Category Archives: Benicia CA

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Benicia CA, Benicia Mayor Steve Young, Elizabeth Patterson

Benicia FINALLY gets a seat on the Air District Board

By Roger Straw, March 22, 2022

Benicia Mayor Steve Young chosen to sit on Bay Area Air District Board of Directors

Benicia Mayor Steve Young

Benicia Mayor Steve Young has been appointed as a member of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Board of Directors.

The appointment was made by the seven Mayors in Solano County. The seat was vacated when the current representative, Suisun City Mayor Lori Wilson, was elected to the State Assembly and resigned her position as Mayor.

Said Mayor Young “I want to thank my fellow Mayors for their support in making this appointment to the BAAQMD Board. As the only City in Solano County with an oil refinery, it is past time that the City was represented on this important regional board.”

Asked to confirm that Benicia has never had a mayoral seat on the BAAQMD Board, former Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson  recalled that some years ago, she was “appointed to the Air District Board but on a technical mistake, and had to turn badge and binder back.”  She explained that “the district had miscalculated the population numbers to qualify the county for a city representative.” Later when Solano County qualified, Patterson received “a commitment from Mayor Price of Fairfield, but Solano Supervisor Jim Spering helped Price renege on his commitment, and Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis was appointed.”  Patterson’s recollection is that Davis’ attendance on the Board was minimal. More recently, Patterson sought to be appointed again, but Mayor Lori Wilson of Suisun City was appointed.

Solano County currently has two of the 23 seats on the BAAQMD Board.  Solano’s mayoral representative is chosen by the seven mayors in the county.  The Solano County Board of Supervisors has its own representative, currently Supervisor Erin Hannigan of Vallejo District 1.

Young’s appointment will be official when sworn in by the Board at their next meeting on April 6.

Mayor Young will also be taking a seat on the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments (MTC/ABAG).

#wearamask, Benicia CA, Community transmission rate, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine

Solano’s Monday COVID update: Deaths reported in March already exceed total reported in February

NOTE: The information below is not the latest.  TAP HERE for today’s latest information.

By Roger Straw, Monday, March 21, 2022

Solano County’s Monday report: 120 new COVID infections, 35 hospitalizations and 2 new deaths.  Fifteen deaths reported in February, sixteen already just 21 days into March.

Solano Public Health COVID dashboard, Monday, March 21, 2022:

DEATHS:  Solano reported 2 new COVID-related deaths in today’s report, one age 50-64 and one age 65+.  Fifteen new deaths were reported in February, ALL over 65 years of age.  So far in March, 16 County residents were reported to have died with COVID.  A total of 412 Solano residents have now died of COVID or COVID-related causes over the course of the pandemic.

TRANSMISSION RATE: With today’s report, Solano remained just barely in the SUBSTANTIAL transmission rate with 231 new cases in the last 7 days.  Less than 225 new cases over 7 days would move the County into the MODERATE rate for the first time since July 9, 2021.  CDC FORMULA: Based on Solano County’s population, 450 or more cases in 7 days places Solano in the CDC’s population-based definition of a HIGH transmission rate.  We would need to drop below 225 cases in 7 days to show MODERATE community transmission.

>ACTIVE CASES: Solano reported 215 ACTIVE cases today, down significantly from 306 at last report, and our lowest numbers since July 6, 2021.

CASES BY CITY – Monday, March 21:

  • BENICIA added 5 new cases today, a total of 3,118 cases since the outbreak began.  That’s over 11% of Benicia’s total population.  TRANSMISSION RATE: Benicia’s 7-day case count dipped into the MODERATE range last Monday and rose slightly to 15 on Thursday, but fell again today to only 10, back into the highly desirable MODERATE rate of transmission.  For a city with Benicia’s population, anything over 27 cases in 7 days is considered HIGH TRANSMISSION.  14 to 27 cases is considered SUBSTANTIAL.  Below 14 is rated MODERATE. (See chart below.)

  • Dixon added 8 more cases today, total of 4,330 cases.
  • Fairfield added 32 new cases today, total of 22,573 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 2 new cases today, total of 1,187 cases.
  • Suisun City added 26 new cases today, total of 5,924 cases.
  • Vacaville added 15 new cases today, a total of 21,555 cases.
  • Vallejo added 32 new cases today, a total of 25,424 cases.
  • Unincorporated added 0 new cases today, a total of 199 cases.

TEST RATE:  Solano County’s 7-Day Percent Positive TEST RATE fell dramatically in March, and remains at only 4% today. Even at this lower rate, SOLANO DOES NOT COMPARE FAVORABLY: The CALIFORNIA 7-day % positive rate remained at only 1.3% today.  [Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracking Center] and the U.S. 7-day % positive rate was up slightly today from 2.2% to 2.4%. [Source: CDC COVID Data Tracker.] 

HOSPITALIZATIONS:

CURRENT: Good news: the number of those currently hospitalized with COVID in Solano County fell today from 13 persons to only 7 persons.  Current hospitalizations don’t tell the whole story, though, as this number reflects both admissions and discharges.  Only from the increase in total hospitalizations (below) can we know how many new admissions have come into our hospitals as of this date.

TOTAL hospitalizations: Solano played “catch-up” in its Age Group and Race/Ethnicity charts today, adding 35 new hospitalizations, (only some of which are new this week), for a pandemic total of 3,804.  (The County’s hospitalization numbers for Race/Ethnicity is less accurate, but presented here to show relative percentages.)

ICU Bed Availability in Solano County increased slightly today from 46% to 49%, in the County’s GREEN safe zone .

Ventilator Availability in Solano County fell dramatically today from 80% available to only 67% available, but still in the County’s GREEN safe zone. 

HOW DOES TODAY’S REPORT COMPARE?  See recent reports and others going back to April 20, 2020 in my ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).

Click green text above or on the image.

>The data on this page is from the Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and (as of 3/14/2022) is updated Monday and Thursday between 4 and 6pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for “Summary, Demographics” and “Vaccines.”  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

See also my BENINDY ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).  I have also archived the hundreds of full CORONAVIRUS REPORTS posted here almost daily on the Benicia Independent since April 2020.

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#wearamask, Benicia CA, Community transmission rate, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine

Solano County: one new COVID-related death and 111 new infections since Monday

NOTE: The information below is not the latest.  TAP HERE for today’s latest information.

By Roger Straw, Thursday, March 17, 2022

Solano County reported 111 new COVID infections today, 2 hospitalizations and 1 new death.

Solano Public Health COVID dashboard, Thursday, March 17, 2022:

DEATHS:  Solano reported 1 new COVID-related death in today’s report, a Hispanic person age 65+. Fifteen new deaths were reported in February, ALL over 65 years of age.  So far in March, 14 County residents were reported to have died with COVID.  A total of 410 Solano residents have now died of COVID or COVID-related causes over the course of the pandemic.

TRANSMISSION RATE: With Monday’s report, Solano moved out of the HIGH transmission rate and into the SUBSTANTIAL rate for the first time since Dec 22, 2021, and remained there in today’s report, now showing a total of 325 new cases over the last 7 days (up from 286 on Monday).  CDC FORMULA: Based on Solano County’s population, 450 or more cases in 7 days places Solano in the CDC’s population-based definition of a HIGH transmission rate.  We would need to drop below 225 cases in 7 days to show MODERATE community transmission.

>ACTIVE CASES: Solano reported 306 ACTIVE cases today, up slightly from 303 at last report, our lowest numbers since mid-December last year.

CASES BY CITY – Thursday, March 17:

  • BENICIA added 5 new cases today, a total of 3,113 cases since the outbreak began.  That’s over 11% of Benicia’s total population.  TRANSMISSION RATE: Benicia’s 7-day case count dipped into the MODERATE range on Monday, but rose slightly from 13 to 15 today, back into the SUBSTANTIAL rate of transmission.  For a city with Benicia’s population, anything over 27 cases in 7 days is considered HIGH TRANSMISSION, and 14 to 27 cases is considered SUBSTANTIAL TRANSMISSION. (See chart below.)

  • Dixon added 4 more cases today, total of 4,322 cases.
  • Fairfield added 37 new cases today, total of 22,541 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 0 new cases today, total of 1,185 cases.
  • Suisun City added 10 new cases today, total of 5,898 cases.
  • Vacaville added 22 new cases today, a total of 21,540 cases.
  • Vallejo added 33 new cases today, a total of 25,392 cases.
  • Unincorporated added 0 new cases today, a total of 199 cases.

TEST RATE:  Solano County’s 7-Day Percent Positive TEST RATE fell dramatically in March, down to only 4% today. Even at this lower rate, SOLANO DOES NOT COMPARE FAVORABLY: The CALIFORNIA 7-day % positive rate was down from 1.6% to only 1.3% today.  [Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracking Center] and the U.S. 7-day % positive rate was down from 2.7% to only 2.2% today. [Source: CDC COVID Data Tracker.] 

HOSPITALIZATIONS:

CURRENT: Good news: the number of those currently hospitalized with COVID in Solano County remained steady today at only 13 persons.  Current hospitalizations don’t tell the whole story, though, as this number reflects both admissions and discharges.  Only from the increase in total hospitalizations (below) can we know how many new admissions have come into our hospitals as of this date.

TOTAL hospitalizations: Solano updated its Age Group and Race/Ethnicity charts today, adding 2 new hospitalizations, for a pandemic total of 3,769.  (The County’s hospitalization numbers for Race/Ethnicity is less accurate, but presented here to show relative percentages.)

ICU Bed Availability in Solano County remained steady today at 46%, in the County’s GREEN safe zone .

Ventilator Availability in Solano County remained steady today at 80% available, in the County’s GREEN safe zone. 

HOW DOES TODAY’S REPORT COMPARE?  See recent reports and others going back to April 20, 2020 in my ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).

Click green text above or on the image.

>The data on this page is from the Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and (as of 3/14/2022) is updated Monday and Thursday between 4 and 6pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for “Summary, Demographics” and “Vaccines.”  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

See also my BENINDY ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).  I have also archived the hundreds of full CORONAVIRUS REPORTS posted here almost daily on the Benicia Independent since April 2020.

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Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Hospitalizations, Long-COVID, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Dr. Richard Fleming: Reflecting on Solano County’s huge ‘correction’ in COVID numbers

The importance of accurate COVID-19 numbers in Solano and Benicia

By Richard Fleming, M.D., March 12, 2022
[BACKGROUND: Solano Public Health corrects COVID numbers
AND Solano Public Health Director explains.]
Richard Fleming, M.D., Benicia, CA

Having accurate numbers on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, mortality rates, and long-covid rates is very important.

I’m glad Solano County has decided to include positive antigen tests in their case numbers. False positive antigen tests are uncommon, so a positive antigen test almost always means a true infection.

The antigen test is the rapid test done with the at-home kits. Many of these positive antigen test results are not being reported to the county or state, so total covid-19 cases are increasingly being under-counted. Nonetheless, it is appropriate for Solano County to do what other counties have been doing, which is to count positive antigen tests as covid-19 infections.

It is a little surprising the county has decided to start excluding positive serological test results. A positive serological (or antibody) test for COVID-19 is almost always due to a prior COVID-19 infection. I am not sure what the rationale is for deciding to take these cases off the count of covid-19 infections.

One of the biggest data gaps is how many people are facing long-covid problems. In assessing the impact of the virus, this is an important aspect to understand. Sadly, there are currently no county-level, statewide, or even national numbers on how many people are dealing with this condition.

Looking at the big picture, Solano County will, in all likelihood, continue to see better numbers, in parallel with the improvement in the state’s and the country’s numbers.

As we celebrate our progress locally, it is important to look at the fact that neither Benicia nor Solano County is an island, and much of what happens with the pandemic here is impacted by the situation in surrounding areas. There is little doubt that we in Benicia and Solano County have benefitted, and continue to benefit, from the actions of other Bay Area counties, which have much better numbers than we do. These better numbers are no doubt due to the fact these other counties have much higher vaccination rates and have had more stringent public health safeguards in place than has been the case in Solano County and in Benicia.

And, because we are not an island, there is also little doubt that Solano County has made things slightly worse for the other Bay Area counties.

The question which will be hard to answer is whether we (Benicia and Solano County) could have seen fewer hospitalizations, fewer deaths, and fewer cases of long covid had we followed the same public health measures as the rest of the Bay Area, including more masking requirements, more vaccine mandates, and more vaccinations. Actually, the question is not whether we would have had fewer, but how many fewer, in each category.

This is not just an historical question. It is a question which should concern all of us today. How many of the 80 Benicians who acquired covid-19 this past week may have avoided this infection if our city had waited a couple of weeks longer to lift its mask mandate? How about those who will become infected next week? It would be nice if there was some way to quantify that, but it may never be known.

Richard Fleming, M.D.
Benicia, CA