Category Archives: Solano County CA

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano Public Health Officer reminds residents to observe religious practices at home during Shelter at Home order

Solano County Public Health, April 8, 2020

SOLANO COUNTY – Solano County Public Health reminds the public that the Shelter at Home Health Order prohibits gatherings and directs individuals to stay home except for essential activities until April 30, 2020 to protect individuals from the possible transmission of COVID-19. Unfortunately, this Order impacts religious events that are underway throughout the month.

“We genuinely empathize with those who are unable to practice their religious traditions and celebrations during this challenging time,” said Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Health Officer. “However, to protect the health of our community members, the health order does not allow for gatherings outside of one’s immediate household. These measures, while disruptive, aim to curb the growing number of cases resulting from community spread, and to limit opportunities for people to spread COVID-19 to others unknowingly.”

The Health Order impacts observances where gatherings usually take place, including Holy Week and Easter, Passover, Orthodox Easter, Ramadan and other religious practices. Faith-based leaders and religious organizations are urged to close in-person services and not bring large groups of people together while the Health Order is in force.

It is important to emphasize that suspension of in-person gatherings is not a suspension of worship. There are many ways that religious practices can still be observed, including livestreaming or watching recordings online.

In addition, Solano Public Health reminds the public that avoiding non-essential travel and activities, washing hands frequently, and placing 6-feet distance between others when outside are ways to curb the spread of coronavirus in our community. For more information on COVID-19, visit www.solanocounty.com/covid19.  For questions about coronavirus, call the Coronavirus Warmline at 707-784-8988 or email covid19@solanocounty.com.   Follow Solano County Public Health on Facebook @SolanoCountyPH and www.Facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH.

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano County Library launches survey seeking info on online services during coronavirus

[NOTE: The Benicia Library is independent, not part of the Solano County Library system.  See Benicia Library Director David Dodd’s April 1 Pandemic Update.   – R.S.]

By VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD, April 8, 2020

Solano County LibraryThe Solano County Library wants to know what type of online programming that is responsive and reflective of the community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and has launched a survey, seeking community input.

“We’d love your input and suggestions on the types of topics and programs that resonate with you most during this period of physical distancing,” library officials said in a press release.

The survey can be accessed at surveymonkey.com/r/digitalscl

For more information, call 1-866-57-ASKUS or visit solanolibrary.com.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Testing

Coronavirus: 30 show up as Solano County begins COVID-19 testing at Fairgrounds

Testing site is for first responders, healthcare, essential service workers

Vallejo Times Herald, by Thomas Gase, April 8, 2020
Workers with the Solano Public Health Office collect samples for testing during the county’s first drive-thru testing facility for first responders and essential job employees at the Solano County Fairgrounds on Wednesday in Vallejo. (Chris Riley/ Times-Herald)

The mood was quiet, eerie and extremely cautious at the Solano County Fairgrounds on Wednesday at a drive-through coronavirus testing site made available to first responders, health care and essential workers who live or work in Solano County.

Approximately 30 people showed up by appointment only on the first day at the testing site, organized by the Solano County Health and & Social Services-Public Health division.

The testing is prioritized for those working on the front lines during the pandemic crisis, and to help ensure that the health care system continues to have the capacity to serve the community.

Public Health Administrator, Health and Social Services Department Jayleen Richards,  said that although there were only 10 people at the 9 a.m. to noon shift, they had 20 more who signed up for the 1 to 4 p.m. shift on Wednesday. The site remains open on Thursday and Friday, with only a morning shift available on Friday. The site will run again next week from Tuesday through Friday.

“We’ve had a lot of firefighters and some hospital workers show up today,” Richards said. “Not many essential workers have shown up so far. We’re thinking we’ve had enough signups for tomorrow that we’ll reach our maximum, which is 40 a day.”

Those patients showing from 2 to 3 p.m. declined to talk with the Times-Herald about the process, deciding instead to remain anonymous.

Workers with the Solano County Public Health Office prepare biohazard bags to collect samples for testing during the county’s first drive-thru testing facility for first responders and essential job employees on Wednesday in Vallejo. (Chris Riley/ Times-Herald)

Richards said that after making an appointment by calling (707) 784-8655, the people with an appointment drive up for a process that takes about five to 10 minutes, depending on how many other cars are in front of them. The site is filled with health officials wearing masks and plenty of parking cones, the tall ones symbolizing a hot zone.

“For the most part the people who come up to get tested are pretty calm,” Solano County Public Health employee Elizabeth Gallardo said. “We just verify their appointment here at the front. They don’t ask too many questions, except when they will get results.”

The patients must show signs of either fever, cough, chills or body aches.

Benicia CA, Benicia City Manager, Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department

Clarification: Solano County COVID-19 curve rising? Or flattening?

By Roger Straw, April 9, 2020

I’m confused.

The Solano County Health department reports out daily Mon-Fri with an excellent accounting of COVID-19 updates.  Here’s a screenshot of their most recent report:

In my daily coverage, I’ve highlighted the daily increase in Total Confirmed Cases (112 above).  I’ve also paid a lot of attention to the dramatic rise in the yellow curve shown in the graph at bottom, center, “Cumulative number of cases on the date reported to Solano Public Health”.

My daily observation has been, “Our coronavirus curve is on a steep uphill climb!  Everyone stay home and be safe!”

Here’s the problem: Yesterday our Benicia City Manager, Lorie Tinfow, echoed the Solano County Public Health Officer, Dr. Bela Matyas, beginning her otherwise excellent press release with these words: “As we see the curve of new COVID-19 cases begin to flatten,…”

Stop.  What?  The curve is flattening?  I have been critical of our County Health department, but I trust our Benicia City Manager.  What does she know that I don’t know?

I wrote to Ms. Tinfow pointing out the apparent contradiction, and copied my email to Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, another public official whom I trust.  The Mayor was quick to reply, writing, “I think they might be referring to “active” cases.  The number of cases is increasing for the most part because of delayed test results (up to 12 days).  We have 35 active cases and the hospitalization and ICU rates are not increasing rapidly.  Overall, there is a less than 4% increase in active [cases], hospitalization and ICU.  So the message, I think, is sheltering at home is working and don’t blow its by mingling for Easter and Passover.”

This MIGHT make sense.  I wanted to see for myself, so I created the following chart.  You will notice the red columns track the DAILY CHANGES.There are indeed differences in the daily change rates shown in the columns above.  While total confirmed cases and new cases have been increasing, the change in the daily number of active cases has remained relatively stable.  Similarly, the change in hospitalizations doesn’t vary much from day to day.

So… to clarify, I guess…  Solano County is continuing to see daily increases in the disease among us, but it may not be rising as fast as the little yellow line in the graph would suggest.

The data is still pretty young.  That is, the sample in my chart above only covers a period of just over 2 weeks.  If the experts say the curve is flattening here in Solano County, well, ok.

There are two extremely important take-aways, though:

    1. We have a long way to go – social distancing is incredibly important.  Stay at home!
    2. When any community hits the curve’s apex, it’s far from over.  As one tv doctor put it, the day after the apex is still the second worst day of the crisis!  Be prepared for more cases, and possibly more deaths here in Solano County.