All posts by Roger Straw

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

Another day, another death in Solano County – COVID-19 update on May 28

Thursday, May 28:  7 new positive cases, 1 new death. Total now 509 cases, 22 deaths.

Solano County Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Updates and Resources.  Check out basic information in this screenshot.  IMPORTANT: The County’s interactive page has more.  On the County website, you can hover your mouse over the charts at right for detailed information.

Previous report, Wednesday, May 27

Summary

  • Solano County reported 7 new positive cases today, total of 509.
  • 1 new death today, total of 22.
  • ALARMING TREND: Solano County is reporting an upward trend in confirmed cases among young persons 18 and under, adding 3 more youths today.  NOTE that the County reported 21 new cases among our youth in the last 16 days, having reported only 6 over the 5 weeks prior.  (See table below).

BY AGE GROUP

  • 3 new cases were reported today among young persons under 19 years of age, total of 27 cases, increasing from 4.8% to 5.3% of total confirmed cases.  (See table below.)
  • 3 of today’s new cases were persons 19-64 years of age, total of 360 cases, 71% of the total.   1 new death in this age group, total of 5.  Note that 44 of the 360 cases in this age group have been hospitalized at one time, 12% of total cases in the age group.  (It is unclear whether the 5 deaths were ever hospitalized.)
  • 1 new case today of persons 65 or older, total of 122 cases, 24% of the total.  1 new death, total of 17.  Note that 31 of the 122 cases in this age group (25%) were hospitalized at one time, more than double the percentage in the mid-age group.  (It is unclear whether the 17 deaths in this age group were ever hospitalized.)
  • Note that the County reports only one additional death overall today, but we find 1 new death reported here in each of two age groups.  Not sure why.
Recent surge in positive cases among youth 18 and under
Date New cases Total
Thursday, May 28, 2020 3 27
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 0 24
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 (3-day holiday weekend) 7 24
Friday, May 22, 2020 0 17
Thursday, May 21, 2020 3 17
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 0 14
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 0 14
Monday, May 18, 2020 1 14
Friday, May 15, 2020 2 13
Thursday, May 14, 2020 3 11
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 1 8
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 1 7
Monday, May 11, 2020 0 6
Friday, May 8, 2020 0 6
Thursday, May 7, 2020 0 6
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 0 6
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 0 6
Monday, May 4, 2020 0 6

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added 3 of today’s new cases, total of  289.
  • Fairfield added 2 of today’s new cases, total of 98.
  • Vacaville added 2 of today’s new cases, total of 53.
  • Suisun City remained at 25 cases.
  • Benicia remained at 23 cases.
  • Dixon remained at 11 cases.
  • Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: today both remain at <10 (less than 10).  The total numbers for other cities add up to 499, leaving 10 cases somewhere among the 2 locations in this “<10” category (same as last reported).  Residents and city officials have pressured County officials for city case counts.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 75 of Solano’s 509 cases resulted in hospitalizations, same as yesterday.

ACTIVE CASES:  72 of the 509 cases are currently active – 6 more than yesterday.  Note that the county does not report WHERE the active cases are.  Below you will see that only 20 are currently hospitalized, which leaves 52 of these 72 active cases out in our communities somewhere, and hopefully quarantined.

HOSPITAL IMPACT: The County shows 20 of the 75 hospitalized cases are CURRENTLY hospitalized, 1 more than yesterday, following a similar increase the day before.  The County’s count of ICU beds available and ventilator supply remains at “GOOD” at 31-100%. (No information is given on our supply of test kits, PPE and staff.)

TESTING: The County reports that 10,839 residents have been tested as of today, an increase of only 137 residents tested since yesterday.
We still have a long way to go: only 2.4% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.  NOTE: State run testing sites in Vallejo and Vacaville are open to anyone.

Solano’s steady upward curve – as of May 28

This chart shows the infection’s steady upward trajectory in Solano County.  Our “curve” continues to creep up.  Our nursing homes, long-term care facilities and jails bear watching!

Still incredibly important – everyone stay home if you don’t need to go out, wear masks when you do go out (especially in enclosed spaces), wash hands, and be safe!

#Masks4All, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Face coverings

Don’t want to wear a mask? (update: DON’T) Come to Benicia!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: See Benicia City Council adopts mandatory face mask order, June 17, 2020

Want to open your business to customers without masks?  Good thing your store is here in Benicia!

By Roger Straw, May 28, 2020

As COVID-19 deaths topped 100,000 in the US, and on the same day that our sister city Vallejo ratified an emergency order requiring the mandatory wearing of face coverings in enclosed public spaces, Benicia’s City Council, after 4 ½ hours of contemplation,  decided to leave it up to you.

Gee, that’s nice.

Well, hold on a minute – the City RECOMMENDS that masks be worn in enclosed spaces.  And officially, we abide by the Solano County guidelines, that STRONGLY recommend face coverings.

But for now there’s no order, no mandate, no requirement – wear one or don’t!  And if the store you want to shop at requires face coverings, sniff around – you can probably get by without a mask at some other store here in good ol’ business-friendly Benicia.

Business owners can decide for themselves whether to require masks.

Oh but not so fast, business owners: Prepare to be “educated” into requiring masks in your facility.  As Vice Mayor Christina Strawbridge said at the Council meeting: “I believe the City’s attempt to educate rather than legislate will be the best solution.”

Um, what’s wrong with educate AND legislate??  Seems a good way to get more compliance.

As for me, for now I think I’ll shop in Vallejo.

Here’s the Benicia City Council on May 26, hearing from a bazillion residents begging for a mandatory face covering order and deciding to do, well, basically nothing.  (Warning – 4 ½ hours long!)

Benicia City Council, Benicia Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, Climate emergency, Keeping Watch on Earth News

Benicia Climate Emergency Resolution – video, draft and final versions

By Roger Straw, May 26, 2020

Benicia City Councilmembers discussed, amended and passed a Climate Emergency Resolution on May 19, 2020.

Below you will find the 29-minute video of Council deliberations leading to passage of the resolution.  Changes in the proposed resolution include:

    • Mayor Patterson re-inserted a strong paragraph on Benicia’s Climate Action Plan, goals and past efforts: “WHEREAS, as outlined in the Benicia Climate Action Plan it is the goal of the City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green jobs, and prepare for the impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, the economy, ecosystems, and public spaces in our community, and Benicia has repeatedly upheld this mission through resolutions to protect the environment and divest from extractive industries…”
    • Vice Mayor Strawbridge and Councilmember Largaespada added several amendments.  One promotes Benicia business interests and the interests of other Solano County cities,  and two others soften the aspirational language: “actively reduce” rather than “end” Citywide greenhouse gas emissions; and transition to electric vehicles “where economically feasible.”
    • Mayor Patterson and Councilmember Young expressed mild discomfort over some of the amendments, but all suggestions were accepted and the resolution passed unanimously.

Benicia General Plan, Benicia Planning Commission, Open space

Benicia Planning Commission decision – another important perspective

By Roger Straw, posting a comment by Benicia resident Kathy Kerridge, May 28, 2020

Yesterday I posted an article, “Benicia Planning Commission to consider permitting commercial facility in Benicia Open Space Reserve,” in which my friend and colleague Don Dean urged opposition to a project to build a solar panel field in Benicia’s beautiful open space hills.

Later, I heard from several Benicia environmental advocates who favor the project.  The Planning Commission will have to weigh the pros and cons of this one carefully.

Check out the Planning Commission agenda for details on how to submit comments by email and how to participate in the live videoconference.

Kathy Kerridge, Benicia

Here’s my friend Kathy Kerridge’s reasoning:

May 27, 2020

Re: Agenda item 11B, Lake Herman Road Solar Project

Dear Planning Commissioners,

I am writing to voice my support for the Solar Project proposed for Lake Herman Road.

We are in the midst of a climate crises.  Scientists have said we need to act within the next 10 years to substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.  We are starting to see the world change around us, with increasing fires, droughts, stronger storms, floods, sea level rise and even plagues of locus.   The ocean is increasingly becoming acidic.  The coral reefs are dying. We cannot wait to act.  We must act now to reduce emissions.  This project can be part of the solution.

This project will sell power to Marin Clean Energy, our local power provider. A company that is run by the communities it serves.  It will add to their renewal energy portfolio.   It will provide local jobs.  It is located in open space that is near a nice recreation area, Lake Herman, but I don’t believe it will be visible from the trail around the lake.  Even if it is the benefits out weight the costs.  The Lake Herman area is within a stone’s throw of a major oil refinery.  We are not talking here about a pristine wildness area being developed, but are putting a solar facility pretty much across the street from an industrial park.  If not here where?  Of course the ideal location for solar would be on rooftops, over parking lots and over roads, but I don’t believe this is an either or decision.  Ultimately we will need solar in both places.

If local projects like this do not get approval we will never make progress in fighting the climate catastrophe that we are facing.  Delay is also not an option.  We need to start acting now on the transformation of our society.  No project is ever perfect.  But we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good.  This is power that will be used by our local power company.  If we say no to projects like this I don’t know how we will ever make progress in reducing our emissions.  Please approve this project for the sake of our future.

Sincerely,

Kathy Kerridge
35 year Benicia resident