Holiday observed.

Holiday observed.

Holiday observed.

(Santa Ana, CA) – To address the recent increase in reported respiratory virus activity in Orange County (OC), the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Public Health Services recommends residents get vaccinated and be vigilant about preventive measures to reduce the spread of winter viruses.
 
Reported cases of COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and influenza disease are all rising, based on the percentage of positive test results reported to the HCA over the past six weeks. According to the HCA’s Communicable Disease Control Division, these patterns are in line with the regular seasonal epidemiology of these viruses.

Vaccines are available for the prevention of disease caused by all three of these viruses, and are especially important for people at higher risk of severe illness. This season’s influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for those 6-months of age and older, while RSV vaccine or preventive antibody is recommended for select populations including infants and young children, pregnant people, and adults 60 years and older (visit www.ochealthinfo.com/flu and www.ochealthinfo.com/rsv). People should talk their health care provider, or local pharmacy, about getting vaccinated. For those who do not have a provider, are uninsured, or underinsured, call the HCA’s Health Referral Line (800) 564-8448 [TDD: (800) 801-7100] about accessing services.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza and RSV and practicing preventive measures can help minimize the spread and severity of these viruses and help reduce the burden on our local hospitals,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer and the HCA’s Chief Medical Officer. “All three vaccines may be administered during the same visit for those eligible for all and getting vaccinated now can still provide protection against severe illness throughout the winter respiratory virus season.”

 
To help mitigate the spread of respiratory illnesses during the winter surge, the HCA encourages residents to follow preventive measures, including:

• Stay home when you are sick and symptomatic.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve (elbow).
• Mask when in large group settings.
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after eating and using the restroom.

Additionally, as families and communities gather to celebrate the holidays, the HCA encourages residents to review the following information should you experience COVID-19 symptoms or are exposed:

• Testing before gatherings will help mitigate the spread. Free test kits can be ordered by visiting COVID Home Tests | USPS, or for additional options, visit No-Cost COVID-19 Testing​ (cdc.gov).
• Act fast to seek COVID-19 treatment if confirmed positive, as treatment must begin within 5-7 days of when symptoms start. Effective treatments are now widely available for COVID-19.  Treatments such as the Paxlovid pill are safe and effective for preventing COVID-19 illness from becoming serious and may lower the risk of long COVID. Visit COVID-19 Test to Treat Locator English (arcgis.com) for helping finding treatment options.
• Follow Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations issued by the California Department of Public Health if you test positive or are exposed to a close contact who has tested positive. See guidance.

Visit www.ochealthinfo.com/covid for current information on Orange County COVID-19 testing positivity and hospitalization levels.
 
ABOUT THE OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources.

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(SANTA ANA, CA) – Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport decreased in October 2023 as compared to October 2022. In October 2023, the Airport served 1,015,935 passengers, a decrease of 5.9% when compared with the October 2022 passenger traffic count of 1,079,792.

Commercial aircraft operations in October 2023 of 8,155 decreased 3.7% and commuter aircraft operations of 355 decreased 37.4% when comparing with October 2022 levels.

Total aircraft operations decreased in October 2023 as compared with the same month in 2022. In October 2023, there were 25,252 total aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) a 2.9% decrease compared to 26,005 total aircraft operations in October 2022.­

General aviation activity of 16,719 accounted for 66.2% of the total aircraft operations during October 2023 and decreased 1.2% compared with October 2022.

The top three airlines in October 2023 based on passenger count were Southwest Airlines (307,509), American Airlines (164,118) and Alaska Airlines (158,617).

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John Wayne Airport (SNA) is owned by the County of Orange and is operated as a self-supporting enterprise that receives no general fund tax revenue. The Airport serves more than 11.3 million passengers annually and reaches more than 40 nonstop destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. More information can be found at www.ocair.com. Like us on facebook.com/johnwayneairport, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @johnwayneair and Instagram @johnwayneair.

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The 29th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County is now available, offering a comprehensive assessment of the health, economic well-being, education and safety of Orange County’s Children.

The following areas have shown improvement in the lives of local youth:

Good Health: The percentage of uninsured children in Orange County dropped to 3.6%, representing a 42.8% decrease in the number of uninsured children since 2012, a 10-year low.

Economic Well-being: The percentage of Orange County children receiving CalWORKs represents a decline. In 2021-22, 3.2% of Orange County’s children received CalWORKs assistance, a 48.3% decrease from 6.1% in 2012-13.

Educational Achievement: The percentage of college-ready Orange County students increased for the 10th straight year. In school year 2021-22, 57.2% of high school graduates within Orange County were eligible for University of California or California State University, higher than the State of California’s eligibility rate of 51.4%. The high school dropout rate continues to decline, at 4.0% in the 2021-22 school year compared to 7.3% in 2012-13.

Safe Homes and Communities: The juvenile arrest rate continues to decline. In 2021, there were 1,368 juvenile arrests in Orange County, an 84% drop from 8,578 juvenile arrests in 2012. An arrest is usually a youth’s first formal encounter with the juvenile justice system. It is important that at this first encounter a pattern of juvenile delinquency does not continue into adulthood.

While much progress has been made, continued areas for focus include behavioral health, chronic absenteeism and child poverty, among others.

This year’s front section explores the data with a focus on local solutions for advancing equity in Orange County and highlights several programs addressing health disparities in our county.

To read the full report, visit https://ssa.ocgov.com/about-us/news-publications/occp/annual-report.

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Holiday observed.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Environmental Health Division has closed the open coastal area from Laguna Avenue to Blue Lagoon in Laguna Beach due to a sewage spill. The spill volume is an estimated total of 94,500 gallons, and was caused by a break in a force main sewer line in Laguna Beach. The affected bay water area will remain closed to ocean water-contact sports until the results of follow-up water quality monitoring meet acceptable standards.

For information regarding Orange County ocean, bay or harbor postings and closures, please call (714) 433-6400 or visit OCBeachInfo.com. To report a sewage spill, please call (714) 433-6419. 

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Orange County Clerk-Recorder is bringing together loved ones from all over the world to share in the joy of couples’ marriage ceremonies. Starting Saturday, December 16, 2023, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is making it possible for couples at our South County branch office in Laguna Hills to privately live stream their marriage ceremony and invite their family and friends via Zoom. Those invited will be able to view the marriage ceremony from anywhere using their electronic devices after receiving a secure Zoom link to the ceremony from the couple. This live stream option is already a success at our North County Branch Office in Anaheim and will be expanded to our South County branch office located at 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 160 Laguna Hills, CA 92653. For more information or details, please call the department’s information line at (714) 834-2500 or visit us at OCRecorder.com.

“Our live stream option is a wonderful way for couples to invite loved ones from anywhere in the world to join their marriage ceremony in real time,” said Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen. “I am excited to expand this service to our South County branch office to create unforgettable moments for couples and those dearest to them, regardless of the physical distance.”

Once a couple completes the marriage license process, department staff will ask the couple if they wish to live stream their ceremony. If they do, a password-protected link will be given to the couple to share with whomever they wish to invite via e-mail or text message. Those invited to the private live stream feed must have an internet connection and the Zoom app downloaded on their device. There is no additional cost to the couple for this service; however, guests should check with their internet or cellular providers for data rates and charges they may incur by joining the live feed. The live feed is private and will not be recorded, so once the ceremony is completed, the department will not be able to retrieve the feed.

There are a few advantages to live streaming a ceremony on Zoom. First, family and friends from near and far away can be part of the ceremony. This is a great option for those who can’t travel because of health concerns or physical limitations. Second, couples can get married and share the moment live with anyone from anywhere in the world and to as many people as they wish. Finally, Zoom is incredibly user-friendly; all anyone needs is an internet connection, a device with the Zoom app installed and a link sent out by the couple to join.

For more detailed information, please call the department’s information line at (714) 834-2500 or visit OCRecorder.com. The information line is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays. 

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(SANTA ANA, CA) – 'No Touching' marks the debut exhibit of John Wayne Airport's new Art Coordinator, Heather Bowling, in the Terminal C Vi Smith Gallery from November 10, 2023, to March 10, 2024. This exhibition cleverly plays with the literal notion that the gallery's glass display cases are a barrier between the art and the viewer.

The exhibition showcases a diverse array of artists, each specializing in various forms of fiber arts, soft sculpture, mixed media, and installation art: Debbie Carlson, Alex Gano, Karen Gibson Roc, Margaret Griffith, Barbara Holmes, Flora Kao, Laura Koffman, Olga Lah, Stevie Love, Stephanie Sherwood, Amanda Yamashita, and Threadwinners. United by this dynamic celebration of materiality, every artist transformed a 12'x6' display case, arranging it with a large-scale, site-specific creation.

What tempts a person to want to touch something? Embracing the concept of 'no touching,' these artists approached the theme in a multitude of interpretations, infusing their work with depth and a rich variety of materials. The result is a collection of endlessly fascinating creations despite the physical limitations of the gallery space.

The exhibition will be on view in the Vi Smith Gallery, in Terminal C. 

Don't have a boarding pass? No problem! You can access the secure side of John Wayne Airport with an OC AirPASS, a post-security access pass. For more information on how to obtain an OC AirPASS, visit www.ocair.com/travelers/services/oc-airpass/. 

For more information about the John Wayne Airport Arts Program, 
contact Curator Heather Bowling at hbowling@ocair.com.

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John Wayne Airport (SNA) is owned by the County of Orange and is operated as a self-supporting enterprise that receives no general fund tax revenue. The Airport serves more than 11.3 million passengers annually and reaches more than 40 nonstop destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. More information can be found at www.ocair.com. Like us on facebook.com/johnwayneairport, or follow us on Twitter @johnwayneair and Instagram @johnwayneair.

To receive John Wayne Airport news releases automatically, go to www.ocair.com and click Subscribe.

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