With a slight increase in the rate of new coronavirus cases and the test positivity rate, Santa Barbara County remains at the substantial red level of the state-level coronavirus framework, Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso told the supervisory board meeting on Tuesday.
“Even though we have just over a week of growing cases in our county, we are sounding the alarm, because this is a trend in the wrong way,” Do-Reynoso said. “We need to continue our safety practices so that we can reduce our cases and move to the orange level.”
In the most recent level award, Santa Barbara County reported an adjusted daily case rate of 6.8, a test positivity rate of 2.7%, and a health equity test positivity rate of 5.1 %. All three values have increased since the previous level assessment.
“We think growth can be the result of reopening,” Do-Reynoso said. “We are seeing the pandemic change at the national and state levels to young, unvaccinated people who are more mobile and can socialize more.”
The county faces a higher-than-average number of cases among 20-year-olds and young adults who identify as college or university students, according to Do-Reynoso.
There is also a growing proportion of cases of those working in the clerical or leadership industry, as the county ranks the most office workers and white county residents, Do-Reynoso said.
On Tuesday, California reached its second vaccine equity goal of distributing 4 million doses to affected communities, defined by 400 state-specific zip codes, and will now make it easier for counties to advance in levels. less restrictive and reopen additional companies.
“Unfortunately, we are still at the red level and we are from March 16,” Do-Reynoso said. “We have not met the orange criteria at this time, even though they have been extended.”
While the county’s positive test rate and the health equity test positive rate meet both the orange level criteria, the adjusted case rate of 6.8 falls above the extended values of 6 cases per day per 100,000 populations. The county must meet all three level values for two consecutive weeks before advancing to the orange level.
“We have some work to do,” Do-Reynoso said.
As of Tuesday, there were 33,381 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the county and 185 are still considered infectious.
The state allows larger assemblies and plans to eliminate the color-coded tier system in June
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the color-coded tier system will be phased out in June, with case rates continuing to fall and vaccinations rising nationwide.
“We can say with confidence until June 15 that we can open business as usual,” with masked clothing and “continuous vigilance,” 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 positivity test rate.
Until then, the level system and its restrictions will remain in place.
Last week, the state updated the guidelines for meetings, allowing larger groups than public health orders have had at the national level so far.
Santa Barbara County remains at the red level of the national scheme for a safer economy for reopening. (California State Photography)
Within the red level and starting April 15, outdoor social and informal gatherings are allowed with a capacity of 25 people and do not require a defined guest list or proof of testing and vaccination, Do-Reynoso said.
Indoor assemblies are still severely discouraged, but are allowed with a maximum capacity of 25 people in places where there are capacity limits or up to three households or 10 people where there are no capacity limits, she added. Food is not allowed at these gatherings.
Also, starting April 15, all event venues and shows are allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 25% if all guests are tested or have proof of complete vaccination, Do-Reynoso said. Places with capacity limits of up to 1,500 people are allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 10% or 100 people, and places with a capacity of over 1,500 are allowed to operate at a capacity of 20% if all guests are tested and provide proof of complete vaccination according to Do-Reynoso.
From 15 April, private events with a maximum outdoor capacity of 50 people below the red level or a capacity of 200 are allowed if all guests are tested or provide proof of complete vaccination. Private indoor events can accommodate 100 people if all guests are tested or have evidence of complete vaccination, according to Do-Reynoso.
“We are pleased with the diligence and soundness of what is being proposed,” Do-Reynoso said. “We are confident in the guidance issued by the state and are prepared to review our health officer’s order to reflect the new state guidance.”
Santa Barbara County vaccination status
As of Monday, 17.7% of the county’s population is fully vaccinated, according to the county’s dashboard.
Through the federal partnership for health resource management and services, the county received 14,760 doses of vaccine this week to allocate five health care centers to counties, Do-Reynoso said.
“With this allocation, we are able to support our large community vaccination sites,” she added.
The Department of Public Health managed to administer 8,314 first doses to community residents through the Lompoc vaccination clinic last week, Do-Reynoso said, and hopes to deliver 9,150 doses to the Allan Hancock College clinic this week.
There are another 7,530 vaccinations available at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (formerly the Fess Parker Hotel) for the community vaccination clinic 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 Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Due to the high volume of vaccine availability, Public Health has determined that everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine at county-run clinics that offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Do-Reynoso said, adding that Moderna and 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 immediately next month, Do-Reynoso said.
The state has a firm deadline to complete the transition to the centralized COVID-19 vaccine naming system, MyTurn, Do-Reynoso said. The new system should be fully implemented on April 15, and the first clinic in Santa Barbara County will use MyTurn on April 16, according to Do-Reynoso.
Future first-dose clinics or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be scheduled through MyTurn.
The state recently modified the MyTurn app to give the county the ability to upload a spreadsheet with appointments for walking clinics, Do-Reynoso said, adding that the function should be live by the end of the month.
“This feature will be an amazing tool for us when we have our mobile clinics to serve the unique neighborhoods and populations of 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 a single dose of vaccine can overload your antibodies, even if you have recovered from COVID-19, Do-Reynoso said. “The vaccine will give you better protection against infections against the variants that are now circulating.
“Bottom line, vaccination is a safer way to build protection than infection.”
– Noozhawk staff writer Jade Martinez-Pogue can be contacted at . (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Sign in with Noozhawk on Facebook.