The City of Santa Ana, the SAUSD and Latino Health Access join forces to stop COVID-19

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Santa Ana Unified School District, nonprofit Latino Health Access and the City of Santa Ana today launched a citywide public awareness campaign to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in one of the region’s hardest-hit communities.

The campaign, #ProtectSantaAna and #ProtegeSantaAna, is intended to unite the community with a common goal – reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and protect the health of our family, friends, and neighbors.

The three organizations are distributing thousands of yard signs and posters to residents and businesses to encourage essential pandemic safety messages: cover your face, wash your hands, stay 6 feet apart. Banners bearing the message are being placed at schools and other locations.

The public is encouraged to get involved and show their commitment to protecting our community by displaying the messages and sharing photos on social media using #ProtectSantaAna and #ProtegeSantaAna.

“Everyone must do their part – residents, students, businesses, young and old – or the people of Santa Ana and our local economy will continue to suffer,” Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento said. “No matter how much we may want to see loved ones over the holidays, it is more important than ever to stay home and avoid gatherings of any kind. The situation is dire.”

“It’s important to understand that a healthier community leads to healthier and safer schools,” Santa Ana Unified School District Board President Dr. Rigo Rodriguez said. “We desperately need COVID-19 positivity rates to decrease in our City before our students can return to our schools.”

As the densest city in Orange County with many multigenerational households and residents working in essential industries, Santa Ana is especially vulnerable to the virus. The city has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the county, approaching 22,000 confirmed positive cases and 347 deaths. The city also has ZIP codes reporting some of the highest positivity rates in the county, including some with a four-week average above 20%.

Anyone in Santa Ana who wants to request a yard sign or poster for their home can call Latino Health Access at (714) 805-6517.

For more information on testing and other local pandemic resources, please go to:

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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  • This reply is for the former council member, now mayor of Santa Ana. You say " We all must do our part, " in helping stop the spread of COVID -19. The rise of confirmed cases has been going on for months. Where was your concern, or for that matter the concern of all the city leadership. We are now facing a massive rise in COVID -19 results, as of today nearing close to 23000 confirmed. Your ideas of signs is a 'day late and dollar short.' I did this months ago, out of concern for my family, and of being fully engaged in my neighborhood . My secondary intent was to gauge the response of the local populace if they were using PPE, or practicing social distancing measures. Over time I observed that most unfortunately were not. I live in the 92701 area code which is among the top areas for positive cases in Santa Ana. I would think the signs, which I paid out of my own pocket might help; but not as much as I hoped. There seems to this pervasive attitude here in Santa Ana that " anything goes." Maybe because you keep calling Santa Ana a 'Sanctuary City ' where rule of laws does not apply to a certain demographic group. There are already sign forbidding certain unlawful activities; yet people still do them: Unabated in fact because they know the city will not enforce. IE: The continued use of dangerous illegal fireworks, which occurs nighty where I live. Your attempt at COVID -19 public education as become a ' theater of the absurd.' The nightmares of our high density areas; which yeas you help create, are in need of remedy. What is needed buy YOU MAYOR, is a more aggressive plan. Yourself, and your council need to conduct a more kinetic approach to reduce number of positive cases. Leadership is what is required, not at 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 confirmed cases; but NOW. Yours truly Mark I Lopez

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