Oxnard to shutter most city facilities amid COVID-19 spike

Brian J. Varela, Ventura County Star
·2 min read
Oxnard's Colonia Library branch is among numerous city facilities that will be closed to the public starting Monday as COVID-19 cases spike, officials said.
Oxnard's Colonia Library branch is among numerous city facilities that will be closed to the public starting Monday as COVID-19 cases spike, officials said.

Oxnard will close most city facilities and programs to the public starting Monday as COVID-19 cases surge again in Ventura County, officials said Wednesday night.

The move will shutter City Hall, libraries, gyms, senior and youth facilities and other sites for at least three weeks, according to the announcement.

City Manager Alexander Nguyen said Thursday the city is taking necessary precautions to limit the possible spread of COVID-19 among staff, both for their safety and to keep up services.

As of Tuesday, 18 city employees had been exposed to COVID-19, 15 were experiencing symptoms, 29 were in quarantine and 20 had tested positive for the virus, Nguyen said.

By comparison, on Dec. 14, three city employees had been exposed to the virus, two had symptoms, two were in quarantine and three had tested positive.

"It's a pretty significant jump from the prior weeks," Nguyen said. "It's reflective of what's happening across the region."

Related: Ventura to close most city facilities as COVID-19 cases surge

Coronavirus cases have ramped up significantly in the past week as the new, highly infectious omicron variant coincided with holiday travel and gatherings.

On Wednesday, Ventura County public health officials said 1,052 new infections had been confirmed since Monday. Some 92 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications, including 18 being treated in intensive care units, officials said. Four new COVID-related deaths had been tallied among residents age 58 to 93.

Oxnard's closures will affect these facilities:

  • Oxnard City Hall and Civic Center

  • Oxnard Service Center

  • Housing Department (1470 Colonia Road and 300 N. Marquita St. sites)

  • Police and fire department lobbies; police department record and property rooms

  • Del Norte buy-back center

  • Four senior centers (Colonia, South Oxnard, Palm Vista and Wilson [including lawn bowls]). Senior nutrition meals will be available for pickup.

  • Four youth centers (South Oxnard, Colonia, Southwinds, PAL)

  • Three libraries (Colonia, South Oxnard and main branch)

  • Three basketball gyms (Colonia, PAL, Rio Vista)

  • Oxnard Tennis Center

In addition, these city programs will be suspended until further notice:

  • Special populations

  • All recreation classes

  • Youth and adult sports

  • Library programs

City employees will still be available during regular business hours to answer questions via phone, email and virtual appointments.

City Council and committee meetings will continue to be held virtually.

More information about city resources is available at oxnard.org.

Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard to close most city facilities due to COVID-19 spike