Happy Thanksgiving.
What do you feel seeing those words? Angry? Sad? Hopeful? Or a combination of all three? I thought it would be good to go back to when the national holiday was established – back in a time when Americans were grappling with political divisions greater than any before, the legacy of racism, and experiencing death and economic hardship unlike any time in our history.
The State of California (on Nov. 16) determined that transmission rates of COVID-19 were rising at an alarming rate. Based on the increase in positive and active cases in our community, the state moved Santa Barbara County from our recent red tier to the most restrictive purple tier. Currently, we have 14 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 44 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 255 active cases County-wide. Our adjusted case rate is 7.1 per 100,000 residents and we have a 2.7% test positivity rate. The state went from 6,000 new cases per day to approximately 11,000 new cases per day in just a few days. Hospitalizations increased more than 1,000 in a week. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer issued a revised Health Order today indicating this change. For a reminder of what activities/sectors are permitted to operate in the purple tier and at what capacity, click here.
We are still in the Red Tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, but we are getting closer to moving into the Orange Tier. Currently we have 1 active case in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 6 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 138 active cases County-wide. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors recently voted to pass an Ordinance to adopt remedies, including administrative fines, for violations of County Health Officer Orders Pertaining to COVID-19.
Like many other things in 2020, Halloween will need to be celebrated differently this year to keep people safe. Trick-or-treating is strongly discouraged by the state this year to prevent household mixing amid the pandemic. Alternative activities for Halloween and Día de los Muertos include:
At (Oct. 6’s) Board of Supervisors meeting, we received an update on COVID-19 and we are still in the Red Tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics. Currently we have 4 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 11 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 118 active cases County-wide. This is a significant reduction compared to the peak of nearly 450 active cases County-wide during the spike in July. As you can see from the graph below, daily hospitalizations are decreasing overall as well.
At the (Sept, 22) special Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. According to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, Santa Barbara County has met the State’s red tier case rate and positivity rate criteria for two consecutive weeks. As a result, the risk of COVID-19 spread in Santa Barbara County has been downgraded, effective immediately, from widespread to substantial, allowing movement from the purple tier to the red tier. Currently we have 3 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 13 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 170 active cases County-wide.
At (Sept. 22)’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. The graphic below shows the adjusted case rate for Santa Barbara County for this week as 6.7 new cases per 100,000 population. According to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, we need to lower our 7-day average positive case number to at least 7 per 100,000 population to move to the red tier. That being said, if our case rate stays below 7 positive cases per day per 100,000 for another week, we will be able to move into the red tier as early as September 29th. Additionally, we would need to remain in the red tier for 14 consecutive days in order for K-12 schools to reopen, which could be as soon as October 13th. Currently we have 2 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 19 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 151 active cases County-wide.
At (the Sept. 15) Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. Santa Barbara County remains in the purple tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics. However, according to the graph below, we are getting closer to meeting the metrics of the red tier after recovering from the spike we endured in July.
Although we have not reduced our cases enough to move from the purple tier to red tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, we are making significant progress. On August 31st, the county’s 7-day case rate was 9.0 per 100,000 population. Yesterday, the Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health released our first official report card number as 8.3 cases per 100,000 population. We need to lower our 7-day average positive case number to 7 per 100,000 population to move to the red tier. If we remain vigilant and maintain this positive momentum, we will likely be able to move to the red tier by the end of September. See more about which sectors can operate in each tier.
At today’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. In the past two weeks, we have experienced an 18% decrease in active cases and a 31% decrease in hospitalizations. This is encouraging news, but further underscores the importance of each of us continuing to do our part (washing hands, social distancing, and wearing masks) so that we can reduce our case numbers and graduate to Tier 2 of the new State framework as outlined below.
At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, we received an update on COVID-19 and the school waiver process. It is of great importance that we ensure there is enough testing capacity to safely allow TK-6 schools to reopen. In order to reopen schools in an equitable fashion, I am determined to make sure that public schools have the same access to testing as private schools, which likely have more funds to contract with private testing companies. To that end, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is reserving two hours per day for school districts at each of our county testing sites and have determined that there is some capacity at the local state-sponsored testing sites as well. According to the graph below, our 14-day average case rate is below the state case rate and we continue to observe an overall decline. However, that does not mean we can abandon the precautions that have gotten us here. It is crucial that we continue the same hygiene practices, wearing face coverings, and limiting gathering with those not in our households so that we can continue to make progress.
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an Air Quality Warning for Santa Barbara County. Smoke from wildfires burning throughout the state, including in Monterey County, are affecting local air quality, and conditions may continue over the next several days. Due to elevated temperatures and stagnant air conditions, we are also experiencing increased ozone levels in regions of the county.
There is a significant warming trend and heatwave impacting California and the rest of the West Coast that will put pressure on our energy grid. In order to avoid electricity shortages, we are asking businesses and residents to reduce energy usage in order to prevent service interruptions.
It’s especially important to limit energy usage from 3 pm to 10 pm, especially air conditioning, electric car charging and other energy intensive technology.
Sign up to receive Flex Alert notifications from your utility provider to help California conserve energy during times of grid stress. You can also check out https://readysbc.org/psps/ for tips on what to do before, during, and after power loss.
Last week I was talking with a constituent who was worried about the mask wearing habits of tourists while walking outside. I acknowledged it is important to promote people planning on wearing a mask even as part of an outdoor excursion (such as where there are bottlenecks and the inability to keep physical distance from others) even if there are times when it is not necessary (certain types of exercise do not require a mask, especially outdoors and if there are no other people around). Then I pointed out the vented mask she had been wearing around town for the past two months does not work to protect anyone around you and has been banned in some jurisdictions, such as our County, because it only filters air coming in and not the air you breathe out.
America, and even our community, is very divided on how to respond to the strange times we are in. However, we must be united in concern about the futures of our children and grandchildren, preserving lives, and saving as many jobs and people from poverty.
How can we do all that?
(On Monday,) July 13, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered statewide closures of some indoor business operations and additional closures for those counties that have remained on the state’s County Monitoring List for 3 consecutive days. Santa Barbara County is included on this list, found here.
The Governor’s order is effective immediately. Santa Barbara County has issued a Health Officer Order which provides more details and guidance. I’ve listed out a summary of the changes below.
In early May, Santa Barbara County began community testing in partnership with the California Department of Public Health. The testing being conducted is intended to identify if an individual currently has the COVID-19 virus. Over the course of the past two months the testing sites’ utilization has increased significantly. While we continue to support members of our community getting tested, the current volume of asymptomatic, low/no-risk individuals getting tested has reduced the capacity of these state-run sites to test essential and healthcare workers, symptomatic individuals, those who have had an exposure or individuals at risk. Community members unable to schedule an appointment at the state-run sites should contact their primary care provider or local urgent care centers.
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.
Governor Newsom (on June 18) announced that face coverings are required to be worn State-wide in the circumstances outlined in the State guidance. It does not substitute for existing guidance about social distancing and handwashing.
Additionally, our Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer has put a pause on further reopening of personal care services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, businesses offering facials, electrolysis, and waxing, etc.
Despite these significant acts of warranted precaution, we are seeing that the majority of active cases in Santa Barbara County are regional in nature. During the Public Health Department presentation to the Board of Supervisors this week, we learned more about why so many of our cases have been in North County, versus a much smaller amount of cases in South County (34 cases total).
This has been an especially difficult last couple of weeks as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic while being forced to confront the reality of systemic racism with the murders of several Black lives over the last few months – George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade. This isn’t the first time there have been protests in the streets over the taking of Black lives and a lot of the anger and pain you see is because of the reality for Black Americans knowing this won’t be the last time they have to protest in the streets to get justice and make change – and knowing that the next time the protest might be for them. We must take this time where we are already being forced out of the norm and out of our routine to look within our collective soul as a country and address the pain and discomfort of racism that has existed since the founding of our country.
Yesterday, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department provided an update to the Board of Supervisors on COVID-19. Despite the reopening of more businesses and people out and about at the beach and downtown, our indicators have remained well within the guidelines set by the State. In fact, we have seen a 27% reduction of active cases. However, we need more people to take advantage of our increased testing capability. Many of you emailed me about procuring a greater amount of testing and now we ask that you please use it! I know many of you were not utilizing our local testing sites because you wanted to make sure they were available for healthcare workers, and other essential workers, but now there seems to be testing capacity for everyone who is interested. Please see more information on testing below:
Online appointment registration: https://lhi.care/covidtesting
Yesterday, in response to Governor Newsom’s announcement, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued a revised Health Officer Order which provides updated guidance for places of worship and providers of religious services and cultural ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, hair salons, and barbershops.The Order states that:
I am very pleased to announce the State Department of Public Health approved Santa Barbara County’s attestation to move further into Stage 2, which allows in-dining restaurants and retail stores to open as long as they follow safety guidance provided by the state and complete a self-certification of safe practices. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued this Health Officer Order, which provides local guidance.
Yesterday, Governor Newsom announced changes to his criteria for counties to be able to move more quickly through Stage 2 of his reopening plan (although no counties can move past Stage 2 into Stage 3 until the Governor authorizes that action) and today, our Public Health Director is sending in our attestation that Santa Barbara County meets the criteria.
The new criteria is as follows:
Despite a large increase in the amount of testing, COVID-19 infections continue to be modest. During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors hearing, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Director presented the above graph, which indicates that new cases have continued to decline if you exclude the cases from the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution. At the Board of Supervisors meeting this coming Tuesday, the Board will receive a presentation on the Reopening In Safe Environment (RISE) Guide, which builds off of the guidance from the Governor’s Resilience Roadmap but also provides local guidance and best practices for industry sectors as developed by an expert panel.
Good news, expanded testing begins next week, see below for details. Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom outlined the State’s plan to reopen the economy in four stages:
Stage 1: Improving testing and tracing, procuring personal protective equipment and ensuring hospital surge capacity.
Stage 2: Opening, with adaptations, school and child care facilities and lower-risk workplaces like retail stores, manufacturers and offices. Park and trail restrictions will also be loosened.
Stage 3: Opening higher-risk workplaces, like gyms, nail and hair salons, movie theaters, sports without live audiences and churches.
Stage 4: End of the stay-at-home order; reopen highest-risk workplaces, like concerts, convention centers and live-audience sports.
At today’s Board of Supervisors hearing, the Board received updated information on the outbreak at the Federal Prison in Lompoc, graphical presentation of Santa Barbara County COVID-19 By the Numbers, and a look ahead regarding Economic Reopening Plan development. As you can see from the graph above, although there is variability day-to-day, we are seeing a downward trend in the increase in total cases per day. The goal is to see some consistency in the downward trend and it seems we are headed down that path.
As the State evaluates ways to safely modify the statewide stay-at-home order, they have developed six key indicators that will be considered before such modification would take place: Expand our testing capabilities, contact tracing, and support for Californians who contract…
The good news is that physical distancing is working. Our County Public Health Department and the hospitals have worked to increase hospital bed capacity to about 590 countywide, yet our hospitalizations are at 40 (confirmed patients). Lives have been saved by our combined efforts, so please keep it up as the State wrestles with how long the “Shelter in Place” order will last and we wrestle with what we will do if the order is lifted or modified.
As we enter the weekend, many are feeling the disappointment of not being able to celebrate religiously significant holidays in close physical proximity to friends and loved ones. However, virtual hugs, decorated homes, recipe swaps, special meals and your best holiday attire can make Passover, Easter, and Ramadan feel special while practicing physical distancing. Here are some ways you can practice physical distancing during the Holidays:
Governor Newsom announced new help for small businesses & workers displaced by COVID-19. $50 million in loan guarantees is available for small businesses that may not be eligible for federal relief and the State is also allowing small businesses to…
We are together facing yet another time of crisis, and how we behave in it will define and test our community and our humanity. Many have lost jobs or income, seen their products rot without customers, their businesses close, and some are even now seeing their loved ones sick. We must be a community where individuals take it upon themselves to shorten the economic crisis and save lives, by practicing social distancing without the need for Big Brother government or well-meaning neighbors to tell you how to behave.
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As we conclude the first week of Governor Newsom’s “shelter in place” order, I am encouraged by our community’s resilience and determination to “flatten the curve” while also rapidly enacting safeguards for our vulnerable community members. At the County, we…
These are not the times for either panic or complacency. Please practice social distancing and respect Governor Newsome’s “shelter in place” order but also have compassion and understanding that many of our neighbors are still working and are required work for…
California Governor Gavin Newsom just announced a statewide order for all California residents to shelter in place. The order goes into effect this evening. The following services will remain open through the order: Gas stations Pharmacies Food: Grocery stores, farmers…
I know that many of you have fear, anxiety, and additional, very real burdens from the Coronavirus outbreak. Some of you have lost work, some of you are in danger of losing your business and your dream, and some of you…
Greetings! , The weather advisory issued for FRIDAY night through SATURDAY morning has been upgraded to an evacuation warning. A storm is coming in that is expected to be exceed thresholds to require evacuation. This means that we are in the…
