Public health leaders announce COVID-19 Data Dashboard and new Solvang test site
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - If residents don't take advantage of free COVID-19 test sites run by the state, Santa Barbara County could lose them.
To prevent that from happening, Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso said they will be closing the temporary test site in Lompoc later this week and moving it to Solvang's Veterans Memorial Hall on Friday.
"If we didn't improve our numbers they would transfer that opportunity to another county, so we looked at mid-county locations and Solvang was a community that had challenges of getting to Lompoc," said Do-Reynoso.
Dr. Do-Reynoso also acknowledged the social unrest and inequities that exist, especially when it comes to health care.
She said a new data dashboard will launch on Tuesday that will help the community visualize the current information.
"The dashboard was created so that we as a community can share the responsibility to monitor the spread in Santa Barbara County. We each need to do our part."
She said the data will help the department determine whether spikes follow the recent reopening, Memorial Day and George Floyd demonstrations.
It will include week-to-week comparisons of cases, hospitalizations and testing.
On Monday, before knowing about a fourth inmate death, she said there were no new cases at the Lompoc Prison and that 99 percent of the inmates had recovered.
In the community she announced 20 new cases over the weekend, for a total of 1,669 cases. She said only 115 of those cases are considered active community cases. The county has 29 patients hospitalized, with 9 in ICU.
She said 1,523 cases have fully recovered, or more than 91 percent.
"That is indeed noteworthy."
Supervisor Hart also commented on the unrest following the death of George Floyd.
Hart said, "It is important to say aloud Black Lives Matter."
He urged people to call their elected officials and promised to listen.
"I will collaborate with community members and our local justice agencies in taking meaningful steps in reducing our incarceration rate and confront racial disparities in our criminal system," said Hart.
Do-Reynoso commended Hart for his comments and said, "Health equity is a core value of public health, so what that means is public health is about making sure that every member of our community have the resources to thrive and to thrive at work, to thrive in places of learning, places of living where they recreate, where they worship so I am looking forward also to partner with community members and policy makers so that we together in partnership can improve our community."
Both urged people to get tested for free in Guadalupe, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc and soon Solvang. When Solvang opens on Friday, Lompoc's site will close.
People don't need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested anymore.
Visit lhi.care/covidtesting or call 1-888-634-1123 to make an appointment to get tested. If someone needs assistance they may also call 1-833-688-5551.
