With slight increases in the rate of new coronavirus cases and the test positivity rate, Santa Barbara County remains at the substantial red level of the coronavirus framework at state levels, the health director shared. public Van Do-Reynoso at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
“While we only have a little over a week of growing cases in our county, we’re sounding the alarm because that’s a wrong trend,” Do-Reynoso said. “We need to continue our security practices so that we can decrease our cases and move towards the orange level.”
In the last grade assignment, Santa Barbara County reported an adjusted daily case rate of 6.8, a test positivity rate of 2.7%, and a fairness test positivity rate. 5.1%. All three metrics increased from the previous level assessment.
“We’re thinking the increase could be the result of the reopening,” Do-Reynoso said. “We are seeing the pandemic shift nationally and statewide to young, unvaccinated people, who are more mobile and may be socializing more.”
According to Do-Reynoso, the county is experiencing an above-average number of cases among 20 people and young adults who identify as college or university students.
There is also a persistently growing proportion of cases in those working in the administrative or administrative industry, which is how the county ranks most office workers and white county residents, Do-Reynoso said.
On Tuesday, California achieved its second goal of vaccine equity: distributing 4 million doses to affected communities, defined by 400 state-specific zip codes, and will now make it easier for counties to move to less restrictive levels and reopen businesses additional.
“Unfortunately, we are still at the red level and we have been since March 16,” Do-Reynoso said. “We haven’t met the orange level criteria at the moment, although it has been expanded.”
Although the county province’s positivity rate and health equity tests meet the orange level criteria, the adjusted case rate of 6.8 exceeds the expanded metric of 6 cases per day per 100,000 population. The county must meet all three level metrics for two consecutive weeks before advancing to the orange level.
“We have some work ahead of us,” Do-Reynoso said.
As of Tuesday, there were 33,381 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the county and 185 are still considered infectious.
State allows larger meetings and plans to eliminate the color-coded level system in June
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the color-coded level system will be removed in June, on the assumption that case rates continue to decline and vaccinations increase statewide.
“We can say with confidence before June 15 that we can open business as usual,” with the putting on of masks and “continued surveillance,” he said.
The tier plan for a safer economy has been in place since August 2020 and assigns restrictions based on each county’s new coronavirus case rate and test positivity rate.
Until then, the level system and its restrictions will remain in place.
Last week, the state updated the guidelines for meetings, which allowed larger groups than statewide public health orders to date.
Santa Barbara County remains at the red level of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework for its reopening. (Photo State of California)
Below the red level and as of April 15, outdoor, social and informal meetings are allowed, with a capacity for 25 people and do not require a defined guest list or test and vaccination tests, Do- Reynoso.
Meetings indoors are still strongly discouraged, but are allowed with a maximum capacity of 25 people in environments where capacity limits exist, or up to three households or 10 people where capacity limits do not exist, he added. No food is allowed at these meetings.
As of April 15, all live event venues can operate at a maximum capacity of 25% if all guests are tested or show full vaccination tests, Do-Reynoso said. Sites with capacity limits of up to 1,500 people can operate at a maximum capacity of 10% or 100 people, and sites with a capacity of more than 1,500 people can operate at a capacity of 20% if all guests and demonstrate complete vaccination, according to Do-Reynoso.
From April 15, private events are allowed with a maximum capacity of 50 people outdoors below the red level or a capacity of 200 if all guests are tested or full vaccination is accredited. According to Do-Reynoso, private indoor events can accommodate 100 people if all guests are tested or proof of complete vaccination is demonstrated.
“We are satisfied with the diligence and thoroughness of what is proposed,” Do-Reynoso said. “We are confident of the guidelines issued by the state and are willing to review the order of our health officer to reflect the new state guidance.”
Vaccination status of Santa Barbara County
As of Monday, 17.7% of the county’s population is fully vaccinated, according to the county’s community data board.
Through the federal Association of Health Resources and Services Administration, the county received 14,760 doses of the vaccine this week to be assigned to the county’s five health centers, Do-Reynoso said.
“It is with this allocation that we can support our large community vaccination sites,” he added.
The Department of Public Health was able to administer 8,314 first doses last week to community residents through the Lompoc vaccination clinic, Do-Reynoso said, and hopes to provide 9,150 doses this week to the Allan Hancock College clinic.
There are 7,530 additional vaccination appointments available at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (formerly the Fess Parker Hotel) for the community vaccination clinic that will take place next week, according to Do-Reynoso. Appointments will be posted on the county website here when available.
In addition to the federal allocation, the Department of Public Health received 4,900 doses of vaccine this week, Do-Reynoso said, adding that the department received a late allocation of 500 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Due to the large volume of vaccines available, Public Health determined that all people over the age of 16 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine at county clinics that offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said Do-Reynoso, who added that the Moderna & Johnson Vaccines & Johnson are only approved for those over 18 years of age.
Those over the age of 16 can now book vaccination appointments at community clinics in Santa Barbara County, Lompoc Valley Medical Center clinics or other clinics starting April 15 or as early as next Monday, he said. Do-Reynoso.
MyTurn, Do-Reynoso said, that the state has a firm deadline to complete the transition to the centralized COVID-19 vaccine appointment system. The new system is expected to be fully implemented by April 15 and the first Santa Barbara County clinic will use MyTurn on April 16, according to Do-Reynoso.
Future first-dose clinics or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be scheduled via MyTurn.
Do-Reynoso added that the state has recently modified the MyTurn app to give the county the ability to upload an appointment spreadsheet for mobile clinics, adding that the feature should be available by the end of the month. .
“This feature will be an amazing tool for us when we have our mobile clinics to care for unique neighborhoods and towns in our community,” Do-Reynoso said.
The Department of Public Health recommends that residents be vaccinated even if they have already tested positive for the virus.
“Recent studies indicate that even just one dose of the vaccine can overload antibodies even if you have recovered from COVID-19,” Do-Reynoso said. “The vaccine will offer you better protection against infections of the variants that are now circulating.
“In short, getting vaccinated is a safer way to protect yourself than to get infected.”
– Noozhawk staff writer Jade Martinez-Pogue can be contacted . (You need JavaScript enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews i @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.