Contra Costa County and several of its cities are working to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in local homeless encampments by placing handwashing stations and portable toilets nearby.
Four handwashing stations and four portable toilets with attached handwashing stations were placed at Martinez’s Waterfront Amphitheater on Tuesday, the first of several sanitation equipment deliveries planned in coming days.
The stations were ordered through the Contra Costa County Emergency Operations Center in support of local cities that requested the assistance, including Antioch, Richmond and Walnut Creek.
“We must work proactively with our homeless population to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to save lives,” said Candace Andersen, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “People who lack housing are particularly vulnerable. Without running water, it is very difficult to wash your hands and practice the hygiene needed to reduce your risk of infection.”
City governments in Antioch, Richmond and Walnut Creek are now determining where to place as many as 10 handwashing or portable toilet stations each, based on locations frequented by residents in their communities who are experiencing homelessness.
“During this challenging time, we need to support each other. We have been working closely with all cities in Contra Costa to ensure they have what they need to meet the most pressing response needs at the local level,” said Supervisor Federal Glover, whose district includes Martinez.
There are currently about 2,300 homeless people in Contra Costa County.
13 comments
Concord?
Just what downtown Martinez needs, more reasons for the large amount of homeless to stay around. So many people down there aren’t even looking for help and are just trash people to say the least.
There but by the grace of God, go I. We hike the Martinez wetlands frequently, and the regular homeless are mostly mental health concerns, locals probably due to the proximity to CoCo Hospital. They harm nobody but themselves, and the restrooms from time to time. If we had addressed our mental health population with some more effective solutions, just imagine how they could contribute to their own well-being. It’s easy to criticize, but difficult to find workable solutions.
The bit about Martinez is curious. They closed down the hard plumbed restrooms a few weeks ago, then import and install temporary stations in the same park. Might it be more efficient to use the existing facilities and limiting usage to “challenged” populations?
So,
Homeless are in need of kindergarten instructions on how to wash their hands?
Gosh, I’d be like totally offended, literally.
@ Cellophane. I see grown men all the time leave the restroom without washing their hands. (sorry to break it to you ladies, but the stats are not good). And who keeps peeing on the wall and floor?!?! Do we all REALLY have the same plumbing? I’m talking well-dressed, high-functioning looking men. So yeah, we need the kindergarten instructions posted early and often until we see some improvement.
This is precisely why gender neutral bathrooms are ridiculous,
Now this is interesting, homeless could get sick and die.
So what’s different from six months or a year ago ? ? ? ?
Politicians didn’t seem all that concerned about the homeless unless it was to get them counted for getting money from state or FEDs.
So what changed, . . . WHY the concern about hygiene ? ?
Homeless might catch a virus and die. A dead homeless virus victim might even make the news.
Once again the greatest fear of politicians, rears it’s ugly head, public embarrassment and ridicule.
“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Do those motivated by fear of publicity deserve your vote ?
Homeless and transients become a greater threat to the health of a general population during an epidemic. To protect the general population, the homeless require greater care than they would ordinarily receive.
You should know Ghandi was a horrible racist and a pervert, these are both facts.
I can’t say I have ever seen one of theses sanitation stations that actually looked sanitary. Gross…
There was a time when schools taught basic hygiene. Not in the last 30-40 years. Kinda think they need to start that up again. Maybe parents should be present on those days too.
Hand washing to remove bacteria, viruses and dirt (debris) is a strictly mechanical process. The soap surrounds and traps the debris which is loosened by rubbing the hands together. The debris is then washed away when the soap is rinsed off of the hands and the hands are dried. Just my opinion, but wetting the hands first puts a layer of lubricant (water) between the debris and the soap which does not allow all the debris to be surrounded and trapped by the soap. It would make more sense and appear more efficacious to apply the soap directly to the dry hands and agitate to trap, surround, and remove the debris completely. Then rinse all the debris away with water. I mean if you really want to get serious about it.
The online articles for nurses all say to wet the hands before applying soap. Probably because water is necessary to get the soap to lather.
Comments are closed.