Category Archives: Delta variant

#Masks4All, #wearamask, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Mandatory face coverings

Benicia Author Stephen Golub: Open Letter to Benicia City Council on Indoor Mask Mandate

Eight good reasons to enact the strongest policy possible

Benicia resident, Stephen Golub

Dear Mayor Young, Vice Mayor Campbell, and Council Members Strawbridge, Largaespada and Macenski:

I am writing to urge that:

  1. consistent with the eight other Bay Area counties, the City Council adopt a very strong indoor mask mandate for Benicia when it considers a resolution regarding this matter at its August 24, 2021 meeting;
  2. it take into account the overwhelming evidence in favor of masks, as exemplified by a compilation of 49 (mostly) peer reviewed studies (a few of which in turn reviewed hundreds of other studies) documenting the effectiveness of masks against Covid-19;
  3. the Council consider the guidance from many authorities regarding this matter – not least that of the CDC, which “advise[s] that all individuals — including vaccinated ones — wear masks indoors in areas with ‘high’ and ‘substantial’ COVID-19 transmission,” since Solano and the other Bay Area counties fall into those two categories;
  4. conversely, the Council view with appropriate skepticism testimony from Solano County Health Officer Bela T. Matyas, should he weigh in against the mandate, given that
    1. for much of the pandemic, his office has apparently ignored or discounted the expertise of the eight other Bay Area counties’ health departments as well as the CDC and many other experts regarding Covid-19 policies and
    2. that Solano’s Covid case and hospitalization rates are substantially higher than those of the other eight counties;
  5. the Council similarly view skeptically Dr. Matyas’ claim that “the transmission that is occurring, that is causing this surge, is all in people’s homes, backyards, parties, camping, and is not in the environment where these masking recommendations are going to apply,” given
    1. the sweeping nature of that claim (all transmission occurs in private settings, including outdoor ones, rather than indoor public settings?),
    2. the rapidly evolving reality imposed by the highly infectious Delta variant, which greatly increases risks, uncertainty and cause for caution,
    3. the threat of “long Covid” (for which symptoms can persist for many months or perhaps permanently, even for individuals with mild or asymptomatic cases),
    4. Solano’s being consistently out of step with other Bay Area counties, the CDC and many experts, and
    5. Solano’s (perhaps resultantly) poor case and hospitalization track record relative to those other counties;
  6. it consider the strong possibility that the failure to adopt a mask mandate could undercut Benicia businesses, tourism and even property values, as many individuals and families who might consider shopping or moving here could look askance at a city that rejects a policy adopted throughout the Bay Area, in many other California and U.S. cities, and even in such parts of the country as Louisiana;
  7. the Council appreciate that an indoor mask mandate will make life easier and safer for the many Benicians staffing or considering returning to work in our stores and restaurants, including the young woman who thanked me for wearing a mask in her shop despite the sign outside saying that vaccinated persons (such as myself) need not do so; and
  8. the Council decides in favor of protecting all of us, particularly but not only the immunocompromised and children too young to be vaccinated.

I am not a health professional. But as a concerned Benician, it seems clear that the indoor mask mandate will help save Benicians’ health and conceivably even their lives.

So, please adopt the strongest policy possible. If you reject the mandate, your legacy could well be, “They voted for Covid.”

Sincerely,
Stephen Golub

Stephen Golub, Benicia – A Promised Land: Politics. Policy. America as a Developing Country.

Benicia resident Stephen Golub offers excellent perspective on his blog, A Promised Land:  Politics. Policy. America as a Developing Country.

To access his other posts or subscribe, please go to his blog site, A Promised Land.

Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Benicia Mayor Steve Young, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Rio Vista CA, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Benicia council to determine mask mandate policy

Possible Sept. 14 vote in Vallejo

Vallejo Times-Herald, by Richard Freedman, August 21, 2021
Women wear masks as they talk on a bench outside of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Benicia on Friday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Women wear masks as they talk on a bench outside of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Benicia on Friday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

The Benicia City Council is expected to re-instate mask mandates — vaccinated or not — for entering businesses in a vote of its five members at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Despite an increase in COVID cases traced to the Delta variant, Solano County has not joined other Bay Area counties in requiring masks for all. Current protocols dictate those who have been vaccinated don’t need to mask up while those who aren’t vaccinated are asked to mask.

“The fact the county is not going to have one (mask mandate for all) puts the pressure on cities like Benicia to act on our own,” said Mayor Steve Young by phone Friday.

Young said Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Public Health Director, is expected to “testify” either in person or by phone during the upcoming Benicia council meeting.

Bay Area ‘smoke ceiling’ should begin clearing Saturday, but haze will linger, forecasters say

Benicia Mayor Steve Young

“We have eight different (county) public health directors determining a mask mandate is necessary and he’s taken the opposite direction,” Young said.

In Vallejo, it’s status quo, said Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga, vacationing this week in Hawaii.

“The city council is not considering mask mandates at this time although I have received an email request from a council member to put it on the agenda,” Verder-Aliga said. “My opinion is to follow Solano County COVID-19 safety guidelines for now. I personally wear masks at indoor events and at my office per Solano County protocols. I am fully vaccinated as well as my entire family and plan to take booster shots when available.”

Verder-Aliga’s advice to Vallejo residents “is to get vaccinated and follow CDC COVID-19 guidelines.”

Though Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell was unavailable for comment, Interim Vallejo City Manager Anne Cardwell said she is “going to broach the topic of mask requirements in public spaces and COVID” at the Vallejo City Council’s Tuesday meeting, according to Christina Lee, Vallejo’s Communications and Public Information Officer.

“If it is to be agendized, we are potentially looking at the Sept. 14th meeting for that item,” Lee said, adding that “with the rise of the Delta variant, the city is requiring masks in all city buildings regardless of vaccination status at this time.”

Young said Benicia’s vaccination rate is second in the county to Rio Vista, “which isn’t surprising because of their retirement community.”

The Benicia mayor contends that with the county’s less restrictive protocols compared to Contra Costa County, “there are people refusing to shop in town. They’ll cross a bridge because they’re not comfortable going into Raley’s or Safeway without a mask mandate.”

A mask mandate “is a better option than leaving it up to the whims of an individual,” Young said. “And a mask mandate is also for the protection of employees. It’s about spreading the virus to each other. For example, employees at Raley’s are exposed to people all day long and if there are people unvaccinated and unmasked, it puts them (the employees) at greater risk.”

Young believes the Benicia City Council will pass a mask mandate, with tighter restrictions for city employees a possible topic for future meetings. Currently, city employees “simply have to fill out a form and send it to HR that attests to their (vaccination) status.”

In the near future, Young said city employees may have to show proof of vaccination with the CDC card.

“I’ve been trying to convince people to get vaccinated over a year now,” Young said. “Certainly, there’s a segment of the community that isn’t going to get vaccinated unless forced to and we’re not talking about a mandate forcing vaccinations.”

Young said his “first obligation as an elected official to protect the health and safety of our community. I see this as a necessary step in that direction.”

If the Benicia City Council passes the mask mandate, businesses will be required to post signs indicating masks must be worn indoors where people congregate like restaurants or in a real estate office lobby.

“If you’re by yourself in an office, you won’t have to wear a mask,” Young said.

People walk along 1st Street in downtown Benicia as they shop on Friday.(Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine

Summer surge continues in Solano cities, 3 deaths, with new infections and active cases reaching winter surge levels

By Roger Straw, Friday, August 20, 2021

Friday, August 20: Summer surge in Solano, report of 470 new infections today, 1,087 ACTIVE cases.  Percentage of youths increasing.

Solano County COVID dashboard SUMMARY:
[Sources: see below.  See also my ARCHIVE spreadsheet of daily Solano COVID updates.]

DEATHS: The County reported 3 new deaths today, 1 person age 50-64 and 2 age 65+.  All three were African Americans.  Total deaths now number 262.

Percentage of cases by age groups. Click to enlarge.

CASES: The County reported  470 new COVID cases over the last two days, 235 per day, highest daily increase since January 19! Case numbers show a startling increase in the PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PERSONS age 0-17, increasing in just these past two days by 0.2% to a new high of 13.2% of total cases.  For comparison, the percentage of youth cases has increased very slowly over the course of the pandemic, starting in the low 6% numbers, and very gradually reaching 12% in mid-April of 2021.  CASES-PER DAY TREND: We are experiencing a dramatic “summer surge” now.  Cases-per-day were trending downward in the Spring, but rose rapidly in July and are skyrocketing here in August:ACTIVE CASES: Solano’s 1,087 ACTIVE cases rose again from Wednesday’s 946, up alarmingly from 212 on July 2, and higher than anything since the winter surge.

POSITIVE TEST RATE:  INCREDIBLY HIGH – much higher than US & California!  Our 7-day average percent positivity rate was down slightly today from 20.3% Wednesday to 20.1% today, still 2½ times the purple tier margin, over 4 times today’s California rate of 4.7% and nearly twice today’s U.S. rate of 11.4%. [Source: Johns Hopkins]  WARNING: The Delta Variant is here in Solano County and spreading fast.  Time to mask up again – watch out and take care!  
Hospitalizations

CURRENT hospitalizations were down slightly today from 143 to 138 persons, still higher than any time since the winter surge.

ICU Bed Availability was down today from 28% to 24%, in the yellow danger zone.

Ventilator Availability was down dramatically today from 63% to a new 54%, lower than anytime since Feb. 19.

TOTAL Hospitalized – The County’s Monday-Friday dashboard shows an intake/discharge total of CURRENTLY hospitalized cases (above), but never reports on the TOTAL hospitalized over the course of the pandemic.  That total must be independently discovered in the County’s occasional update of the Hospitalizations by Age Group chart.  The County updated its Hospitalizations by Age Group chart today, reporting 9 new hospitalizations, 2 age 18-49, 2 age 50-64, and 5 age 65+.  Percentages remain the same.  The Age Group chart shows a total of 2,056 persons hospitalized since the beginning of the outbreak, in the following age groups:

Age Group Hospitalizations % of Total
0-17 36 2%
18-49 585 28%
50-64 549 27%
65+ 886 43%
TOTAL 2,056 100%

Hospitalizations are also recorded on the County’s demographic chart labeled “Hospitalizations by Race / Ethnicity.”  The chart was updated today, adding 9 persons, 4 Black, 2 Hispanic/Latinx, and 3 White.  Here are the current numbers, percentages remaining unchanged.  Interestingly, the total doesn’t square with the total by age groups.

Race / Ethnicity Hospitalizations % of Total
Asians 323 17%
Black / African American 336 17%
Hispanic / Latinx 555 29%
White 631 33%
Multirace / Others 84 4%
TOTAL 1,919 100%
Face Coverings…

Good news!  Benicia City Council voted this week to move forward next week in consideration of a Citywide indoors mask mandate for all public places.  This was the first of a two-step process that will return to Council for the second step on next Tuesday, August 24.  See also California’s recent Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings.  The guidelines include a recommendation for universal masking indoors statewide, adding of Adult and Senior Care Facilities to settings where all individuals must wear masks indoors, and a reference to new requirements for unvaccinated workers.  Some California cities and counties are returning to mandatory masks for all in crowded places.  In the Bay Area, Solano County REMAINS the only holdout against even RECOMMENDING masks in public indoors spaces.  It looks like Dr. Matyas will refuse to make the difficult decisions.  Sad – and dangerous!

STUDY SHOWS HIGHER RATE OF “BREAKTHROUGH” CASES AMONG THE VACCINATED

See info here: Post-Vaccine COVID-19 Cases by the California Department of Public Health, August 11, 2021.  From the report: “For the week of August 7, the average daily COVID-19 case rate among unvaccinated Californians is 51 per 100,000 and the average daily COVID-19 case rate among fully vaccinated Californians is much lower at 8.2 per 100,000.”  [I’m no mathematician – could it be that this 51 to 8.2 ratio suggests that one in every seven California cases is a vaccinated person?  Someone please confirm or correct me! rogrmail at gmail dot com]

Wearing masks again, social distancing & vaccination…

The “breakthrough” numbers are small in comparison to the huge surge in cases and hospitalizations among the unvaccinated, but it’s still a significant new factor.  We were just beginning to associate more freely with fully vaccinated friends and family, and now we understand that a small percentage of the vaccinated among us may be asymptomatic and unknowingly transmitting the virus, and inevitably helping spread the disease to someone who knows someone, who knows someone else, who knows yet another someone who is not vaccinated, or who is too young or too health-compromised to be vaccinated – and who may end up seriously ill or even dead!  Please mask indoors in public now, and maybe even indoors with vaccinated family and friends!  And PLEASE talk to anyone you know who isn’t vaccinated.  This thing ain’t over yet!

Cases by City on Friday, August 20:
  • Benicia added 18 new cases today, a total of 1,205 cases since the outbreak began, 4.4% of its population of 27,570.
  • Dixon added 26 new cases today, total of 2,160 cases, 10.9% of its population of 19,794.
  • Fairfield added 133(!) new cases today, total of 10,527 cases, 9.0% of its population of 117,149.
  • Rio Vista added 4 new cases today, total of 472 cases, 5.0% of its population of 9,416.
  • Suisun City added 44(!) new cases today, total of 2,738 cases, 9.3% of its population of 29,447.
  • Vacaville added 123(!) new cases today, a total of 10,125 cases, 10.2% its of population of 98,807.
  • Vallejo added 120(!) new cases today, a total of 11,416 cases, 9.5% of its population of 119,544.
  • Unincorporated added 2 new cases today, a total of 121 cases (population figures not available).

Continue reading Summer surge continues in Solano cities, 3 deaths, with new infections and active cases reaching winter surge levels →

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Delta variant, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine

Three unvaccinated Solano residents die of recent COVID surge, 30 currently in ICU beds

Solano reports 1st deaths from latest Covid surge, 5 new overall

Fairfield Daily Republic, by Todd R. Hansen, August 18, 2021
A pedestrian wears a face mask to slow the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19, while walking along Travis Boulevard in Fairfield, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic)

FAIRFIELD — Three Solano County residents have died, at least in part, due to the Covid-19 surge that started shortly after July 4.

Each was unvaccinated, the Solano County Public Health Division reported.

“So these are the first fatalities from this surge . . . and it is hard to imagine there won’t be more,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a phone interview Monday. “A lot of people have been hospitalized.”

The 129 residents in area hospitals due to Covid-19, as of Monday, is the highest number since the surge began. Thirty of those residents are in intensive care units, representing about half of all ICU patients.

Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Health Officer

“So hospital impact is significant,” Matyas said.

The most recent of the three fatalities occurred Aug. 2. There was one man who was between 50 and 65; one man was older than 65; and one woman who was older than 65. All lived at home, the county reported.

Prior to these deaths, the most recent fatalities include one in May and one in June.

Two other deaths reported Monday were from last year, taking the pandemic total to 259. Both – one man, one woman – were described as “very elderly,” Matyas said. Each lived at home as well.

Matyas reported that for July, 7% of those who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus were vaccinated; 7.5% for June and July combined. He said he is still gathering data on the vaccination status for those who have ended up in a hospital, but knows that number will be lower than 7%.

The county reported 250 additional cases since Friday’s update, bringing the county total to 37,914.

Fairfield added 54 cases to take its total to 10,291. Vallejo is at 11,177 cases after 96 new reports. Vacaville added 60 cases to bring its count to 9,900, the county reported.

Suisun City (2,673) added 13 new cases; Dixon (2,114) added 14; Benicia (1,177) added 10; Rio Vista (464) added two; and the total in the unincorporated area of the county climbed to 125 after one new case, the county reported.

The number of active cases in the county was at 838 Monday, down 72 from Friday’s report.

The seven-day positivity rate decreased from 18.9% to 18.6%, the county reported.

The county also reported that 60% of residents who are 12 or older are now fully vaccinated, up from 59% in Friday’s update. The percentage of those who have at least one shot held at 72%.

continued…