Edhat StaffBy edhat staff
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) reports 20 new COVID-19 cases reaching a total of 1,624 during a press conference Wednesday.
All twenty new cases are within the community and are not part of the outbreak in the Federal Penitentiary in Lompoc, which claims 971 of the total cases.
Of the 653 community cases, 82 are quarantined at home, 28 are hospitalized with 10 in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 20 are pending information.
Overall, 17,289 tests have been conducted. Of all positive cases, approximately 86% have fully recovered within the county.
PHD reminded residents about the new mandatory face-covering order that went into effect on Tuesday. The order requires everyone within the county to wear a mask when inside of or in line to enter any and all businesses; when using public transportation, a private car service, or a ride-sharing vehicle; and all businesses must require employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear a face-covering at the workplace and at off-site work locations.
County Supervisor Gregg Hart addressed the new order stating, “we need to reopen the community and be safe.”
He understood the objections raised but stated we are all collectively dealing with a rapidly evolving health crisis and this order is an appropriate response to the reality that more businesses are opening and people are mixing more than before.
PHD Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg said they have seen an increase in situations where people are not social distancing that caused the mandatory face covering order.
While understanding the scientific evidence for and against wearing a face mask, Dr. Ansorg said there is significant evidence that a face covering can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, he advised the most powerful way to prevent the spread is to frequently wash your hands and socially distance with a face mask.
Dr. Ansorg cautioned against lessening restrictions further until two weeks have passed so PHD can analyze the results of the recent changes.
I wonder how many of those 20 infected 3-5 other people?
I am a State Street retailer, and I love a block party. So don’t get me wrong when I say what I am going to say. I agree with what the City decided to do in opening up State Street. I am also going to say what it is I wrote to my scientist son in Seattle: “We can’t have picnics or parties, our kids can’t go to school. We can’t have graduation, weddings, funerals or quincinearas. … but the city can sponsor a street party, inviting Los Angeles.” Not to mention their taking down the American Flags and “Stronger Together” banners for Memorialn Day, then hang them again this morning. What is that about?
The first customers I had at my store door this past weekend – as we have not yet opened – were a mother and daughter wearing cheapo, disposable masks, who said, “We’re from South Pasadena – and happy to get out of town. In our 3-1/2 square mile community we have the highest concentration of COVID-19 positives and 2 deaths in our neighborhood.”
As far as I see it, either we don’t have the testing in Santa Barbara to reveal our herd immunity, or we have none. Thank you for very much for actions for inviting next stage to our community.
‘While understanding the scientific evidence for and against wearing a face mask, Dr. Ansorg felt there is significant evidence that a face covering can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. ‘ – what a tragic sentence. Remember when the goalposts were “don’t overwhelm the hospitals”? Now the goalpost appears to be “whatever Dr Ansorg FEELS”
The “feels” may be what the reporter wrote, not what Ansorg said.
JAYKAY – What is your point? He weighed the evidence and decided masks CAN “help reduce” the spread. Why the outrage?
Five new cases in the Santa Barbara community. Yesterday there were three new cases in SB. I was getting pretty confident and more comfortable in the community until today. If we are going to start being the hub for out-of-towners from ‘hotspots,’ how can we protect our community before we have to retreat into our homes?
The masks do help, if worn correctly.
Nose out, mouth out, constant touching of the mask…not so much.
There are places that will give free masks for people who cannot afford or make one.
If you don’t want to get sick from tourists then stay home. Nothing prevents you from social distancing and self quarantine.
I understand what you are saying and I am self quarantining. I’d just rather not see SB have to go back to essential outings only.
LNOFAN, there is no going back. The DATA and SCIENCE show that a lock-down is not necessary to flatten the curve and prevent overloading our health care system… BY AN EXTREMELY LARGE MARGIN! Data, science and common sense shall guide us.
SAMTHEDOG, what are your thoughts on social distancing?
12:21 many of you still be in phase one while the rest of us are back to normal. Fear is bad for the immune system.
For those who doubt the efficacy of mask wearing, contact tracing, and social distancing, consider the success of Hong Kong. Roughly the same density and population of New York City, Hong Kong has only recorded 4 deaths from COVID 19 compared to the thousands of deaths in NYC. This virus can be contained if appropriate measures are initiated!
How are the 20 cases distributed? Are all of them in SB? Any updates on plans for contact tracing? Now that restrictions are being lifted and travel is resuming, we can expect more infections.
The tension between economics and health makes it well neigh impossible to prevent a relapse. However, folks without an income or a job are suffering quite badly. We should keep their interests in mind. This is where some form of state income assistance would be useful. The future is uncertain and I hope people don’t lose hope or their humanity.
Can we get a number of people with no pre-existing health condition that require hospitalization each day? I suspect that number is very low and would not be newsworty.
Seems the county is chiefed by the double tongues. From an earlier posting of mine seems to work here as well,
Jalama beach will be opening on may 1st for current reservations that were made pre-virus. 90% of the people on that list are from out of the county. We were told originally that the campground would only be open to county residents. The county has changed its mind about that and now will go back to the original list of out of county folks. This is as of last sunday.Something really stinks about this as someone else pointed out that the county is in dire straits financially and is willing to forego their own rules on Covid to suck up tourist dollars. I for one would welcome a county resident only policy at this point.
too bad the state is already in debt by the billions. The Road to Utopia is Paved with Good Intentions, but you WILL run out of Other People’s Money. Then you will be right back where you started, with worse problems.
Probably has more to do with not having the funds to refund the previously paid deposits and camping fees? Or can you make a reservation for free? County is having to walk a tightrope between generating revenue and keeping people safe. Can people social distance appropriately at those campsites?
What LNOFAN says. We could get lucky and be fine. We could get an influx of people from Los Angeles, have a spike, and have to shut down again. That would suck (for many people, not me, cuz we still aren’t going out. Work still requires WFH and my kids certainly aren’t in school, so…)
@LNOFAN I despise the term “Social Distancing”, it’s completely inaccurate. “Physical Distancing” is what we should be using /doing. Even before covid I was more on the germophobe side, especially once I had kids. I’d be quietly grossed out at all the people who don’t wash hands, touch everything then their face, etc., bottom line, the general public’s hygiene practices were pretty poor. Had people been more cognizant of how they sneeze/cough in public, increased their hand washing and decrease face touching (still hard for me) and stayed home from work / when not feeling well (also guilty) the covid hysteria wouldn’t have been nearly as bad (not saying it wouldn’t have happened or prevented all suffering, this is still a disaster like a tsunami only a very slowly rolling one). You also have to remember these are physical distancing “guidelines” aka recommendations that aren’t black and white. There is no scientific study to back up 6′ is safe 5’6” isn’t. I think we have a “social responsibly” to improve our hygiene practices and the “physical distancing” guidelines is one way to help make people aware. Also, I live in Santa Barbra and not LA or New York for a reason, I need some space, outdoors and fresh air, which is also very favorable for confronting a pandemic.
nevermind the fact that we’ve tested less than 25% of the population of the city. so the numbers of “cases” and “asymptomatics” is completely unknown. “CITIZENS, TODAY THERE ARE 4 CHAIRS ON THE DECK OF THE TITANIC”
How many of these 5 recent cases actually needed hospital treatment?
I am all in favor of contact tracing!
With the current stats of confirmed cases, worldwide at 5.9 million, the US accounts for 1.7 million and of the 357,000 deaths, 101,000 of those in the US I would think the foreign visitors are more likely to be exposed here than we are from them.
Here we go, get ready for an EXPLOSION of cases in the next couple of weeks. What’s the threshold of new cases to get us back into Phase 1? It’s more dangerous than ever now that people are laughing in the face of science, without masks on.