Public health official plans to share more specific COVID-19 data for review
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County will be releasing more information about COVID-19 cases and tracking under an improved metrics system.
Speaking to the County Board of Supervisors, Health Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso said she hopes it will be useful for the community to be engaged," in COVID-19.
The information on cases, and regional break downs will provide "a deeper dive" into the county's data.
It will be updated by 5 p.m. each day.
Do-Reynoso said, "We are poised to advance into Stage 3."
It will be based on the data the county has. Also there is a need to assess the impacts of the recent openings over Memorial Day and the loosening of the sectors.
They are closely watching any impacts on the COVID-19 spread of the disease based on public contact in recent weeks which has included a mask requirement in public places.
Looking ahead to the next changes, "we are awaiting guidance on schools and day camps," said Do-Reynoso.
Supervisor Das Williams said he has been contacted multiple times about the camps and they fall into the Stage 2 category.
The county says the state has yet to provide the guide protocols for the openings.
For people who want a test, "it is fairly easy to get an appointment. You can call the number or go on to the web site," she said.
The county has a RISE ( Reopening in Safe Environment ) document on its website that identifies protocols on how various businesses and overall lifestyle will return to normal.
The county said among the changes, wineries, breweries and tasting rooms that serve food could reopen. Previously they could not. There is an email application for a temporary permit. 37 permits have been issues in the last week.
There are also RISE ambassadors who will be going out in person, to help those who have questions that can't be answered on line or over the phone.
Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said he was impressed with the RISE guidelines for businesses that enabled individual owners to go specifically to the pages that addressed their need and get immediate answers. Some opened in a couple of days after the guide was put out.
The county and Montecito Planning commission will be talking about using public areas for dining at a meeting June 2. A full report will come back to the Board of Supervisors later this month.
The issues of COVID-19 cases within the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Lompoc and the Santa Barbara County jail came up and Supervisor Joan Hartmann says she is getting "deluged" with requests for coronavirus information about these two locations.
A report to the county recently shows the U.S. Bureau of Prisons is communicating information on a more regular basis than it did early on in the COVID crisis.
Do-Reynoso says she encourages the public to continue to wear face masks and coverings when they are out in public because of the protections they provide against the virus. Various masks have different ranges of effectiveness, as well as spacing between two people. "N-95's are the gold standard, but we don't want the public wearing N-95's," she said. Those are being saved for front line medical workers.
Watch for more information tonight on KEYT NewsChannel 3, KCOY NewsChannel 12, and KKFX Fox 11.
(More information and video will be added here later today.)
