Monthly Archives: August 2021

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine

Solano County reports 5 more dead from COVID, over 100 currently hospitalized, 208 newly infected

By Roger Straw, Monday, August 9, 2021

Monday, August 9: Over the weekend, Solano County reports 5 COVID dead*, 208 new infections.

Solano County COVID dashboard SUMMARY:
[Sources: see below.  See also my ARCHIVE spreadsheet of daily Solano COVID updates.]

DEATHS: Solano County reported 5 new deaths today, 1 person age 50-64, and 4 age 65+.  The County total rose to 254 COVID deaths since the pandemic began. *UPDATE/DETAILS: The Fairfield Daily Republic reports that all the deaths were “from September to December 2020, and four were individuals who died at home. The other was an elderly man in a memory care facility….Of the community deaths, there was one man in his 50s, two men over 65 and one woman over 65. All had substantial health issues, [Solano Health Officer] Matyas said.”

CASES: The County reported  208 new COVID cases over the weekend, 60 per day (down from 162 per day last Friday).  TREND: Cases-per-day are dramatically up in July/August.  We are clearly experiencing a dramatic “summer surge” in cases.  Cases-per-day were trending downward in the Spring, but rose rapidly in July and are extremely high in early August:

ACTIVE CASES: Solano’s 626 ACTIVE cases is down from Friday’s high of 889, and nearing our remarkable high the previous Friday of 972.  Active cases are up alarmingly from 212 on July 2, and higher than anything since last February’s surge.

POSITIVE TEST RATE:  INCREDIBLY HIGH – much higher than US & California!  Our 7-day average percent positivity rate was down some today from a high of 20.7% on Friday to 16.2% today, still way over the purple tier margin, and 3 times California’s rate and nearly 1½ times the U.S. rate.  COMPARE: The California  rate fell slightly today to 5.4% and today’s U.S. rate fell to 10.9%.  [Source: Johns Hopkins]   WARNING: The Delta Variant is among us and spreading fast.  Time to mask up again – watch out and take care!  
Hospitalizations up again today

CURRENT hospitalizations today rose from 87 to 101 persons, higher than anytime since February 4, 2021.

ICU Beds Available took a slight turn upward today, from 29% to 34%, but barely out of the County’s yellow danger zone.

Ventilators Available fell slightly today from 68% to 66%.

TOTAL Hospitalized – The County’s Monday-Friday dashboard shows an intake/discharge total of CURRENTLY hospitalized cases (above), but never reports on the TOTAL hospitalized over the course of the pandemic.  That total must be independently discovered in the County’s occasional update of the Hospitalizations by Age Group chart.  The County updated its Hospitalizations by Age Group chart today.  The County reported 2 new hospitalizations today, 1 age 50-64, and 1 age 65+. Percentages remain the same.  The Age Group chart shows a total of 2,035 persons hospitalized since the beginning of the outbreak, in the following age groups:

Age Group Hospitalizations % of Total
0-17 36 2%
18-49 582 29%
50-64 545 27%
65+ 872 43%
TOTAL 2,035 100%

Hospitalizations are also recorded on the County’s demographic chart labeled “Hospitalizations by Race / Ethnicity.”  The chart was updated today, adding 2 persons: both White.  Here are the current numbers.  Interestingly, the total doesn’t square with the total by age groups.

Race / Ethnicity Hospitalizations % of Total
Asians 323 17%
Black / African American 331 17%
Hispanic / Latinx 549 29%
White 622 33%
Multirace / Others 84 4%
TOTAL 1,897 100%
Face Coverings…

See California’s recent Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings.  The guidelines include a recommendation for universal masking indoors statewide, adding of Adult and Senior Care Facilities to settings where all individuals must wear masks indoors, and a reference to new requirements for unvaccinated workers.  Some California cities and counties are returning to mandatory masks for all in crowded places.  In the Bay Area, Solano County is the only holdout against even RECOMMENDING masks in public indoors spaces.  Dr. Matyas needs to make some difficult decisions – and soon!

STUDY SHOWS HIGHER RATE OF “BREAKTHROUGH” CASES AMONG THE VACCINATED  – About wearing masks again, Social Distancing & Vaccination…

We heard seriously shocking news on July 29 about the large number of FULLY VACCINATED persons who are catching the virus and actively transmitting it.  As the Washington Post reports, “A sobering scientific analysis published Friday found that three-quarters of the people infected during an explosive coronavirus outbreak fueled by the delta variant were fully vaccinated. …vaccinated people can spread the more transmissible variant and may be a factor in the summer surge of infections.” 

This is HUGE!  We were just beginning to associate more freely with fully vaccinated friends and family, and now we understand that some among us may be asymptomatic and unknowingly transmitting the virus, and inevitably helping spread the disease to someone who knows someone, who knows someone else, who knows yet another someone who is not vaccinated, or who is too young or too health-compromised to be vaccinated – and who may end up seriously ill or even dead!  Please mask indoors in public now, and maybe even indoors with vaccinated family and friends!  And PLEASE talk to anyone you know who isn’t vaccinated.  This thing ain’t over yet!

Cases by City on Monday, August 9:
  • Benicia added 9 new cases today, a total of 1,141 cases since the outbreak began, 4.1% of its population of 27,570.
  • Dixon added 15 new cases today, total of 2,074 cases, 10.4% of its population of 19,794.
  • Fairfield added 61 new cases today, total of 10,054 cases, 8.5% of its population of 117,149.
  • Rio Vista added 2 new cases today, total of 450 cases, 4.8% of its population of 9,416.
  • Suisun City added 18 new cases today, total of 2,623 cases, 8.8% of its population of 29,447.
  • Vacaville added 49 new cases today, a total of 9,695 cases, 9.8% its of population of 98,807.
  • Vallejo added 53 new cases today, a total of 10,903 cases, 9.1% of its population of 119,544.
  • Unincorporated added 1 new case today, a total of 116 cases (population figures not available).

Continue reading Solano County reports 5 more dead from COVID, over 100 currently hospitalized, 208 newly infected →

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine

Solano County records 11 COVID hospitalizations, 323 new cases, positive test rate tops 20%

By Roger Straw, Friday, August 6, 2021

Friday, August 6 in Solano County: 323 new COVID infections in last 2 days, positive test rate tops 20%, percent of available ICU beds remains in  yellow  danger zone.

Solano County COVID dashboard SUMMARY:
[Sources: see below.  See also my ARCHIVE spreadsheet of daily Solano COVID updates.]

No new deaths reported today.  The County total remains 249 COVID deaths since the pandemic began.  The County reported  323 new COVID cases in the last 2 days, 162 per day!

TREND: Cases-per-day are dramatically up in July/August

Solano County is clearly experiencing a dramatic “summer surge” in cases.  Cases-per-day were trending downward in the Spring, but rose rapidly in July and are extremely high in early August:Check out the County’s case count curve – today’s dashboard shows the recent spike, through July 29:

(Click for larger image.)

Solano’s 889 ACTIVE cases is up from Wednesday’s high of 836, and nearing our remarkable high last Friday of 972, which was higher than anything since February 5, 2021.  Active cases are up alarmingly from 212 on July 2.

Solano Positive Test Rate INCREDIBLY HIGH – much higher than US & California!

Our 7-day average percent positivity rate was up again today from 17.6% on Monday to a new summer high of 20.7% today, our highest since last January 20, and nearly 4 times California’s rate and nearly twice the U.S. rate.  COMPARE: The California  rate rose slightly today to 5.6% and today’s U.S. rate rose to 11.1%.  [Source: Johns Hopkins]  The Delta Variant is among us and spreading fast.  Time to mask up again – watch out and take care!  Check out the County’s percent positive curve – today’s dashboard shows the recent spike, through July 29:

Hospitalizations up again today

CURRENT hospitalizations today rose from 80 to 87 persons, higher than anytime since February 8, 2021.  Check out the County’s Currently Hospitalized curve – today’s dashboard shows the recent spike, through today, August 6:

(Click for larger image)

ICU Beds took a slight turn upward today, from 26% to 29%, still in the County’s yellow danger zone (for the first time this week since March 5, 2021).

Ventilators available today rose slightly today from 64% to 68%.

TOTAL Hospitalized – The County’s Monday-Friday updates show an intake/discharge total of CURRENTLY hospitalized cases (above), but never report on the TOTAL hospitalized over the course of the pandemic.  That total must be independently discovered in the County’s occasional update of the Hospitalizations by Age Group chart.  The County updated its Hospitalizations by Age Group chart today.  The County reported 11 new hospitalizations today, 1 age 18-49, 1 age 50-64, and 9 age 65+. Percentages remain the same.  The Age Group chart shows a total of 2,033 persons hospitalized since the beginning of the outbreak, in the following age groups:

Age Group Hospitalizations % of Total
0-17 36 2%
18-49 582 29%
50-64 544 27%
65+ 871 43%
TOTAL 2,033 100%

Hospitalizations are also recorded on the County’s demographic chart labeled “Hospitalizations by Race / Ethnicity.”  The chart was updated today, adding 10 persons: 2 Asian, 1 Black, 1 Hispanic and 6 White.  Here are the current numbers.  Interestingly, the total doesn’t square with today’s 11 age group additions, nor with totals by age groups.

Race / Ethnicity Hospitalizations % of Total
Asians 323 17%
Black / African American 331 17%
Hispanic / Latinx 549 29%
White 620 33%
Multirace / Others 84 4%
TOTAL 1,897 100%
New State Guidelines…

COVID is clearly spreading again and surging in Solano County!  See California’s new Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings.  The new guidelines include a recommendation for universal masking indoors statewide, adding of Adult and Senior Care Facilities to settings where all individuals must wear masks indoors, and a reference to new requirements for unvaccinated workers.  Some California counties are returning to mandatory masks for all in crowded places.  In the Bay Area, Solano County is the only holdout against even RECOMMENDING masks in public indoors spaces.  Dr. Matyas needs to make some difficult decisions soon!

STUDY SHOWS HIGHER RATE OF “BREAKTHROUGH” CASES AMONG THE VACCINATED  – About wearing masks again, Social Distancing & Vaccination…

We heard seriously shocking news on July 29 about the large number of FULLY VACCINATED persons who are catching the virus and actively transmitting it.  As the Washington Post reports, “A sobering scientific analysis published Friday found that three-quarters of the people infected during an explosive coronavirus outbreak fueled by the delta variant were fully vaccinated. The report on the Massachusetts cases, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers key evidence bolstering the hypothesis that vaccinated people can spread the more transmissible variant and may be a factor in the summer surge of infections.” 

This is HUGE!  We were just beginning to associate more freely with fully vaccinated friends and family, and now we are to understand that some among us may be asymptomatic and unknowingly transmitting the virus, and inevitably helping spread the disease to someone who knows someone, who knows someone else, who knows yet another someone who is not vaccinated, or who is too young or too health-compromised to be vaccinated – and who may end up seriously ill or even dead!

My personal plan is to mask indoors in public now, and we’re even wondering if we should mask indoors with vaccinated family and friends!  Sheeesh, I thought we were done with that!  Everyone PLEASE talk to anyone you know who isn’t vaccinated.  This thing ain’t over yet!

Cases by City on Friday, August 6:
  • Benicia added 7 new cases today, a total of 1,132 cases since the outbreak began, 4.1% of its population of 27,570.
  • Dixon added 16 new cases today, total of 2,059 cases, 10.4% of its population of 19,794.
  • Fairfield added 102 new cases today, total of 9,993 cases, 8.5% of its population of 117,149.
  • Rio Vista added 6 new cases today, total of 448 cases, 4.8% of its population of 9,416.
  • Suisun City added 31 new cases today, total of 2,605 cases, 8.8% of its population of 29,447.
  • Vacaville added 62 new cases today, a total of 9,646 cases, 9.8% its of population of 98,807.
  • Vallejo added 94 new cases today, a total of 10,850 cases, 9.1% of its population of 119,544.
  • Unincorporated added 5 new cases today, a total of 115 cases (population figures not available).

Continue reading Solano County records 11 COVID hospitalizations, 323 new cases, positive test rate tops 20% →

#Masks4All, #wearamask, California Department of Public Health, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Face coverings, Solano County Health Department, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Dr. Matyas in his own words: Importance of masking and social distancing when socializing in our homes and backyards

By Roger Straw, August 6, 2021
[Editor: While Dr. Matyas is dead wrong in his opposition to renewing a public indoors mask mandate, he does raise important and perhaps alarming issues about our private socializing in homes and backyards.  – R.S.]

Solano County health director defends decision to not implement indoor mask mandate

ABC7 News, By J.R. Stone, August 3, 2021 [BenIndy apologizes for ABC7’s lengthy introductory commercial message in its videos.  See especially the FULL INTERVIEW video below.]

SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — While seven Bay Area counties do have mask mandates going into place Tuesday, August 3, a few do not.  [BenIndy editor: see Aug. 5 update.]

Napa, Lake and Solano counties recommend wearing masks indoors but aren’t requiring them.

“Just wear a mask,” said one store manager.

“I don’t think we still need to wear a mask,” said a store patron.

FULL INTERVIEW: Solano Co. health director defends not implementing mask mandate

The back and forth has started between those who believe indoor masking should be mandated for both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals and those who are against it.

At the Natural Grocery Company in El Cerrito, mask requirement signs will be put out before the store opens on Tuesday.

“Yes we have to go back to the mask-wearing but as I said before hopefully this time around we’ll have a better outcome,” said Natural Grocery Company store manager Claudia Barajas.

RELATED: Bay Area health officials issue new indoor mask mandate

But that is Contra Costa County where there will be a mandate. In Solano County, there is no mandate, just a recommendation.

“The data doesn’t support the need for such a mandate,” said Solano County Health Director Dr. Bela Matyas. “This disease in our county is very clearly spreading during and through social events with people who are going to parties, barbecues, picnics, and campouts.” Dr. Matyas described some of the transmission events to be “sharing of food, sharing of cigarettes, playing beer pong, activities that are clearly going to transmit the virus very effectively and then there are larger gatherings where people are essentially on top of each other.”

Dr. Matyas says indoor public spaces are not where they have seen COVID-19 transmission, therefore he doesn’t believe an indoor mask mandate would help.

“I’ll use a metaphor, you know we’re filling up a tank with gas to fix a flat tire. It’s not going to fix the flat tire.”

But many we saw in Solano County were wearing masks.

“I’m not vaccinated so I’m going to keep my mask on,” said Ranyia Colbert.

RELATED: These 5 Bay Area cities may be ‘most at risk’ for new COVID-19 infections, data shows

Others made it known why they aren’t into the idea and in favor of Solano County decision not to implement a mandate.

“We were already vaccinated and I can’t really breathe when I wear a mask so for me it’s annoying to wear,” said Oriza Evangelista.

Dr. Matyas said Solano County would have a lot fewer COVID-19 cases if people wore a mask to parties and didn’t go to a party if they had any signs of being sick.

#Masks4All, #wearamask, California Department of Public Health, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Face coverings, Solano County Health Department, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Napa County issues indoors mask mandate, leaving Solano Public Health Officer Bela Matyas alone in Bay Area with bad advice

By Roger Straw, August 6, 2021

Masks now REQUIRED in Napa workplaces and indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status

Napa County is now the 8th of 9 Bay Area counties to require masks indoors.

Only Solano County remains unprotected by public health officials who prefer to ignore their responsibility to protect public health and safety during the delta variant’s increasing summer surge.

The Napa mandate can be downloaded here.  Relevant introductory policy statement is as follows:

    1. Summary: This Order requires all individuals to wear face coverings when indoors in workplaces and public settings, with limited exemptions, and recommends that businesses
      make face coverings available to individuals entering the business.
    2. Effective Date and Time: This Order becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on August 6, 2021, and will continue in effect until the Health Officer rescinds, supersedes, or amends it in
      writing.
    3. Background: This Order is made in light of the recent significant increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Napa County, due primarily to the Delta variant of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Emerging evidence indicates that the Delta variant is more transmissible than prior variants of the virus, may cause more severe illness, and that even fully vaccinated individuals can spread the virus to others. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) now both recommend that all persons—regardless of vaccination status—wear face coverings indoors when with people outside of their household. Vaccination remains the best and most effective tool in preventing COVID-19 and its harms….”

The Napa mandate continues with more detailed information, including exceptions:

  1. Indoor Face Covering Requirement: Regardless of vaccination status, all persons must wear face coverings at all times when indoors except:
    1. in their own residence solely with members of their own household; or
    2. when working in a closed room or office; or
    3. when actively performing an activity that cannot be done while wearing a face covering, such as actively eating or drinking, swimming, showering in a fitness facility, or obtaining a medical or cosmetic service requiring temporary removal of a face covering to perform the service; or
    4. as specifically exempted from use of face coverings under the guidance of CDPH at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-facecoverings.aspx, such as to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired or where a face covering poses a safety risk.
Solano County Deputy Director of Health and Social Services Dr. Bela Matyas

Solano County Public Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas continues to refuse to issue a countywide mask mandate.  His public comments have been dismissive, stating repeatedly that “The transmission that’s occurring [is] in people’s homes, backyards, camping.” “…it’s not an environment where masking recommendations are going to apply.”

In my opinion, Dr. Matyas is endangering the health and safety of residents of Solano County, most especially our unvaccinated children and those with compromised health.  As increasing numbers of us catch the virus with mild symptoms, the virus is spread farther and farther, and inevitably reaches those whose symptoms will be devastating.  This has got to stop – by all measures: renewed masking and social distancing as well as vastly increased vaccination.

I’m not sure, but there may be disagreement within the Solano County Public Health Department.  Witness the County’s Facebook page, and website, where masking is highlighted in support of the California mandate.  Pinned to the top of the Facebook page since July 29:

https://www.facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH/

Also on July 29, Solano County Public Health updated its Coronavirus Updates and Resources page with the following details, in support of the California partial mask mandate.

Face Covering

All Californians will continue to follow State masking guidelines:

Masks are required for all individuals in the following indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status:

    • On public transit[1] (examples: airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares) and in transportation hubs (examples: airport, bus terminal, marina, train station, seaport or other port, subway station, or any other area that provides transportation)
    • Indoors in K-12 schools[2], childcare[3]
    • Emergency shelters[4] and cooling centers[5]Masks are required for all individuals, in the following indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status (and surgical masks are recommended):
      • Healthcare settings[6]
      • State and local correctional facilities and detention centers[7]
      • Homeless shelters[8]
      • Long Term Care Settings[9] & Adult and Senior Care Facilities[10]
      • Additionally, masks are required* for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses (examples: retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public).

4.      Exemptions:
The following specific settings are exempt from face covering requirements:

    • Persons in a car alone or solely with members of their own household,
    • Persons who are working alone in a closed office or room,
    • Persons who are obtaining a medical or cosmetic service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service,
    • Workers who wear respiratory protection, or
    • Persons who are specifically exempted from wearing face coverings by other CDPH guidance.

·     The following individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings at all times:

    • Persons younger than two years old. Very young children must not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation.
    • Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance.*
    • Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
    • Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.

*Note: Persons exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition who are employed in a job involving regular contact with others must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.

Related Materials: Face Coverings Fact sheet (PDF) | Face Mask Tips and Resources | Face Shields Q&A (PDF) | All Guidance | More Languages