The total number of confirmed cases is still 0 in both Solano County Jail and Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF), while there are 2,372 confirmed cases and 31 deaths in Solano County itself.
The number of tests administered in the jail increased significantly this week — 166 tested as of July 17th in comparison to 95 as of July 11th, reflecting an increase of 175% over 7-days. Testing in the jail started on June 2nd and on June 14th in JDF.
196 individuals have been booked into the jail since July 11th and 0 have been booked into JDF.
Both facilities have been taking steps to ensure adequate testing is in place.
Individuals are now able to request testing in both facilities, regardless of whether they are symptomatic.
All new intakes in JDF are tested before entering the center. Since testing became available, everyone who was symptomatic was tested.
It is unclear what precautions the facilities have taken to limit the spread of infections.
Both facilities halted in-person visitors on March 13th.
A request sent on July 16th about the conditions in the jail to Le’Ron Cummings, Solano Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, is still being processed.
A series of calls to JDF’s Medical Department and the Probation Office on July 15th inquiring about precautions taken have not been responded to.
It is unclear why, out of approximately 300 people in the jail and 200 people in JDF, not all are being tested — especially as it appears that there are sufficient tests available for the population.
According to Solano Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Le’Ron Cummings, the current system to track the number of tests and cases in the jail is available to only a select few. However, recent communication from the State suggests that the County will set up an online system for daily tracking. It is not yet clear, according to Cummings, whether that system will be available to the public.
The lack of transparency even towards officials in the Sheriff’s Office, is concerning, especially as the disease continues to ravage Solano County. The minimal number of tests administered in addition to the lack of public information, suggest that the facilities may have more cases than the confirmed count.
Source: Deputy Le’Ron Cummings, Public Information Officer – Solano County Sheriff’s Office and Shai Davis, Public Information Officer – Solano County Health Department.
Agents with the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted compliance sweeps throughout Northern California earlier this month and found several eateries, including in Solano County, in violation of coronavirus guidelines.
John Carr, an ABC spokesman, said agents issued misdemeanor citations for violating state emergency health orders. A district attorney, he said, will determine whether to prosecute.
Meanwhile, ABC has not taken any action against licenses where the violations occurred, Carr said, as the violations remain under review. Should disciplinary action be pursued, business owners may request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Penalties can range from a fine to a suspension to a revocation.
Businesses cited between July 3-5 include:
Muay Thai Cuisine, Vacaville, for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
Kazan Japanese Cuisine, Vacaville, for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
El Patron Mexican Food, Vacaville, for employees not wearing masks.
Back Door Bistro, Vacaville, for employees not wearing masks.
Koreana BBQ, Fairfield, for indoor consumption.
Cullens Tannery Pub, Benicia , for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
Businesses cited between July 6-16 include:
Gentlemen Jims, Vallejo, for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
The Loft, Benicia , for employees not social distancing.
Solano County Public Health publishes a daily report beautifully displaying each day’s Coronavirus data. But there is no easily available record to show detailed increases in infections, deaths and other data OVER TIME.
I have kept these records since April 20, and will make them available here today.
Note that the PDFs are formatted to fit on a single legal sheet, and are therefore a little hard to read. They are also not kept current. If you are familiar with Excel, you would do well to view the spreadsheet, which is updated daily. (Note that the spreadsheet has 3 tabs: Summary and Cities, 4 Age Groups, and 3 Age Groups.)
>> For daily COVID reports here on the Benicia Independent, see my Coronavirus page. I have reported daily Monday-Friday around 6pm after Solano County posts its daily Dashboard update.
Vallejo Times Herald, by Richard Freedman, July 24, 2020
People walk along the waterfront in Vallejo, some choosing not to wear face coverings. Solano County will not follow the lead of counties like Marin and Napa that could possibly cite those who are not in compliance with mask regulations. (Chris Riley—Times-Herald)
Solano County will not take Napa and Marin county leads and levy fines against those who refuse to wear face coverings during COVID-19.
Erin Hannigan, Solano County Board of Supervisors, District 1, said no similar policy is in discussion.
“We are not contemplating one at this time,” Hannigan said Friday, adding that “Cities are on the front lines of enforcement of the shelter-in-home orders.”
Napa and Marin counties approved fines up to $500 for violators ignoring state and local health orders after California surpassed New York on Wednesday with the highest COVID-19 case count. On Thursday, the state reported a record seven-day average for deaths.
Marin County can fine anti-maskers $25 to $500 and businesses can be fined between $250 and $10,000 for compliance failure.
Napa County passed its emergency ordinance July 14. People who hold gatherings or walk outside without a face covering risk fines mirroring Marin’s. Businesses could pay up to $5,000 for failing to enforce mask and social distancing rules.
It will not rely on sheriff’s deputies or city police officers. Instead, the county will use staffers in its code enforcement office. The ordinance leaves the level of that enforcement to a city’s discretion.
“I’m interested in seeing if the policies are effective,” Hannigan said.
In Vallejo, economic development director Annette Taylor communicates with any business that has been reported as violating “must-wear-mask” edict and will do spot checks, said Mayor Bob Sampayan.
A second complaint against the business garners a letter from the city attorney’s office.
So far, Sampayan said, “we haven’t needed to take it to the point of issuing a citation.”
Hannigan said enforcement would be difficult with an already-stretched thin police departments “and a very stretched Solano County Public Health office. It would be easier to enforce face coverings in businesses because the businesses are licensed through city’s and they can self regulate customers in their business. Individual face covering enforcement is harder.”
Solano County is following the COVID-19 guidelines from the California Dept. of Public Health which mandates wearing face coverings.
“We have to be reasonable and use common sense,” Sampayan said. “There are times you can’t wear a mask. Say you’re sitting outdoors at a restaurant for dinner. Are you going to be wearing a mask between bites and sips of a drink? That doesn’t make sense. But if you’re standing in a lobby of that restaurant, you should be wearing a mask and do the social distancing.”
Sampayan acknowledged that an elected official can influence adherence to public policy.
“I was chatting with a person on the waterfront the other day with several people around,” Sampayan said. “I had my mask on and one of them looked at me and said, ‘Sorry,’ and put their mask on.”
“For the most part, the majority of the public respects the need and the reasoning behind having to wear a mask,” Sampayan said. “I’m thankful for that. As (Dr. Anthony) Fauci said, “If we were to wear masks we can stop the spread within several months. This is not going to away on its own.”
Sampayan has been confronted by several who believe it’s their right as an American to not wear a face covering in public.
“I’m not going to debate with people. If you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear a mask,” Sampayan said. “However, think about the people around you. How many have we seen nationwide adamant that it’s their right to not wear a mask … and the next thing you know, they’ve come down with COVID-19 and they die.”
“We have had more residents speak at our Board meetings who are against wearing face masks,” Hanigan said. “I’m all for making sure everyone has a face covering and leading by example.”
Several sidewalk diners in front of Good Day Cafe in downtown Vallejo offered feedback Friday afternoon on the mask debate. To fine or not to fine?
“I think it depends on the situation,” said Tanya Hill of American Canyon. “I’m sitting here ready to eat, drinking a beverage. Clearly, I can’t wear a mask. Again, it depends on the situation. To just walk up to someone, ‘I’m going to ticket you,’ I don’t think that’s the best use of police.”
Requiring a merchant’s employees to wear masks “I think is a good way to go,” added Hill. “I think as a community we should all be invested to make sure everybody stays safe. One of the things I remember learning in high school civics: My rights end where your rights begin. You have as much right to be free from infection as I do. If I choose not to wear a mask, that hinders your rights. ”
Another diner, “Joe,” said a fine policy for not wearing masks “is good if you can’t social distance.”
Tyler Mitchell, however, disagreed.
“I think it should be left open to the individuals. I think that if you feel like you need masks for your own personal health you should wear one,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think it should be imposed on anyone else.”
Raymond Prather, owner of The Victory Stores downtown, believes that if there is an ordinance in place for individuals, “people should at least get a warning first.”
However, he added, “I don’t think people should be fined. I think people should just have the sense to wear them.”
Davis Vanguard, by Nikki Suzani, July 19, 2020
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