Anonymous
Source: Public Health Department
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) has been notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of two county residents who tested positive for the B.1.1.7 variant, also known as the U.K. variant. These cases are unrelated and neither case reported travel abroad. Both individuals completed their isolation period and are no longer infectious. The PHD Disease Control and Prevention Unit will continue investigating the case and completing contact tracing efforts. No other cases have been identified with this variant.
CDPH issued a Health Alert on February 25, 2021 regarding the increasing identification of COVID-19 virus variants in California, in the U.S., and internationally. CDPH’s alert details the current virus variants of concern, consisting of the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1. As of yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has declared the variants B.1.429 and B.1.427 as variants of concern as well. B.1.429 and B.1.427 are prominent locally. Only two cases of B.1.1.7 have been identified in Santa Barbara County.
As of March 11, 2021, there were 265 known cases caused by variant B.1.1.7 in California.
CDPH considers Variant B.1.1.7 to be a variant of concern because it is thought to be more contagious and likely to cause greater illness or severe disease.
“The discovery of this concerning variant in our community serves as a reminder that we are still in a pandemic and things may shift quickly in the wrong direction if we let our guard down,” shared Van Do-Reynoso, Public Health Director. “It is critical that everyone continue wearing their masks, practicing social distance, and limiting gathering. If you have tested positive or have been exposed to a positive case, please adhere to isolation and quarantine guidelines.”
For more information about the COVID-19 guidance and the local response, please visit https://publichealthsbc.org.
Who cares? Viruses mutate. Move on.
Death rate is 64% higher with B117 COVID variant. Go maskless in large indoor crowds if you’re not concerned.
Really? Is that why there are so many huge numbers of deaths being reported worldwide from this new strain? Also, I’ve been all over the country, enjoying food indoors, concerts, and movies. Tested negative once a week. I’ve been living the last year. What have you been doing?
You might want to start paying attention to the variants, unless you live in the same fantasy universe as Rand Paul:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/18/covid-i-totally-disagree-with-you-fauci-tells-gop-senator-in-fiery-exchange-over-masks.html
Rand Paul is a doctor too. Just because CNN doesn’t like him doesn’t mean he isn’t smart. If you want to believe every asinine rule and ‘fact’ that’s been sent down the line in the last year about Covid, then go for it. Fauci doesn’t know his backside from a hole in a ground. He moves where the wind blows.
Rand Paul is an uncertified “doctor” of opthalmology. He knows nothing about viruses and epidemiology, obviously.
But less effective.
Long story short, the media is not news, they are for profit businesses! Their goal is to make as much money as possible. The more fear and division they create the more clicks, likes add views they get, the more money they make! They want us divided, they want us scared and they reinforce those feels every single day.
As compared to your preferred method of just making things up, media outlets that employ real journalists (unlike the Fox infotainment) do an admirable job.
As a journalist @Voice, you’re only describing organizations that claim to be news but are really spinning propaganda. Most of which are representing the far-right. Most legitimate news organizations are struggling in this new age of media and place the integrity of their content above all else, yes even ad dollars, which is why they are struggling financially.
Follow up to my last comment, from a journalists POV, I’m continually shocked by people who refuse to look at facts and then turn it around on the reporter or their outlet. It’s downright frightening.
hahaha, yeah it’s only the “far-right” that spins progoganda, for you to say that, as a journalist, is exactly why journalism is dead. All those examples were all over CNN, MSNBC, etc. all those examples are when they left FACTS out of the picture and inserted their own opinion and narrative. Where “journalists” did no investigation but regurgitated what another outlet said and represented it as fact. I am constantly shocked by the amount of opinion presented as “fact” and “news” that people blindly accept as the “truth”. It’s downright frightening.
News Flash!!! The variants will inevitably form and show up here. Do Not Panic. Continue to behave responsibly with masking and avoiding large groups, as most of you have been doing. There is no need to wear 4 masks at a time, hole up in your house like a hermit, or be an a-hole to your fellow citizens. Keep calm and carry on.
Wish I could upvote this comment 10x. VOC – saw your deleted post of all the great examples…truth hurts I guess. Its all about the clicks now
“as most as you have been doing” is a pipe dream.
Fool
Rand Aquabuddah Paul is an ophthalmologist, eye doctor. Fauci has been an immunologist, a specialist in communicable diseases, for fifty freaking years. Who do you think is an expert and who should stay in his Jeri Curl lane?
You only have to listen to either Rand or Ron for a minute or two to realize that they’re several Tweety-birds short of a Looney Tune.
Voice, you’re being ridiculous. A Dr. of Opthalmology is not an Epidemiologist. I wouldn’t go to my dentist (Dr. of Dental Surgery) for a rash.
@4:04 that is very insulting to anyone who put in the blood sweat and tears to get through medical school and residency. He is a physician, a medical doctor (MD), specializing in ophthalmology, NOT to be confused with optometry. You calling him an uncertified “doctor” and the 5 people who up voted your comment shows how many here are more interested in spin and propaganda than facts.
VOR – I agree, even though I think Rand Paul is a brainwashed, conspiracy theory driven fool. Sounds like 4:04 should write him a letter of apology. Do you have any of that solemn stationary leftover from my apology letter? 😉
6:11 Be responsible, don’t spread myths.
Is he a practicing doctor, or a senator? I don’t think you can be both. If he is a practicing doctor, does that make him infallible in all of his opinions?
I guess you’re unaware that being vaccinated does not preclude being infected or spreading COVID. Stop spreading myths, indeed!
9:18 – What part of “uncertified” is unclear to you?
According to Pit and anonymous here, even if you go to a prestigious medical school, medical residency and are a practicing physician for many years, once you stop and do something else all the built up knowledge and experience just disappears. That may be the case for you two, and would explain a lot of your comments.