Castro Valley – April 2, 2020 – Gordon Galvan, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Eden Health District announced today that in a unanimous vote, the Directors have authorized District CEO Mark Friedman to spend up to $500,000 to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be divided evenly between the purchase of face masks and other personal protective equipment and, in partnership with other agencies, the establishment of COVID-19 testing for community members.
The action was taken at the Board’s April 1, 2020 special meeting where the District also adopted a proclamation declaring a local emergency as a result of COVID-19. This proclamation enables the District to mobilize resources and access emergency federal and state funding should they become available.
“While the District’s funding sources are sharply constrained as it does not collect any tax revenue from the community, the District will draw from its cash reserves to serve as a catalyst for broader public agency and community efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak,” stated Galvan.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is the most significant public health crisis of our time. The Eden Health District is stepping up to the challenge through creative solutions and working with public agency partners to maximize the effectiveness and impact of our resources for health and welfare of the Eden Area residents,” added Friedman. “Our area hospitals, nonprofits and first responders face a shortage of face masks critical for protection against the virus. Another crucial need is to expand community testing for the virus. The countries and areas that have made the most progress in flattening the curve of the spread all have conducted widespread testing.”
Among the specific initiatives under consideration by the District is the purchase of certified face masks from American distributors. “We hope to purchase at least 100,000 masks in the near future,” explained Friedman. “In determining potential sites for testing we will seek to build on the already successful efforts of the City of Hayward firefighters and will be working closely with them to identify other sites within the District and County that can augment their work.”
About the Eden Health District
The Eden Health District serves the residents of the cities of Hayward and San Leandro and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland and Fairview in the Eden Area of Alameda County. Since its founding in 1948, the District has invested more than $100 million to advance the health and well-being of the Eden Area residents.