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We continue to see increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in some regions of the County. I urge you not to panic, but to remember that jobs, businesses, and lives depend on continued use of precautions. These include:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and staying away from large gatherings and crowds.
- Putting distance between yourself and other people (at least 6 feet).
- Wearing face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Face coverings may act as additional protection, but are not a substitute for physical distancing, which is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces daily.
We have seen a disproportionate amount of cases occurring in the City of Santa Maria, with a much smaller amount of cases in South County, as you can see from the graph below (subtract Recovered Cases from Confirmed Positive Cases to get Active Cases) but we must continue to be vigilant.The majority of cases we are seeing are from individuals in high-density large household settings and agricultural workers. We recognize that family gatherings can be an important factor in mental wellness. If you are having a small family gathering, it is best to do it outside, use disposable utensils and plates, wash hands frequently, disinfect surfaces, and keep distance of 6 feet. When the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department learns about a new positive case, our contact tracers, or “disease detectives” take immediate action to determine whom the person would have been in contact with during the infectious period, to find potential exposures.
Reopening Safely- Cooperation of Each Workplace is Critical (and Mandatory)!
In order to keep our businesses and services open as safely as possible, the State and County have developed a safe reopening process that includes mandatory industry guidelines, a detailed checklist and COVID-19 prevention plan. So if you or others you know are open for business, don’t forget to complete your self-attestation right away to show your customers and the Public Health Department that you are doing your part to protect your environment and the people in it. If you’d like help to complete this process, please reach out to the Community Wellness Team and ask for a Business Ambassador at (888) 868-1649, and they will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible. For links to the guidelines and self-attestation form, visit: https://recoverysbc.org/reopen-your-business/.
Although it is difficult to think of yet another emergency on top of the pandemic we are still facing, it is important to consider that wildfire season is approaching. Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and Santa Barbara County Public Health Department encourage Santa Barbara County residents to plan for poor air quality conditions caused by future wildfire smoke. Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles known as particulate matter. These particles harm the lungs and heart, and can cause coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, nausea, and in severe instances, premature mortality. People with heart or lung disease, seniors, kids, and pregnant women are especially sensitive to smoke. You can plan ahead by creating a clean air room using a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) purifier to reduce particulate matter indoors by 90 percent and/or by following guidance provided by APCD.
During wildfires, there are various ways to stay updated on local air quality conditions: Sign up to receive air quality alerts from APCD and Public Health:www.OurAir.org/subscribe. Check hourly air quality conditions and daily air forecasts: www.OurAir.org/todays-air-quality.
Take care,
Das
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