Carlsbad, CA April 9, 2020 –I hope some of you were able to catch the beautiful rainbows this morning. It looks like rain will continue a few more days with a short reprieve on Saturday. While this is helping to keep people at home, for those with small children I know it presents an even bigger challenge in finding things to keep the young ones occupied.

EGGStravaganza reinvented Our annual EGGStravaganza is one of the city’s most popular events, and we were so sad when we had to cancel it (at 5,000+, this event definitely would not allow for physical distancing!). 
If you have ever been to one of our family events, you know that those behind the scenes attend to every detail to create a memorable experience for kids and parents alike. I’m “hoppy” to announce that we have harnessed this creative energy over the past few weeks to put together a new event, a springtime virtual scavenger hunt (yes, that pun was intended. Perhaps the stress is getting to me after all).
You can get all the details in this flier. 

I hope this provides hours of fun for all of our young people, as well as those young at heart.
City services and programs I am very proud that our city staff has been able to keep all essential services going during this public health emergency. And, as you can see, some departments have already found ways to offer community programs in new and creative formats.
We know that community members are being affected in different ways and as a result have different needs. We want to get a better understanding of how the city can support you and your loved ones during this very unusual time.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and ask your friends and neighbors to do the same. I understand that much of what is happening is outside the control of city government. At the same time, we want to make sure that we are prioritizing those things we do control in the areas most important to you. We are all in this together!

Mental health After four weeks of staying at home, it’s more important than ever to monitor your own physical and mental health. The county has several mental health resources available, including tips for talking to kids, recommendations for self-care and common warning signs of distress.
2-1-1 San Diego also has an access and crisis line, along with a disaster stress hotline.
I encourage you to take advantage of these resources if you need them. You can also follow the day to day tips recommended by public health experts:

Make time to exercise – Eat healthy food Prioritize a good night’s sleep Take a break from the news Connect with friends and family every day, by phone, video chat or other ways that preserve physical distance
Remember, we need to be physically distant from others, but not socially distant.

Food resources Access to healthy food is one of the most fundamental needs we have. We have compiled a list of different food resources, from how to get free meals to hours for grocery stores, restaurants open for take out, how to support local farms, and even pet food programs.
If you know of a store that needs to be added to our list of grocery store hours, please email communications@carlsbadca.gov. Here is the latest list, along with stores that offer special shopping hours for seniors, those at risk, health care workers and first responders.
For example we just found out that Costco is temporarily allowing priority access to health care workers and first responders who present a Costco membership card and official identification of their role. They will be allowed to move to the front of any line to enter the warehouse.

Updated gathering rules – Yesterday, the County of San Diego updated its public health order to reflect that all public and private gatherings are prohibited. This makes the county rules consistent with the statewide health order.

Latest numbers The latest numbers from the county show Carlsbad has 43 confirmed cases. Countywide, there are now 1,530 confirmed cases and, sadly, 36 total deaths.
As you look at the county’s charts and numbers, you can see progress is being made in flattening the curve. Still, since there are currently no antiviral medicines or vaccines for COVID-19, health officials stress the importance of staying the course and not relaxing social distancing rules too soon.

Here are the current details: State dashboard of statewide data County breakdown by age, gender, need for hospitalization Bar chart showing changes in number of cases over time Cases by city, ZIP code and a map Detailed look at cases requiring hospitalization Summary of cases by race/ethnicity

In other news …I want to remind everyone about the Census. Some people think April 1 was the deadline. It’s not. It’s just the date being used to count the number of people in your household at a specific point in time. You still have time to complete the survey online or fill out one of the mailers you have gotten. Here is a link. Remember, the 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade. Locally, it could affect the boundaries of our City Council districts. Please make sure you are counted!

Stay informed By now, you know I am going to end with the usual list of ways to get access to accurate, up to date information. We are adding new content several times throughout the day, seven days a week, so please check back often. FacebookTwitterInstagramcarlsbadca.gov/COVID19

Thank you Your individual actions to stay safe and stay home are making a difference. Please continue to: Stay at home Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds Maintain 6 feet of distance between yourself and others not in your immediate household Cover your face when you go out for essentials Wipe down frequently touched surfaces
And … be kind to one other.

This is how we #Care4Carlsbad.
Scott Chadwick City Manager