Edhat StaffBy edhat staff
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) added 135 new COVID-19 cases bringing the grand total to 5,124.
There are now 295 active cases, up 21 from yesterday, with 82 hospitalizations including 25 in the intensive care unit (ICU).
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Supervisor Gregg Hart said he’s encouraged by seeing increasing numbers of people wearing masks in public lately. He reminded the community that wearing face coverings is a direct mandate from the Governor throughout the entire state.
Hart also stated everyone should shop and dine at local businesses to help our community and economy.
“When we look back on this moment we want to be able to say we did everything we could,” said Hart.
Steven DeLira, Deputy Executive Director of the Family Service Agency (FSA), addressed some common cultural norms the nonprofit has encountered during the pandemic.
When discussing the need for physical distancing with those outside immediate households even during celebrations, he said the agency commonly heard “we weren’t raised that way.” He reminded the community that none of us were raised during a pandemic and we’re now learning about social distancing and mask-wearing.
“This sense of cultural values being stronger than [COVID-19] seems to contribute to a higher number of cases in the Santa Maria and Lompoc area,” DeLira said reaffirming it’s his own opinion.
Other factors include family members taking care of those who are sick or elderly as well as multiple families living in a single home where positive patients fear eviction.
FSA has been working to educate the community around these areas they commonly dealt with. More information is available at https://fsacares.org/covid-19/
295 Active Cases out of 445,000
5,124 positive cases overall out of 445,000
And there is much controversy over positive cases as not all have been tested. They assume you are positive if you have two symptoms, cough & a fever etc….
Point is we’re doing very well despite the “misreporting”. Despite the holidays.
Now schools are closed because they are worried about out of area school staff coming in and infecting the children.
Businesses are closed
The federal aid program ends in a week.
August is going to be very interesting.
Thank You for your daily updates on the local COVID-19 situation. It is clearly presented and informative.