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Many small steps underway for Covid-19 tests and economic recovery

The Santa Barbara County Health Director says the area is in a good position for recovery.
Santa Barbara Health director
John Palminteri
The Santa Barbara County Health Director says the area is in a good position for recovery. (John Palminteri)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Restoring some level of normalcy to the economy and understanding what coronavirus health data will trigger various changes is coming in small doses.

Low risk businesses have been given the green light to open for take out only on Friday, according to Governor Gavin Newsome.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors are now asking if they can be stricter or more flexible. Many questions will not be known for two more days.

Chairman Gregg Hart said, "we don't know if there will be any flexibility afforded to the county."

Supervisor Das Williams asked the staff to look at other low risk businesses that could be added to a local list, beyond the Governor's recommendation.

Tri-county medical leaders are in constant talks about a united road map using data to help decision makers move on the economic changes.

"We have had a good relationship with SLO and Ventura," said Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso.


"I think there are elements of the containment piece that we need to strengthen but I think we are in a good spot," said Do-Reynoso.

Testing has begun at three sites in the county. Currently it is Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Do-Reynoso says she is hoping to add Saturday and Sunday soon. It is currently only the swab tests.

More information is available via phone at 888-634-1123
or on-line at lhi.care/covidtesting

" We are keeping people's hair on fire pretty good," said Supervisor Peter Adam who questioned the numbers being presented by health officials on a regular basis. He said by showing the total numbers may not be the right way to present the current situation. "We only have 114 cases right now," he said calling it a way "to keep people hysterical."

In looking over the data he said, "We are just showing people a worse case scenario."

Adam says the numbers have bothered him for weeks and told Do-Reynoso, "I think I have asked you about this every presentation we keep inflaming the public with this ever increasing number which isn't reflective of the actual situation."

Adam also asked for a comparison between the regular flu and the Covid-19 cases

COLAB (Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business) representative and Congressional candidate Andy Caldwell told the board the number of coronavirus cases in the general population was very low. He separated out information from confined locations such as prisons. Caldwell told county leaders the public numbers were just below 150 cases and not large enough to impose the economic decisions currently in place. The county has a population of about 400,000.

Sheriff Bill Brown says with no visitors at the main jail, postage paid postcards have been provided to the inmates and they have two free 15-minute phone calls a week in addition to calls they pay for themselves.

He stressed the Lompoc Federal Penitentiary, has a "very difficult" situation now with many Covid cases reported. He stressed it was an entirely different operation that what is done at the county level.

Supervisor Das Williams looked for the best and safest way to get the economy up and running again because of critical impacts now hitting many sectors.

"Time is short before many slip into poverty  or have their housing endangered and I think there is a lot of health outcomes that hang in the balance for them and their children," he said.

Move coverage tonight on KEYT NewsChannel 3, KCOY NewsChannel 12 and KKFX Fox 11.

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John Palminteri

John Palminteri is senior reporter for KEYT News Channel 3-12. To learn more about John, click here.

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