HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-062 - Denouncing Covid-19 MisinformationRESOLUTION NO. 2021-062
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA DENOUNCING COVID-19 MISINFORMATION
AND DECLARING ITS DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON
PUBLIC HEALTH
WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a dangerous, contagious disease affecting all age
groups, known to be caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that is transmitted
predominately by inhalation of respiratory droplets generated when people cough,
sneeze, sing, talk, or breath; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in 49,142 cases and resulted
in 911 deaths in Santa Ana as of October 12, 2021; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States
in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our health
and safety, our regional economy, our communities of color, and the educational
development of our children; and
WHEREAS, viruses constantly change through mutation and new variants of a
virus are expected to occur. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the Delta variant of the Coronavirus is more than twice as contagious as
previous variants, and data suggests that the Delta variant may cause more severe
illness in unvaccinated individuals; and
WHEREAS, all COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States are
proven to be effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission and significantly decreasing
severe disease, hospitalization, or death due to COVID-19, and the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioTech COVID-19 vaccine for the
prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older; and
WHEREAS, health misinformation has significantly undermined public health
efforts and has prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic, endangering the health and safety
of all Santa Ana residents; and
WHEREAS, on July 15, 2021, the United States Surgeon General issued an
advisory describing the urgent threat posed by the rise of false information around
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, there is misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines being shared,
including claims that the vaccines contain microchips, cause magnetism, can give
someone COVID-19, negatively impact fertility, alter DNA, constitute gene therapy,
Resolution No. 2021-062
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trigger a positive COVID-19 test result, and affect menstrual cycles of nearby people. All
of these claims have been disproven.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines
and declares as follows:
A. The City of Santa Ana denounces COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccine
misinformation and declares that it is detrimental to public health.
B. The City of Santa Ana intends to use all appropriate resources to combat the
sharing of misinformation of COVID-19, including using digital communications tools
such as the City's official website and social media accounts to share COVID-19
factual -based information only.
C. The City of Santa Ana will improve efforts in expanding the education of
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and importance through the use of digital literacy
education to show the public how to identify online tactics and commonly used
approaches in the spreading of health misinformation.
D. The City of Santa Ana will prepare a written letter to the County of Orange
Board of Supervisors to request that they commit to combating health misinformation to
curb the spread of falsehoods that threaten the health and safety of Orange County
residents.
E. The City of Santa Ana will use any and all available resources to assist the
County of Orange Health Care Agency in disseminating accurate, fact -based
information on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
City Council and the Clerk of Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this
resolution.
ADOPTED this 19th day of October, 2021.
Vicente Sar (en o
Mayor
Resolution No. 2021-062
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By: XWr U� A. R �
Laura A. Rossini
Chief Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers
Bacerra, Hernandez, Lopez, Mendoza,
Phan, Penaloza, Sarmiento (7)
None (0)
None (0)
None (0)
CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2021-062 to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the
City of Santa Ana on October 19, 2021.
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Date: /0 l aa, ova-1 s0u � 4�
Daisy Gomez
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Resolution No. 2021-062
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