COVID-19: Four more deaths reported in Mendocino County

Four more Mendocino County residents have died recently from Covid-19, health officials reported Monday.

According to a press release from the Mendocino County Public Health Office, the four patients who recently died from the virus were: a 66-year-old Gualala woman who is described as “fully vaccinated with multiple comorbidities (who died) in Riverside County while traveling”; a 79-year-old Ukiah man who was not vaccinated; an 85-yearold Ukiah woman who was “fully vaccinated with multiple comorbidities”; and a 98-year-old Ukiah woman who was fully vaccinated.

“We are definitively experiencing a recent surge in deaths, perhaps associated with Labor Day,” Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren is quoted as saying in the release. “While several of this recent group were vaccinated, they were elderly and with many comorbidities. Overall, vaccines are proven effective.”

Also on Monday, Coren announced a new health order requiring “businesses that serve food or drink indoors, where the virus is more easily transmitted, (to) display one of three signs that explains what precautions that business is taking to limit the spread of the virus.”

Coren explains there are two parts to the new order: “(1) whether the employees are vaccinated, or if not whether they test weekly for the virus; and (2) whether patrons who are not vaccinated are allowed to dine inside.”

Each business serving food will “post a sign that is color-coded to reflect the varying level of risk of transmission.” A green sign means “employees are either vaccinated or test weekly AND patrons must be vaccinated to dine inside;” a yellow sign means “employees are either vaccinated or test weekly but patrons do not need to be vaccinated to dine inside;” and a red sign means the business has no knowledge of whether employees are vaccinated or if they test AND if patrons do not need to be vaccinated to dine inside.”

Coren is quoted as wanting to “encourage Mendocino County residents and visitors to support our small businesses while protecting their health, (and that) these signs will help patrons make better informed decisions, (as there) is an increased risk of contracting Covid-19 when in an enclosed space and an even greater risk when not masked, for example, when eating or drinking. The purpose of this grading system is to help consumers make smart choices about which restaurants and businesses are following best practices when it comes to slowing the spread of Covid-19.”

“Our community members deserve to be free to choose what’s safe enough for them,” Coren continued. “This is only possible with transparency — which these signs accomplish.”

Coren added that “everyone inside, both employees and patrons, must keep their masks on except while they are actually eating or drinking. Patrons who have a wellfitted mask may enter the indoor area to place an order or to pick up their ‘to go’ order.”

He said the new order “requires that owners post the signs to inform their patrons by Nov. 1, 2021.”

— Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren