The Mendocino County Health Officer has issued new Emergency Isolation and Quarantine Orders. The order is only for people who’ve tested positive or may have the virus, as a reminder. But starting yesterday, there were updated isolation/quarantine orders from the public health office. It goes like this, anyone who’s been confirmed to be positive for coronavirus, or likely has contracted the virus has to self-isolate and follow all instructions in the Emergency Isolation Order. You are therefore required to communicate, cooperate and respond to calls from County Public Health Case Investigation/Contact Tracing to prevent the spread. You have to isolate at least ten days away from others. And tell all of your close contacts about their possible exposure. Anyone fully vaccinated who was in contact with the infected person is not required to quarantine if they have no symptoms.
The owners of a restaurant where a staff member tested positive for COVID19 last month says they were not told by the public health office until contact tracing was already underway. Mendo Fever reports the owners of the Office Bar & Bistro sent out a letter to clarify the chain of events. They say they understand public health putting out a press release due to public safety concerns, but their protocol was not followed and the county has even apologized for the mis-communication. The owners say their “deepest concern… is staff and customers be kept safe, healthy, and continue to trust them”. They go on to say, “Stay safe. Stay diligent. We’re so close. Get vaccinated.”
A one car crash has ended with that car into a tree. The CHP in Ukiah on the scene Sunday morning on Highway 20 and say someone in a 2009 Honda Accord encountered a car in the other direction with the high beams on causing them to make an unsafe turn, so they crossed the highway and went off the road, onto the shoulder and hit the tree. Someone in their car died. The CHP reports they had their seatbelt on improperly. Another passenger complained of pain, and apparently had internal injuries, including a lacerated spleen and liver. 3 people ended up in the hospital. The CHP reports alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in the crash.
Lake County’s still doing well keeping coronavirus at bay. The county reports as Calif. moves beyond the Blueprint, most businesses can lift most safety restrictions. There will however still be some high risk settings that require masks and distancing, like so-called “mega-events” of 5,000 people indoors, or 10,000 outdoors. The acting Public Health Officer, Dr. Evan Bloom says the case rate is a lot lower that I the winter months, but nearly half of Lake County residents have not even received one dose of vaccine. He says the county is “well short of the 70% vaccination rate needed for herd immunity”. He says getting vaccinated and continuing to take common sense precautions are essential. He says the county has no intention of layering on new restrictions beyond what the state is ordering, starting today. So those fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask, in most indoor settings, but others have to.
Here we go again, another restaurant reporting a COVID19 case in Ukiah. Ellie’s Mutt Hut has one confirmed positive case in staff, so the public health office is asking anyone who may have gone to the restaurant last Thursday or Friday to get tested and closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. The staffer also went to a Potter Valley grad party Friday so they’re asking anyone else at that party, who’s not been vaccinated to also get a COVID test. Those who are fully vaccinated and develop symptoms should still get tested. The Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren is urging folks who think they have COVID or test positive to please stay home. Environmental Health is checking out the restaurant and says they’ve been very cooperative. He also urged them and is urging other restaurants and businesses to encourage employees to get vaccinated to stomp out the virus.
Stream flows in the lower Russian River are being cut by over half their regular amount to conserve water normally stored in Lake Sonoma. The Sonoma County water agency got the green light to cut flows. The Press Democrat reports instream flows in the upper river, above Dry Creek, fed by releases from Lake Sonoma, are already at a very low threshold so as much water as possible can be stored in Lake Mendocino, the smaller of the two reservoirs. So this means the county water agency and contractors have to use 20% less water from the river too. The two reservoirs are the lowest they’ve ever been this time of year, and the hottest, driest months have not even occurred.
The economy is fully reopening today and with that, some of the stay home safety protocols go out the window… but not so fast, if you haven’t been vaccinated. The state is pulling back some of the stricter guidelines and cancelling emergency orders while continuing to try to get people who are skeptical or reluctant to get a vaccination. Most restrictions on businesses still in place are being relaxed like mask wearing and social distancing for those who are vaccinated. The governor is rescinding several emergency actions put into place last year, that could take several months. The Gov. spoke on the reopening Friday thanking the 40 million Californians for getting vaccinated. There were 58 executive orders since March of 2020 related to the state of emergency because of the pandemic. It includes remote local government work, tax payment extensions and online learning. Plus utility and rent breaks and extended unemployment payments. Most orders will be rescinded by the Governor by June 30th, others, Sept. 30th.
A shooting in Windsor ends with two teens shot and a 3rd, who was the suspect, running from the scene. The trio, all 15 years old. Two ended up in the hospital, one of them had a shot to their arm, the other to their stomach. It happened Friday night at Michael Hall Park. Witnesses say they heard gunshots and multiple people running. The two victims injuries were reported not to be life threatening. And the alleged shooter was eventually arrested.
The California Public Utilities Commission says PG&E will have to work with an independent safety monitor. A proposal has been drawn up by the commission and will be voted on today. It’s all part of PG&E’s exit from bankruptcy last year. The commission decided an independent safety monitor should follow up after a federal monitor was appointed as part of PG&E’s probation in criminal court. The federal monitor will be done next year, and an independent safety monitor, would be more local. The commission looking to add another layer of oversight on the utility giant to make sure they focus on long-term safety and reliability.
A bump in water charges has passed the Brooktrails Township Community Service District (BTCSD) Board of Directors. Starting next month, it’s just about $1-3 more/month. Apparently the cost of treating water has gone up and is something that goes up every year. At their latest board meeting, they also discussed the drought and water shortages across the state, but they say Lake Ada Rose is full at the moment. But that it had gone down 5 inches since the last meeting. They say they’ll monitor and record other changes and enact a water shortage emergency if needed.
The next budget in Lakeport is nearly a done deal. The City Council will consider the city’s 2021-2022 Fiscal Year budget at their next meeting. It includes over $662,000 from last fiscal year to complete projects, already started. The Record Bee reports the city’s been able to keep the budget balanced even in the midst of the pandemic. They’re now focused on keeping a larger reserve that has flexibility and security. The council is also looking to enter a Professional Services Agreement with an engineering firm for a Neighborhood Improvement Project. They’re also looking over amendments to the General Plan which will allow them to try for FEMA grants and other types of FEMA emergency funding.
Rep. Mike Thompson has announced a tax credit for small businesses to help pay for sick and family leave has been extended through September. The tax credit is part of President Biden’s COVID stimulus package, the American Rescue Plan. Thompson says it allows workers to care for sick family members, take time off if they get coronavirus and use paid leave to get a vaccination. It also helps small businesses impacted economically by the pandemic. The advanceable, refundable tax credit allows businesses with less than 500 employees to get up to $17,110 per employee to give them up to 10 days of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave through September 30th.
