All posts by Roger Straw

Editor, owner, publisher of The Benicia Independent
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Re-opening, Rep. Mike Thompson

COVID-19: Mike Thompson survey suggests constituents want caution in reopening

Strong support for more Fed funding for public services also noted

U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson listens to a question from one of his constituents at the Lower Lake Coffee & Cream Cafe in 2019 during a question and answer event.
Vallejo Times-Herald, by Lake Co Record Bee, May 13, 2020

WASHINGTON – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) has released the results of a coronavirus relief survey that polled constituents about their experience during the coronavirus pandemic.

The survey was conducted from May 1 through May 8 and results include answers from 4,605 respondents. The survey was emailed out to constituents via Thompson’s mail records list as well as circulated via press reports and Thompson’s social media accounts. Respondents were chosen by self-selection.

Among other things, results suggest a majority of Thompson’s constituency is in support of “cautiously” reopening the economy to prioritize public health, while a significant minority is in support of opening up more quickly to benefit businesses.

“Despite social distancing guidelines that keep us apart, I want to ensure I am doing everything I can to connect with people in our community and ensure their needs are met during this crisis,” said Thompson in a statement. “That’s why I launched my Coronavirus Relief Survey and why I am glad to have input from more than 4,000 people in our district. The results are clear—people want more support from the Federal government. Nearly everyone polled supports expanding the programs started in the CARES Act, such as the Paycheck Protection Program and the expanded unemployment insurance program. The vast majority also favor a cautious approach to opening up our community to ensure the health and safety of our neighbors and friends. Know that these results will inform my continued work to bring Federal relief back to our district.”

Full results of Thompson’s Coronavirus Relief Survey are as follows:

Have you been hurt financially by the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • Yes, somewhat: 43.8%
  • No, not at all: 30.2%
  • Yes, very much: 26%
Have you received a stimulus payment?
  • Yes: 42.3%
  • No, but I’m expecting a payment: 30.5%
  • No, I’m not eligible: 21%
  • No, the IRS website is unable to find my information: 6.3%
If yes, have you experienced any issues receiving the amount for which you are eligible? If you answered no to the previous question, skip this question.
  • No: 76.5%
  • Not sure:14.9%
  • Yes: 8.7%
Which CARES Act programs (if any) have helped you or your family?
  • Stimulus payment: 35.1%
  • None: 33.8%
  • Expanded unemployment insurance: 10.7%
  • Small business assistance (PPP, EIDL, etc.): 7.1%
  • Student loan relief: 4.7%
  • Not sure: 3.9%
  • Mortgage forbearance: 3.2%
  • Other: 1.7%
Which CARES Act programs (if any) do you think should be extended or increased?
  • Small business assistance (PPP, EIDL, etc.): 22%
  • Expanded unemployment insurance: 21%
  • Stimulus payment: 16.8%
  • Student loan relief: 15.6%
  • Mortgage forbearance: 15.6%
  • Not sure: 3.3%
  • Other: 3%
  • None: 2.6%
Are you waiting to hear back on any CARES Act relief you have applied for?
  • No: 65.9%
  • Yes, waiting for information or a check from the IRS: 15.1%
  • Yes, waiting for information on unemployment benefits: 10.4%
  • Yes, waiting to hear back on a small business loan: 8.6%
How would you like to see the “re-opening” of our communities play out?
  • More cautiously to prioritize protecting public health: 69.3%
  • More quickly to prioritize getting people back to work: 23.9%
  • Not sure: 3.8%
  • Other: 3%
Do you think Congress should provide more funds to help schools, hospitals, paramedics, police departments, and other services in future coronavirus legislation?
  • Yes: 74.8%
  • Not sure: 12.9%
  • No: 12.2%
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Re-opening, Solano County Board of Supervisors

State restrictions likely to keep Solano from opening higher-risk businesses this week

The Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting commences, Tuesday, May 12, 2020. (Courtesy photo)
Fairfield Daily Republic, By Todd R. Hansen, May 13, 2020

FAIRFIELD — Solano County will continue to open businesses that present a low risk for transmitting the novel coronavirus, while assertively lobbying the state to allow more local control on deciding what kind of businesses can be opened and when.

However, what was anticipated as a possible easing of restrictions on medium-risk businesses in the county this week, including restaurants, is not likely to happen because of conflicts with the state’s “roadmap” for reopening the economy.

Terry Schmidtbauer, assistant director of the Department of Resource Management, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that there is a disconnect between the county’s approach – based on transmission risk – and the state’s approach, which is largely based on business sectors.

The state additionally has varying levels within each stage, while the county basically has three risk categories: low, medium and high.

Dr. Bela Matyas

“It’s like saying you can’t cook the food at home unless you show all the food has been grown in the state,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, told the board. “So we find ourselves in a state of confusion.”

Matyas noted that the county is ready to open some activities – such as churches and fitness centers – because Public Health officials believe there are relatively simple ways to enforce social distancing. The state, however, places them in an even higher-risk category.

Churches, for example, could space out where people sit, and even offer additional sermons so smaller crowds could attend each. Collection plates would not be passed from person to person, and instead, stationary donation receptacles would be provided.

To go against the state guidelines, however, could mean the loss of relief funds to reimburse the county for its Covid-19 costs. The state typically picks up the 25 percent that is not covered by the federal reimbursement.

Supervisor Jim Spering noted that the costs related to closing down businesses far exceeds the estimated $2 million the county anticipates it will have spent by the time the worst of this crisis is done.

Supervisor Jim Spering

“There is a sensitivity to those individuals, to those businesses that are being destroyed,” Spering said.

But the costs are also being seen in more suicides, an increase in domestic violence and other similar results.

Vacaville High School freshman Amanda Moe, 15, said prior to the meeting that she had a friend who overdosed, although he did survive. She said her friend was in a dysfunctional family environment, and with the schools shuttered, he did not have that “safe place” to go.

She later told the supervisors that students, particularly seniors, have missed out on so much with the schools closed.

The Public Health Division reported another death in the county related to Covid-19, bringing the total to 11. It was the fourth death since the Friday afternoon update, and like the last seven deaths reported in the county, the individual was under hospice care at the Windsor Vallejo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

The number of cases increased from 379 to 388, according to the county’s Tuesday afternoon update. The number of active cases increased by one, to 47, while the number of residents who are hospitalized remained at 13.

There have been 5,669 residents tested, up from 5,576 Monday as the county’s testing capacity continues to increase.

Vallejo accounted for eight of the nine newly reported confirmed cases, bringing the city’s total to 230. The other new case was reported in Vacaville, now at 37 cases. Fairfield remained at 67 cases, while Suisun City, at 20, and Benicia, at 18, also stayed the same as Monday’s report. Dixon, Rio Vista and the unincorporated areas of the county each report fewer than 10 cases.

A group of nearly two dozen protesters, including Moe and her mother, gathered in the lobby as they entered the government center Tuesday. Members of the public were allowed to attend the meeting for the first time in five meetings.

Cheri Moe said she believes the Covid-19 numbers are being skewed purposely.

“I think if it was as severe as they want us to believe, we would all know more people who (have Covid-19),” she said.

Individuals carried signs urging that all businesses be open, and at least one man warned that the county, state and the nation are facing a “deep recession” or “depression” if something is not done soon.

Ted Hunter, 80, called the response to the Covid-19 an “arrogance for power” at all levels of government, though he said the county was only a small part of the problem.

In fact, much of the criticism, including from supervisors, was leveled at Gov. Gavin Newsom and what was described by Spering in more general terms as the state’s “heavy hand” in dealing with the business community.

Those comments were largely focused on state threats to take alcohol licenses away from some bars that have opened in other counties in direct defiance of the state’s guidelines. The threat of not releasing disaster funding also was noted.

However, the county also carries a stick when enforcing its guidelines, ranging from civil fines to criminal misdemeanor charges. To date, the county is only aware of one business that has been cited, and that was a barbershop that Vacaville issued a cease-and-desist order to based on not complying with the county health order.

Most people who have the novel coronavirus experience only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. Some people, especially older adults and those with underlying health problems, experience more severe illness such as pneumonia and at times, death.

The vast majority of people recover. The World Health Organization reports people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

COVID-19 May 12 UPDATE: Solano County adds 1 death and 9 new cases

Tuesday, May 12: 9 new positive cases, 1 new death. Total now 388 cases, 11 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 click on “Number of cases” and then hover over the charts for detailed information.

Previous report, Monday, May 11

Summary

Solano County reported 9 new positive cases today, total is now 388.  1 new death, total now at 11.  One of the new cases was a young person under age 18.  The death was an elder, age 65 or older.  This makes 4 new deaths since Friday May 8.

BY AGE GROUP

  • 1 new case of a young person under 19 years of age, total of 7 cases, just under 2% of the 388 confirmed cases.
  • 5 of today’s 9 new cases were persons 19-64 years of age, total of 279 cases, 72% of the total.   No new deaths, total of 2.  Note that only 34 of the 279 cases in this age group (12.2%) were hospitalized at one time.  (It is unclear whether the 2 deaths were ever hospitalized.)
  • 3 of today’s 28 new cases were persons 65 or older, total of 102 cases, 26.3% of the total.  2 new deaths, total of 9.  (One of these deaths was included in yesterday’s overall County count but went unrecorded until now in this age-group chart.)  Note that 26 of the 102 cases in this age group (25.5%) were hospitalized at one time, more than double the percentage in the mid-age group.  (It is unclear whether the 7 deaths in this age group were ever hospitalized.)

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 61 of Solano’s 388 cases resulted in hospitalizations, same as yesterday.  Good news – no increase.

ACTIVE CASES:  47 of the 388 cases are active, 1 more than yesterday.   Note that the county does not report WHERE the active cases are.  Below you will see that only 13 are currently hospitalized, which leaves 34 of these 47 active cases out in our communities somewhere, and hopefully quarantined.

The County’s “Hospital Impact” graph shows 13 of the 61 hospitalized cases are CURRENTLY hospitalized, same as yesterday.  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.)

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added 8 of today’s 9 new cases, total of  230.
  • Fairfield remains at 67 cases.
  • Vacaville added 1 of today’s 9 new cases, total of 37.
  • Suisun City remains at 20 cases.
  • Benicia remains at 18 cases.
  • Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: today all remain at <10 (less than 10).  Note that the numbers for other cities add up to 372, leaving 16 cases located somewhere among the locations in this “<10” category (same number as last reported).  Residents and city officials have pressured County officials for city case counts.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

TESTING

The County reports that 5,669 residents have been tested as of today.  This is an increase of 93 residents tested since yesterday’s total of 5,576.  This comes a week after the County announced the opening of new State run testing sites in Vacaville and Vallejo, open to anyone.  When will we see our testing numbers surge?
· See Solano testing – by the numbers April 13 – present.
· See also Solano County announces testing available to all.
We have a long way to go: only 1% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Solano’s upward curve – as of May 12

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, wear masks when you are out, and be safe!

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano’s big COVID-19 weekend: 3 new deaths and 28 new cases

Monday, May 11
28 new positive cases, 3 new deaths.
Total now 379 cases, 10 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 click on “Number of cases” and then hover over the charts for detailed information.

Previous report, Friday, May 8

Summary

Solano County reported 28 new positive cases over the weekend and Monday, total is now 351.  3 new deaths, total now at 10.

OVER THE WEEKEND:

  • 17 new cases were reported on Saturday 5/9
  • 4 new cases were reported on Sunday 5/10
  • 7 new cases were reported today, Monday 5/11

BY AGE GROUP

  • No new cases of young persons under 19 years of age, total of 6 cases, just over 1.5% of the 379 confirmed cases.
  • 17 of today’s 28 new cases were persons 19-64 years of age, total of 274 cases, 72% of the total.   No new deaths, total of 2.  Note that only 34 of the 274 cases in this age group (12.4%) were hospitalized at one time.  (It is unclear whether the 2 deaths were ever hospitalized.)
  • 13 of today’s 28 new cases were persons 65 or older, total of 99 cases, 26.1% of the total.  2 new deaths, total of 7.  Note that 26 of the 99 cases in this age group (26.3%) were hospitalized at one time, more than double the percentage in the mid-age group.  (It is unclear whether the 7 deaths in this age group were ever hospitalized.)
  • There are two errors in the County’s report today.  The age group chart adds 17 plus 13 new cases totaling 30, when only 28 new cases are reported in the overall count.  Also, only 2 new deaths are reported in this age group chart, while the overall count shows 3.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 61 of Solano’s 379 cases resulted in hospitalizations, an increase of only 1 over the weekend and Monday.  Relatively good news – a small increase.

ACTIVE CASES:  The number of active cases is back up after a mysterious dip on Friday.  46 of the 379 are active cases, 23 more than on Friday.  (Friday showed an unusually high drop in active cases – from 72 to 23, after the number hovered around 70 for the week preceding.) Note that the county does not report WHERE the active cases are.  Below you will see that only 13 are currently hospitalized, which leaves 33 of these 46 active cases out in our communities somewhere, and hopefully quarantined.

The County’s “Hospital Impact” graph shows 13 of the 61 hospitalized cases are CURRENTLY hospitalized, 3 more than on Friday.  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.)

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added 20 of today’s 28 new cases, total of  222.
  • Fairfield added 2 of today’s 28 new cases, total of 67.
  • Vacaville remains at 36 (steady over the last 4 days).
  • Suisun City added 4 of today’s 28 new cases, total of 20.
  • Benicia added 2 of today’s 28 new cases, total of 18.
  • Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: today all remain at <10 (less than 10).  Note that the numbers for other cities add up to 363, leaving 16 cases located somewhere among the locations in this “<10” category (same number as last reported).  Residents and city officials have pressured County officials for city case counts.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

TESTING

The County reports that 5,576 residents have been tested as of today.  This is an increase of 207 residents tested since Friday’s total of 5,379.  That is an average of only 69 new tests per day.  This relatively small increase comes a week after the County announced the opening of new State run testing sites in Vacaville and Vallejo, open to anyone.  When will we see our testing numbers surge?
· See Solano testing – by the numbers April 13 – present.
· See also Solano County announces testing available to all.
We have a long way to go: only 1% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Solano’s upward curve in cumulative cases – as of May 11

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, wear masks when you are out, and be safe!