The Lake County Public Health Office giving an update on Covid-19 cases. There are now 137 total cases, with 36 active and 3 in the hospital. As we get further into the pandemic, the health office notes some features of our local spread. Several cases in people who contracted it at a social gathering with family and friends, where multiple households are present for a sustained period of time, calling this very risky. Second someone who has close contact with someone with the virus without a mask on, within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more. And third, people working in high public contact environments. The health office says they can’t confirm they contracted the infection at work, but they say frequent social interaction and employment in front-line service industries appear to be strong risk factors.
3 people in Sonoma County have died due to coronavirus. The County Public Health Office reports 19 people have died, 10 from skilled nursing centers. It’s also on the heels of the announcement that the county has now had more than 2,000 cases since early March. A man died Monday, a woman Tuesday and a third person Wednesday. The Press Democrat reports all were over 65 years old. The total cases as of last night including 45 newly confirmed cases was 2,027. The public health office also reports some people who had recently tested positive had traveled out of the county or state and others were at large gatherings which are prohibited. The public health order allows only groups of up to 12 people outside a household for outdoor activities.
As noted earlier this week, as of today a new public health order will be in pace. The Mendocino County Health Officer Dr. Noemi Doohan says the same restrictions as Sonoma County which is on the state’s watch list will be instituted by noon today. That means no indoor dining, no bars, gyms, personal care salons or church. As far as we know the state has not yet placed the county on the watchlist, but with one death and 7 hospitalized in our 3 county hospitals, Doohan says it’s a matter of time. Dr. Doohan says she’s pre-emptively making the move so she can retain local control. There are now 177 cases of coronavirus reported in the county.
12 new cases of Covid-19 in Mendocino County for a total of 177. There are now 4 people in an ICU. Over the last week, our case load has grown with 64 new cases and one confirmed death. Seven of the new cases in the Hispanic community which has been hit hard across the state. We’ve had three cases in kids between 6 and 12 years old and three in the over 65 range. The Public Health Office attributes one of the new cases to “community spread”, the rest are being investigated. Half the new cases in the Ukiah Valley. 11 cases in the new group are isolating and seven are in the hospital.
California seeing a surge in unemployment cases along with a surge in the pandemic. Almost 300,000 new claims for unemployment for the week ending July 11th. That’s nearly 23,000 more initial claims than a week before. Unemployment in the country at 1.3 million, the lowest in the last four months. But in Calif. we’ve had more than 6 and a half initial claims since the pandemic arose in March.
There are several states the White House is watching that are considered hotspots, Calif. is in a so-called “red-zone”. The Center for Public Integrity reports 18 states are in the “red zone” with more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population. 11 states in the zone for positive tests, 10% of their tests came back with positive results. The coordinator of the coronavirus task force at the White House Dr. Deborah Birx says she is regularly updated by governors. She says Arizona, California, Florida and Texas were being monitored closely along with other states which should all limit gatherings.
Updated guidance on the reopening of schools is expected from the Governor. The state is dealing with a major resurgence of the virus just weeks ahead of when schools would normally be opening. Gov. Newsom’s office is not giving any hints as to what his plan is for schools this fall, but many school districts have already said they’d be online only in the fall. Some teacher’s unions say they want teachers to get back to the classroom, virtually, at least for the first quarter or semester. The California Teachers Association has sent the Governor, the state Superintendent and legislative leaders word that there doesn’t appear to be a way to get back in person safely right now, so from a public health perspective, quality long distance learning was the way to go until the virus is tamed.
After the deadly Ghost Ship Fire 36 people died and two people were charged with their deaths. One of them got off, the other still dealing with the possibility of prison time. Now the city of Oakland has agreed to a nearly 37 million dollar settlement after the massive 2016 fire that broke out at the converted warehouse. The settlement for families of 32 of the victims and more than $9 million alone for Sam Maxwell, who survived but will have to live with severe injuries and massive doctor’s bills. As part of the settlement the city does not acknowledge any liability.
A couple of churches in Mendocino County and another in Oroville are suing the Governor for not allowing singing and chanting. The pastor of Calvary Chapel in Fort Bragg says it’s a “biblical mandate” to sing in church. The federal lawsuit after being closed down in March, then getting to reopen with lowered capacity, and as of late, without singing and chanting. Singing and chanting are risky acts in the age of COVID, spreading droplets if the singing is too loud. The virus has since expanded its footprint so the discouraging of singing and chanting is now a mandate. The suit was filed in Redding and also focusing on Black Lives Matter protests. Along with Calvary Chapell is Greens Church and Life Church in Oroville. They claim the governor protected protesters, but is not doing the same for churchgoers. One of the plaintiff’s dad’s is one of President Trump’s lawyers.
A man from Covelo’s been arrested after a fire breaks out on tribal land. Carmelo Delgado told deputies he set the fire to get attention. Witnesses say he was arguing with another person, then Delgado started the fire. He apologized and tried helping someone else douse the flames. They say he was also very drunk during the incident. Round Valley Fire and Cal Fire on the scene, surrounding the fire which they say burned about 4 acres. Deputies also say the field where the fire was had recently been used to harvest haybales, at $12 ea. 90 of them were destroyed in the fire. He’s charged with intentionally starting a fire causing property damage, destruction of property and being intoxicated in public and held on $25,000 bail.
The Gov. has outlined his plans for schools to reopen in the fall with any that are in a county on the state watchlist relegated to long distance learning. The rules also say children above 2nd grade and all staff wear a facial covering. It also requires public schools that cannot reopen because they’re on the state’s watch list to follow strict rules for when they do reopen. Many schools are still working on their reopening plans as schools are about a month away from starting again. The state has reported the highest one day totals in infections and deaths this week. Los Angeles and San Diego schools had already decided to be online only. And San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Long Beach, Santa Ana and San Bernardino are also not returning in the fall.
As expected the Mendocino County Public Health Office in accordance with the state and the expectation that we will soon be on the state’s watchlist, will close many businesses again. In alignment with the state’s 58 counties, many indoor sectors are closed. And outdoor dining is still allowed. But indoor operations in Mendocino County are no longer allowed, restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos and museums and cardrooms. Since the governor has released the new guidance on schools, in Ukiah, we just received word, that we will be on Distance Learning. There had been a plan earlier in the week for kids to go in two groups, two days each. Now the Board of Trustees, along with district community members, including District and school-site administrators, department leads, Ukiah Teachers Association (UTA) members, California School Employees Association (CSEA) members, and parents have all chimed in on the decision. It comes in response to the rising cases and local hospitalizations. Improvements to distance learning are being made.
