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Orange County Coronavirus

OC Fair Getting Travel Trailers, Looking at Buildings on Property for Coronavirus Emergency Medical Use

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

The OC Fair Park Plaza inside the county fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Jan. 12, 2019.

By Brandon Pho | April 10, 2020
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The Orange County Fairgrounds says it’s receiving 10 trailers and is looking at three buildings on the 150-acre state property in Costa Mesa for potential emergency housing and medical services, as county officials try to find ways to stretch out hospital capacity for coronavirus response.


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The announcement came at the bottom of an emailed notice with updates about the fairgrounds’ equestrian center, and was sent out on Thursday by the fairgrounds.

Neither Fairgrounds Communications Director Terry Moore nor Fair Board of Directors Chair Sandra Cervantes returned Voice of OC phone messages seeking comment Thursday night.

The email says the fairgrounds received notice that 10 trailers would be delivered by the end of the day with the purposes of “potential emergency housing.” 

The notice doesn’t explicitly say whether the trailers be used to house homeless people who have become sick or exposed to the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, though state efforts are underway to provide more than 1,300 travel trailers for local jurisdictions to house homeless people who need to be isolated or quarantined.

Additionally, three buildings in the Main Mall area, which is the cluster of large pavilion buildings and “The Hangar” at the center of the fairgrounds “are being considered for emergency medical use,” reads the email. 

“Details about how the facilities will be utilized and who will occupy them is not yet known. The timetable is also in the works as talks continue. When information becomes known, we will issue an advisory,” it adds.

Fairgrounds, city and county officials had been discussing with the state how the site would be used, if at all, as a source of emergency services. 

At the beginning of the month, the state announced that the nearby Fairview Developmental Center, also in Costa Mesa, would be used as a site to treat overflow patients with low to moderate illness. Around 1,100 new beds are planned for that facility.

The efforts come as Orange County awaits a possible surge in coronavirus cases, and as hospitals both in the county and across the country are straining under crucial supply shortages and medical equipment depletions.

Meanwhile the fairgrounds has all but closed its facilities to the public and cancelled a number of planned concerts and entertainment events, under health guidelines to limit public interactions and nonessential trips outside. 

Brandon Pho is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @photherecord.

What is COVID-19? Do I have it?

INFORMATION View the CDC website. View OC's website. View the latest OC case counts.

TRANSLATIONS See the county's guides in non-English languages. Learn key Coronavirus facts in Vietnamese and Spanish via VietRise. See VietRISE guides in Spanish and Vietnamese.

PROTECTION To limit exposure, the CDC recommends: wash your hands often, avoid close contact with others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth mask when around others, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

SYMPTOMS The CDC identifies these key symptoms that can occur any time between 2 and 14 days after exposure: Fever or chills, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches,  headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect Coronavirus, CALL your primary medical provider.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS If you display any of the following emergency warning signs, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.

RISK The CDC identifies people most at risk for serious illness: Older adults, and people who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

What is open?

RESIDENTS The County of Orange offers a list of notices and news on what guidance is given for families and persons.

SCHOOLS The latest information for the county is available from the Orange County Board of Education.

STATE GUIDE TO WHAT IS OPEN A full list of statewide guidelines for what is open and what is closed.

SOCIAL DISTANCING Staying away from other people is called "social distancing." The aim is to SLOW the spread of Coronavirus so as to not overwhelm the nation's health care systems and so that people in need can get help. The Washington Post explains: "The spread (of COVID-19) can be slowed, public health professionals say, if people practice "social distancing" by avoiding public spaces and generally limiting their movement."

What support is available?

STRESS & ANXIETY Stress and anxiety can be triggered by the situation and resources are available to help from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and from the American Psychology Association. Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious, here are tips on talking with children about COVID-19.

MENTAL HEALTH The County of Orange offers a list of available mental health support services.

FIRST RESPONDERS The County of Orange offers these support services for first responders and health care workers.

BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS The County of Orange offers a list of up-to-date guidelines for business and faith-based/community organizations.

FOOD ASSISTANCE Voice of OC offers a weekly list of available food pantries in Orange County. You can also apply for food benefits over the phone through the CalFresh program at 800-281-9799 or online.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Buses and trains still offer service, but routes have been reduced so make sure to check your route ahead of time.

HOMELESSNESS The County of Orange offers a list of available shelter beds and other resources.

GENERAL FINANCIAL HELP Here are some services:

  •   • Find information on unemployment and disability benefits.
  •   • The Orange County Social Services Agency, despite closing its lobby, is processing online filings for assistance programs. This includes emergency cash assistance for immediate needs like rent or medical bills. The phone line has averaged a 30 minute wait time and offers a callback service, but people are encouraged to apply for benefits online.
  •   • Residents can apply for any of these programs by calling 800-281-9799.

RESTAURANT OWNERS & EMPLOYEES You can find a detailed list of resources available to restaurant owners and employees

How can I help?

VOLUNTEERING A statewide guide offers examples of ways to volunteer safely during Coronavirus. Options include, but are not limited to: donating plasma, making cloth face masks and supporting local food banks. Orange County's Second Harvest Food Bank lists support options online.

DONATIONS An Orange County Community Resilience Fund has been started through the OC Community Foundation to raise money for local nonprofits and volunteer organizations.

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  • Local Officials Secure More Briefings From State and Feds on Plan to Send Coronavirus Patients to Costa Mesa Facility

    A federal judge warns Costa Mesa and Orange County officials on Monday that they face “an uphill battle” in their fight to block state and federal agencies from sending California Coronavirus patients to Fairview Developmental Center to sit out the virus.

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