WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) — Bay Area hospitals have been on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis from the early stages and are still holding on, at least for now.
While it’s not business as usual at any Bay Area Hospital, the head of emergency services at Walnut Creek’s John Muir Medical Center says his team is keeping up with it’s patient load, coronavirus related or otherwise.
“We’re actually doing well,” said Dr. Russell Rodriguez M.D. “We have everything we need in terms of equipment for our staff and we have enough beds for the patients coming in, so we’re actually in a pretty good spot.”
Like most hospitals in the area though, John Muir is cancelling most elective surgeries. So are Sutter Hospitals and Kaiser Permanente facilities in Northern California.
“We’ve been monitoring the situation since January,” explained Michelle Gaskill-Hames, Kaiser Permanente’s Senior Vice-President for Hospital and Health Plan Operations, Northern California.
Kaiser has 21 medical centers in the Bay Area, each with it’s own command center.
The group’s big objective is to keep patients who don’t need emergency or hospital care away from the medical centers.
“Our message to our members is to ensure that they call before they come in,” said Gaskill-Hames, “and we really want to leverage tele-visits and video visits if we don’t really need to have a physical appointment.”
Some nurses in the the Bay Area have told ABC7News they don’t have enough masks, a vital part of the personal protection equipment. But most hospital officials we talked with told us they’re well-supplied, at least for now.
“We have been careful in our use,” said John Muir’s Rodriguez, “But we are providing our staff with all the equipment that they need and we have enough to maintain the current functioning of the system without a problem.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2020 News Contacts: Matthew A. Davis, Sr. Management Analyst and Public Communications Officer, (707) 784-6111, MADavis@solanocounty.com (AND) Jayleen Richards, Public Health Administrator, Health and Social Services Department, (707) 784-8616, JMRichards@solanocounty.com
Solano County Public Health emphasizes the Governor’s measures to promote social distancing and self-isolation to stem the spread of COVID-19 virus
SOLANO COUNTY – Solano County Public Health Officials support California Governor Newsom’s orders regarding social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community and are encouraging Solano County residents to review and implement these best practices.
Solano Public Health officials are encouraging vulnerable populations – older adults age 65 and older, individuals with compromised immune systems and individuals with serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease – to practice social distancing and stay at home, except for essential needs, including to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care or go to an essential job. Solano Public Health is also advising these individuals to avoid group activities, making unnecessary trips and spending time in public areas (restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues, social gatherings, etc.).
“We are in full support of the Governor’s measures to promote social distancing and are reiterating this message to residents in Solano County,” says County Public Health Officer Bela Matyas, M.D., M.P.H. “When people implement these best practices, it helps our health care providers with respect to staffing and capacity necessary to provide care to those who need it the most in our community.”
Multiple Bay Area Counties have announced their own orders that reiterate Governor Newsom’s orders for social distancing, as there has been sustained community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Solano Public Health is monitoring the situation in the Bay Area closely and is in contact with neighboring health departments, local hospitals and the state.
Solano Public Health is advising residents to follow these social distancing measures:
– Close bars, nightclubs, wineries, gyms and movie theaters
– Close restaurants, except for takeout service
– Maintain distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others
– Postpone or cancel gatherings, meetings and community events where large numbers of people are within 6 feet off each other
In addition to social distancing, Solano Public Health encourages everyone to follow these simple daily routines to help stem the spread of respiratory disease in our community:
– Wash hands with soap and water, and rubbing for at least 20 seconds
– Cough or sneeze into a tissue, sleeve or arm (not your hands)
– Avoid close contact with people who are sick
– Stay home when you are sick
– Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth
– Perform routine surface cleaning, particularly for items which are frequently touched such as doorknobs, handles, remotes, keyboards and other commonly shared surfaces
– Get a flu shot to protect against the flu, which has similar symptoms to COVID-19
– If you feel ill, contact your health provider for advice and treatment options
For more information, visit these state and local resources on Coronavirus (COVID-19):
– Office of the Governor, Gavin Newsom, click here
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, click here
– California Employment and Development Department, click here
– California Labor Workforce and Development Agency, click here
– Solano County Small Business Development Center, click here
– Solano County Health and Social Services, Public Health website, click here
– Solano County Public Health Facebook Page, @SolanoCountyPH, click here
The public can review Governor Newsom’s directive to fight COVID-19 by clicking here.
All public events, including theater productions, concerts and even movie screenings, have been canceled through at least the end of the March in an effort to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Six Bay Area counties announced a “shelter-in-place” order for all residents starting Tuesday, March 17, that emphasizes the importance of self-distancing and staying home. The directive begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, and will be enforced until April 7. It affects a combined population of more than 6.7 million.
Still, while patrons may not be stepping in a movie theater or a concert hall any time soon, arts organizations are starting to share their work through technology. Check out our running list of live-streamed Bay Area events here.
Editor’s note: Venues and organizations hoping to add their streamed events to this guide should email details to datebook@sfchronicle.com.
Music
Culann’s Hounds: The band is offering a free live-stream of its annual St. Patrick’s Day concert from San Francisco. 7:30 p.m. March 17. www.sfhounds.com
Stephen Steinbrink: The Oakland-based musician and producer will be doing a lockdown live-stream set on his Instagram. He’ll be playing new songs, old songs, covers, and will be taking requests in the comments. 9 p.m. March 17. www.instagram.com/stephensteinbrink
Thao Nguyen: The San Francisco based singer-songwriter will try to entertain your children on a live-stream Q&A, answering only questions submitted by your children or someone else’s. 12:30 p.m. March 18. www.instagram.com/thaogetstaydown
Del Sol String Quartet: In lieu of the Pacific Pythagorean Music Festival originally scheduled for March 21, at Old First Church in San Francisco, the quartet will livestream a performance of music by Ben Johnston, Michael Harrison and Jung Yoon Wie. 7 p.m. March 21. bit.ly/delsolquartetlivestream
Del Sol String QuartetPhoto: Lenny Gonzalez
Theater
American Conservatory Theater: Ticket holders to “Gloria” and “Toni Stone” can now stream those productions, and as a bonus they get one week of access to the catalogue of BroadwayHD, ACT’s streaming partner. New patrons may also purchase streaming capability for a limited time; they’ll get a link to a password-protected site (though they do not get access to BroadwayHD’s catalogue). Both streaming options are available through March 29. $15-$100 sliding scale for new buyers, with ACT’s website instructing: “Pay the price that works for you, and when you choose your price think about the number of people you will watch it with.” 415-749-2228. www.act-sf.org
Mummenschanz: Hammer Theatre Center will livestream “you & me” by Swiss mime troupe Mummenschanz. 7:30 p.m. March 16-17. $10. 408-924-8501. www.hammertheatre.com
Dance
San Francisco Ballet: A taped performance of the Ballet’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be available to ticket-holders only. The company will share an access link via email.sfballet.org
Smuin Gala 2020: The live-streamed performance for Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s annual gala, which was scheduled for March 15, is available to ticket holders only. The company will share an access link via email. The recorded performance will be available for ticket holders to view indefinitely. There is also an online auction open until noon March 20. smuinballetjoinme.org
Entertainment
The Quarantine: Virtual Open Mic: This two-hour live stream event will feature poets, emcees, actors, visual artists and other artists showing off their best work. Interested performers can sign up through the event’s Facebook page. 6-8 p.m. March 18. Participants can access this event on Zoom.us/join with meeting ID: 415-402-7164. bit.ly/virtualopenmic
Movies
Blow the Man Down: A film about two young women from a Maine fishing village, who cover up a murder, was originally intended as a simultaneous Amazon Prime and theatrical release. The theatrical release has been dropped, but the film debuts on Amazon Prime on March 20. www.amazon.com
Trolls World Tour: Universal Studios will be releasing this animated film to both live stream and into theaters on April 10. (It was originally planned to open in theaters only.) The price for a 48-hour rental is $19.99.
Arts and Exhibits
Monterey Bay Aquarium: The aquarium has 11 live-cam streams available to the public through their website. These include Aviary Cam, Monterey Bay Cam, Jelly Cam, and others from the aquarium’s popular attractions. 831-648-4800. www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
Anna Wiener writes about her life working in San Francisco’s tech startup scene in her book “Uncanny Valley: A Memoir.”
Books
Anna Wiener: The San Francisco author of “Uncanny Valley” had a conversation with writer Robin Sloan over a City Arts and Lectures livestream on Thursday, March 12. The conversation is available to watch on YouTube for anyone who missed it. bit.ly/annawienertalk
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: The Caldecott Medal-winning children’s author (Knuffle Bunny, Elephant and Pig series) is offering up daily doses of school-time structured fun for the next few weeks. Episodes air at 10 a.m. on YouTube daily. bit.ly/lunchdoodlesmo
Kids
Thao Nguyen: The San Francisco based singer-songwriter will try to entertain your children on a live-stream Q&A, answering only questions submitted by your children or someone else’s. 12:30 p.m. March 18. www.instagram.com/thaogetstaydown
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: The Caldecott Medal-winning children’s author (Knuffle Bunny, Elephant and Pig series) is offering up daily doses of school-time structured fun for the next few weeks. Episodes air at 10 a.m. on YouTube daily. bit.ly/lunchdoodlesmo
Storytime From Space and Science Time: The Global Space Education Foundation is offering children’s stories read from space as well as educational demonstrations with Canadian astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason on their website. storytimefromspace.com/library/
Extended School Closure Update 3-17-20
Mar 17, 2020 | Latest News, nCoV
Dear Benicia and Parents and Guardians.
In light of recent guidance from the State and Federal Government regarding Covid-19, the Benicia Unified School District is extending its school closure through April 10, which includes spring break. We are monitoring all of this daily and will continue to provide updates.
We deeply appreciate everyone’s patience and partnership during this critical time in world history.
I came across the following from one of my favorite authors Brene Brown:
“Fear and anxiety can drive us to become very self-focused. This global pandemic is a real case of ‘getting sick together’ or ‘staying well together.’ Our choices affect everyone around us. There is no such thing as ‘individual risk’ or ‘individual wellness.’”
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