All posts by Roger Straw

Editor, owner, publisher of The Benicia Independent
Benicia, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Vaccine

CORRECTION: Benicia Vaccine Clinic Thursday April 8 ok for ages 50 and over

By Roger Straw, April 5, 2021

Good news for those age 50+

The City of Benicia sent out an email announcement this morning stating that the Thursday’s vaccine clinic is for those age 50+.  A previous announcement indicated the vaccine would initially be for those 60+, and if there are still reservation openings, the clinic would open further to those 50 and over.

Here’s  the email announcement.

Benicia COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

The City of Benicia is pleased to have the opportunity to host a Johnson & Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the more vulnerable members of our community (those age 50+).

WHO: Age 50+
WHAT: Johnson & Johnson vaccine – You will be fully vaccinated with a single dose.
WHERE: Benicia Senior Center – 187 East L Street, Benicia, CA 94510
WHEN: Thursday, April 8th
HOW: Registration is required. Register at https://tinyurl.com/aprilbeniciavaccine
BRING: Completed assessment form, photo ID, email confirmation
Print and complete the attached assessment form. Bring the completed form with you to your appointment. Also be prepared to present the email confirmation of your vaccine appointment from Sign Up Genius – either printed or displayed on your cell phone.

Please plan to arrive at the Benicia Senior Center no more than 15 minutes early. Bring a valid photo ID, your completed assessment form, and your email confirmation from Sign Up Genius that you received after your registration. Due to limited space, only the person being vaccinated and (if needed) 1 support person will be allowed at the vaccine clinic.

Parking is limited. Please consider carpooling. There is also a drop off site in front of the Benicia Public Library. If you must drive yourself, parking is available at the Benicia Public Library parking lot at 150 East L Street, the City Hall parking lot at 245 East K Street, and the Community Center parking lot at 370 East L Street.

The appointment will take approximately 30-40 minutes. Face masks are required. Vaccine will be given in the upper arm; please wear a loose fitting shirt.

Need help scheduling or have questions? Call 707.746.4710 Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Benicia, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Vaccine

Benicia hosts one-dose Vaccine Clinic this Thurs at Senior Center, age 60+ (and maybe 50+)

CORRECTION: The City later announced that the clinic is open to anyone age 50+.

Message from the City Manager

From City of Benicia This Week Newsletter
Monday, April 5, 2021

Hello Everyone,

I’m very excited this week that we were able to partner with Solano County Public Health to host another vaccine clinic this week. We were able to get 400 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. We will be focusing on seniors 60 and over in Solano County in hopes of getting vaccine to those most vulnerable who have not yet been able to be vaccinated. If there are still reservation openings, we will open it further to 50 and over. Please see the link in the article below to sign up for a reservation…we will only be accepting those who have signed up online. With our numbers in Solano County trending dangerously up, it is critical we get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can….

Erik Upson
City Manager
CityofBeniciaThisWeek@ci.benicia.ca.us

Benicia COVID Vaccine Clinic Thursday

The City of Benicia is pleased to have the opportunity to host a Johnson & Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the more vulnerable members of our community, those aged 60 and above. The clinic will be on Thursday, April 8, 9 a.m. – noon at Benicia Senior Center.  Registration is required.
Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/AprilBeniciaVaccine.

More… COVID Assistance
Find resources and information for seniors, local food access, basic needs and rental assistance, mental health, stress and coping, and more courtesy of Solano County Public Health. Benicia residents in need of help during these difficult times may find assistance through these local resources:

·     Benicia Community Action Council, 707.745.0900

·     Benicia Family Resource Center, 707.746.4352

·     Carquinez Village for Seniors, 707.297.2472

·     Faith Food Fridays, 707.557.7933

·     Families in Transition of Benicia, 707.645.3000

·     Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, 707.421.9777

·     Food is Free Solano, 415.948.3131

·     Hamann Foundation for Cancer Patients, 707.246.6567

·     Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support, 707.301.8312

·     Meals on Wheels Solano County, 707.425.0638

·     St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Community Meals, 707.745.0307

·     Society of St. Vincent de Paul-St. Dominic’s Conference, 707.746.1773
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano County cautions about COVID from religious observances and spring break

Press Release, Solano County Public Health, April 1, 2021

Solano Public Health urges public to remain vigilant, practice COVID-19 safety measures during religious observances and spring holidays amidst uptick in cases

April 1, 2021

SOLANO COUNTY – The Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health division, urges the public to practice COVID-19 safety measures to protect oneself, family, friends and others who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 while participating in religious observances and spring break holidays.

“The rising number of COVID-19 cases is concerning especially as we approach the holidays where the risk of spread can increase,” said Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County Health Officer. “Being in the Red Tier does not mean we can let our guard down. Until a majority of our residents are vaccinated, we continue to urge everyone to take these precautions seriously – wear a mask in public, maintain physical distance as much as possible, avoid crowds and wash hands often – to protect our community members, prevent a surge of cases, and keep our County from reverting back to the Purple Tier.”

As religious observances such as Holy Week, Easter, Passover, Orthodox Easter, Ramadan and other spring holidays near, faith-based leaders, local organizations and the public are urged to plan and adhere to safety protocols, including keeping wearing a mask and maintaining 6-foot physical distancing between households. There are also many ways that religious practices can still be observed, including watching events online through social media platforms and celebrating safely at home.

UPCOMING VACCINE CLINICS
To date, about 35 percent of Solano County residents 18 and over have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Solano Public Health reminds residents who have not yet been vaccinated to sign up on the Solano County vaccine interest form by visiting www.solanocounty.com/covidvaccine, as well as the State’s MyTurn notification system at www.myturn.ca.gov, to receive notices about upcoming vaccine clinics. Notices are sent out to those who are eligible for the vaccine in Solano County.

COVID-19 INFORMATION
For the most recent local COVID-19 health information, visit the Solano County website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH (@SolanoCountyPH).

California, Coronavirus, Covid 19, COVID-19 tier assignments, Re-opening, Solano County CA

I may be wrong, but it seems we’re getting mixed signals on Coronavirus…

By Roger Straw, April 3, 2021

…and maybe heading for another surge

Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent

Things aren’t looking so good for coronavirus trends here in Solano County.  But wait…  the State is easing restrictions?

Here on the Benicia Independent, I have documented coronavirus weekday reports in Solano County since April of last year.  I’m a layperson, untrained in public health, but I’ve paid attention to the COVID spikes and trends we have experienced in the Solano cities of Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Rio Vista and Dixon.

Recently increasing numbers of positive cases here in Solano County (292 new cases last week) are nowhere near what they were this January, when we averaged 274 new cases per day.  But modest upturns in the numbers have caught my attention, and have begun to make news in major Bay Area media (see below).  Our typically overly optimistic Solano Public Health officer has even issued a warning.  What gained my attention yesterday was these two seemingly contrary headlines:

    • SFGATE: Solano County may get bumped back into the COVID purple tier  “Too early to call it a surge now but that doesn’t mean it’s not the beginning of a surge only time will tell,” Bela Matyas, the county’s health officer told KRON. “We are now starting to get uncomfortably close to the level of the disease reported each day that would put us back in purple.”
    • SF Chronicle: California planning to dump color-coded tier system  “California is preparing to retire its color-coded tiered reopening plan as vaccination rates improve and coronavirus cases continue to drop, state officials said Friday, as several Bay Area counties prepared to move into a less restrictive tier next week.  Details about a so-called green tier — which would presumably allow almost all activities to resume in counties with very low threat from the virus — will be “coming soon” as part of the state’s transition toward shutting down the tiered system entirely, said Dee Dee Myers, the state’s top economic adviser.”

There are news stories like these all over the map, from rosy re-opening stories to dire warnings of a fourth surge.  This morning’s Vallejo Times-Herald is FULL of coronavirus articles with contradictory messaging: we’re winning against the virus, we’re losing the battle.

Cause for concern…

I am seriously concerned that Solano County is headed for another surge.  And I think the State of California is not helping.  Easing of restrictions at this moment in our national and local crisis is wrong.

My home state of Michigan is seeing new cases soar in recent weeks, to more than 5,600 cases a day from about 1,000 on Feb. 21.  The Michigan Governor is setting up 37 new ‘popup’ COVID testing sites for Spring Break, doubling down on vaccine administration, and asking for masking and distancing, but it’s clearly too little, too late.

Will California go the route of Michigan?  I hope not, but I’m worried I’m wrong.   Will Solano County Public Health officials learn to ignore the deniers among us, including certain County Supervisors?  Maybe it will come down to City officials again, and Benicia’s new City Manager Erik Upson will need to take it into his own hands to declare a public emergency, as did his predecessor.