developed a framework based around six critical indicators that will need to be considered before the current stay-at-home order will be modified. “When it comes to re-opening, SCIENCE — not politics — must be California’s guide… This isn’t about an on/off switch. This will be a thoughtful process — led by public health.”
• The district will refund a portion of parking fees and distribute federal stimulus grants to eligible students over the next two weeks, officials said Thursday.

• In a livestream interview with Chancellor Marvin Martinez, he stated that classes will continue to be online for the rest of the semester. Also, because CA stay-at-home orders might not be lifted before June, the district is “looking to postpone graduation ceremonies,” stated Chancellor Martinez. To access virtual campus resources, click here for hours and links. 
• California Department of Public Health gave guidelines stating that Californians leaving their homes to do essential activities should wear face coverings. Dr. Nichole Quick states that “Wearing a cloth face covering when leaving the house for essential activities may help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by residents who are positive but don’t have any symptoms."

• In a phone interview with el Don's Editor in Chief, Mayor Miguel Pulido emphasizes the importance of social distancing and what he is doing to guide the city through COVID-19. "I’m telling people not to go to parks, some go out there anyways," said Pulido.
• County prepares for an expected surge of COVID-19 cases coming up in the next one to two weeks. "The surge is starting in California and it will significantly strain our health stystem for the next 4-8 weeks," Said First District OC Supervisor, Andrew Do.
• New city executive order can help relieve renters stress on making payments.
• Military members and their families who are now studying online because of the coronavirus outbreak will continue to receive G.I. Bill benefits as if they were on campus.
• The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office is allowing students to withdraw without penalty from an ongoing course as a result of the current national COVID-19 crisis. Students may request an Excused Withdrawal (EW) to receive a refund of enrollment fees ($46/unit). Deadline for submission of Excused Withdrawal and refund request is May 29, 2020.

• OC Health Care Agency announced the first death related to COVID-19 Tuesday. The individual was a male in his 70s with underlying health conditions who was receiving treatment at a local hospital.
• Officials with the UC and CSU systems confirmed Monday that all current articulation agreements will be honored for spring 2020, regardless of revised methods of instructional delivery, including lab courses.
• "You have to assume it is everywhere, ie. that the virus is everywhere," Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said in a video update posted on Saturday. "It’s not coming in on airplanes, it's not people that are traveling. It’s here in Orange County it’s in Santa Ana, it’s throughout the region." Pulido also said that the city of Santa Ana only has about 50 test kits on hand. “We don’t have nearly enough testing in Orange County or in the country for that matter."
• Huntington Beach closed its pier, picnic areas, playground, sports fields starting Tuesday. In an attempt to encourage the statewide "stay at home" order, Gov. Gavin Newsom closed parking lots of state parks, effective immediately.
• OC Health reported 152 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. 45 are community transmissions. The county has not released the locations of the confirmed cases.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a “Stay at Home” order telling all California residents to stay home unless they work in one of the 16 federal critical infrastructure sectors or are performing an “essential activity.” This order overrides OC Health's previous order. 
• In OC, the following will remain open: gas stations, pharmacies, food (grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants), banks, laundromats/laundry services and essential local government functions, inc. law enforcement.
• 76 cases have been reported in Orange County. The county has not released the locations of the confirmed cases. No reported cases of COVID-19 at our colleges or the district office. 

• • Temporary remote instruction begins Wednesday, March 18. 
  • OC Health issued an order that banned public and private gatherings of any number as well as closed all bars, gyms and movie theaters. Residents are asked to only leave their homes if they are performing an "essential activity."
  • California schools will likely remain closed through the end of the academic year, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
  • City of Santa Ana passed an emergency ordinance, allowing for no interruption of city utilities and residence and business protections from eviction, regardless of immigration status.
  • 17 cases have been reported in Orange County. 11 of them are related to travel to countries experiencing an outbreak, three are person-to-person spread and three are community-acquired. The county has not released the locations of the confirmed cases. No reported cases of COVID-19 at our colleges or the district office. 

• • Gavin Newsom announced Sunday night that bars, night clubs, wineries and breweries should close in Calif. Restaurants should focus on takeout for this those isolating and practice maximize social distancing. Anyone 65 and older or vulnerable to COVID-19 must practice home isolation.
  • 17 cases have been reported in Orange County. 11 of them are related to travel to countries experiencing an outbreak, three are person-to-person spread and three are community-acquired. The county has not released the locations of the confirmed cases. No reported cases of COVID-19 at our colleges or the district office. 

• Santa Ana College will suspend all in-person and on-campus classes starting March 13. Online and virtual instruction will begin, Wednesday, March 18, through Friday, April 24. All other college and district offices will remain open starting Wednesday, March 18.
• In limited cases, some courses involving labs, studio instruction, career and technical education skills-based courses, performance classes, physical education and student support services may occur on campus.
• The child development centers will be closed as of Monday, March 16. During the closure of the child development centers our Nurse, Nutritionists, Mental Health Specialist, Family Service Care Coordinators, and Education Specialists will be available for consultations by telephone (714) 480-7548.
• All college and district events and gatherings over 250 people are canceled through the end of the month. Further, smaller gatherings held in venues that do not allow distancing of six feet per person should also be canceled or postponed.  All meetings throughout RSCCD are being assessed and, where possible, will be conducted via Zoom or conference call or, if non-essential, be postponed or canceled.
• All non-essential travel is suspended for all employees until further notice.

Things You Should Know​

• ​​Peop​le at High Risk​​
• How it spreads​​​​
• Symptoms​
• Prevention & treatment​​​
• Frequently Asked Questions​

Coronavirus Updates