Dana Point Chamber Members and Friends,
With recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to share pertinent information that may help your day-to-day business operations. Just like all of you, our Chamber staff is closely monitoring the situation, especially in regards to how it affects commerce and events. This is not a time for panic, but rather a time for being proactive, and for preparation.
What You Can Do
- Review your business continuity plan: what will you do if you face a major disruption? Consider leave and teleworking policies and how you will continue essential operations.
- Post printable resources from the CDC to ensure that employees are aware of Coronavirus symptoms and prevention measures.
- If you are planning an event, review the World Health Organization’s guidance for mass gatherings.
- Increase the frequency of cleaning schedules, especially for common areas or other touch points that are used by many people.
- Install handwashing or hand sanitizer stations for employees and customers. Review best practices regarding handwashing.
- Encourage sick employees to stay home. Be a good role model! If you are sick, don’t come to work.
Our goal is to inform our membership and equip businesses with best practices that your company can implement to continue routine operations. Below you will find links to resources to prepare your business and help minimize the potential economic impact of COVID-19:
- Guidance For Employers – Click the link to download guidance for employers to plan and respond to the Coronavirus.
- Workplace Tips – For workplace tips and resources for employers to combat the virus, please click the link.
- Resilience in a Box – If your business needs help putting a plan in place, click the link to use the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s toolkit created in partnership with the UPS foundation.
- More Resources – Provides additional resources, including consolidated, business-specific guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- The County of Orange has a number of resources, infographics and flyers available to our business community and general public. Please visit their website for the latest news and to download these helpful resources.
- Planning for Paid Leave – Provides a look at leave and disability issues and considerations in three scenarios you will likely encounter in the coming weeks and months.
At this point, the following Dana Point Chamber of Commerce events have been postponed:
- Peacefull Warrior Wellness’s Ribbon Cutting – originally scheduled for March 18th, is now postponed to Wednesday, March 25 at 4pm
- March Mixer at Peaceful Warrior Wellness has been postponed. New date TBD
- Government Affairs Committee Meeting – Thursday, March 19th – Canceled
- Chamber Caffeinated – Wednesday, March 25th – Canceled
- April Mixer at the Dana Point Women’s Community House has been postponed. New date TBD
As we plan for upcoming events in the future months, we will follow CDC guidelines regarding precautions and communicate any updates or changes to you in a timely fashion. We encourage anyone not feeling well to stay home and will be recommending a ‘no-handshake’ zone for our meetings and activities in the near future. We encourage local businesses to remain diligent and follow the lead of our public health officials.
There are still ways to shop small and support our local business owners. Please consider purchasing gift certificates for future celebrations and supporting merchants online (if applicable). Plan for staycations at local hotels/resorts, donate to local non-profits who may be having to cancel large fundraising events, and order from your favorite local restaurants. During adverse times, it is crucial that we support our business community.
We are proud to partner with you in business and will assist you in any way possible. Please reach out to us via email or social media if we can help you to relay information, promote your business or to be of assistance in any way.
Be well,
Vickie McMurchie, Executive Director
949.496.1555
