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Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — New Information on COVID-19 Vaccines & Testing

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I know that for many in our community, there is anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. Many are wondering when they can get it, how many have been administered to date, who qualifies for each tier, etc. At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, which provided some answers to the burning questions I have heard from many constituents.
COVID-19 & Vaccine Update
Since Dec. 31, 2020, daily case records have been broken three times, with a concerning 779 new cases recorded on Jan. 10, 2021. Our current adjusted case rate is 64, and the Public Health Department expects the case rate to remain high until at least the end of January. Especially since transmission is so widespread, it is vital that anyone traveling (like a family member coming to see you, or you going on a ski trip) engage in a quarantine after (and hopefully before) of 10-14 days.

Four weeks ago, Santa Barbara County had an adjusted ICU capacity of 38.4% and on January 5th, we hit 0%. As of yesterday, our actual ICU capacity was hovering around 11%. As a reminder, the California Regional Stay Home Order remains in effect if intensive care unit (ICU) capacity is below 15% in a region.

We have received just short of 17,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, 53% of which have been administered (a percentage significantly higher than the average state rate of current vaccination use) and we will receive another 4,900 doses this week. Until the Governor expands our vaccine bank (which may happen soon since the Trump administration is now following the Biden plan for distribution), our County’s allocation of vaccines, which is based on population, remains set by the state. This does NOT include all the assisted living/nursing homes, which have a separate allocation from the Federal Government. Below is a good graphic of vaccine distribution in Santa Barbara County to date.
vaccine allocations.png
PHASE 1A TIERS 1, 2 AND 3: VACCINATION IS UNDERWAY

Phase 1A Tier 1 Vaccine Distribution Target Populations and Delivery Dates
Tier1.png

Phase 1A Tier 2 Vaccine Distribution Target Populations and Delivery Dates
Tier2.png

Phase 1A Tier 3 Vaccine Distribution Target Populations and Delivery Dates
Tier3.png

Phase 1B Vaccine Distribution Target Populations and Delivery Dates
1B2.png

Phase 1C Vaccine Distribution Target Populations and Delivery Dates
1C.png

Phase 2 & 3 Vaccine Distribution Target Populations and Delivery Dates
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Phase 1B will start in early February or sooner. Registration is not available at this point, but will open shortly after the completion of Phase 1A. If you do qualify for Phase 1A and have not heard from the Public Health Department or your employer, you can reach out to vaccine@sbcphd.org.
COVID-19 Testing Updates
A mobile COVID-19 testing unit is now available at CenCal Health in Santa Barbara (4050 Calle Real) from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.  This test site will be available from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday thereafter for a minimum of two (2) weeks and available to all community members. The mobile testing unit will then move to a new location which will be announced. To request an appointment, please go online to https://lhi.care/covidtesting. If you need assistance registering, call 2-1-1.

In addition to the new mobile testing site, expanded COVID-19 testing is also available in the Santa Maria and Isla Vista communities.

Santa Maria Health Care Center

2115 Centerpointe Pkwy, Santa Maria

Tuesday – Friday

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Online appointment registration opens the day before each testing date

and closes at 5 p.m. or when all slots are full, whichever comes first.

Appointment registration link will be found here. Walk-Ins are not allowed.

 

Isla Vista Theater

960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista

Fridays and Saturdays

12 – 5 p.m.

Walk-In only (no appointments).
Vaccine and Economic Update Webinar
The UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project hosted a webinar last week on the local impacts of COVID-19, which contains valuable information including vaccine details from Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons and Dr. Van Do Reynoso. Check it out below!