County’s COVID progress report remains discouraging

EL CENTRO — Imperial County Public Health Director Janette Angulo has an idea why COVID-19 cases have been steadily increasing over the last several weeks.

Although Imperial County has been stuck in the state’s purple tier signifying widespread infection since Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced the color-coded Blueprint for a Safer Economy in August, there had been signs it was on its way to emerging from that classification.

The outlook isn’t so promising recently in the state’s weekly report. The county’s adjusted rate of 18.19 new cases per 100,000 residents is well above the seven per 100,000 cases to move into the red tier.

Meanwhile, the percentage of positive tests, which can’t exceed 8 percent to move tiers, currently sits at 11.3 percent, and the healthy equity score the state uses to determine if certain segments of the population are being disproportionately affected by the virus is at 14.4, well past the threshold of 6 needed to advance.

The county numbers, which are posted daily on the public health website, are higher, and include prison and hospital cases.

Angulo acknowledged at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting the numbers are going up, but she added they are also going up in other parts of the state and nation.

However, Imperial County is just one of nine counties in California that have not moved up in the governor’s color-coded tier system.

Weeks ago Angulo attributed the increase of COVID-19 cases on the loosening of restrictions.

On Wednesday, she said she thinks the numbers are increasing for two reasons. One was gatherings in homes, and the other was residents traveling back and forth from Mexicali.

County Health Public Information Officer Maria Peinado said there are several reasons the COVID-19 numbers are increasing,

“There is no single factor contributing to the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” she said. “However, in recent cases, trends have been tied to family reunions, gatherings, as well as increased travel to/from Mexicali for visiting and/ or accessing essential services.”

Angulo at Tuesday’s meeting said the numbers increased the most from May to July before the numbers started going down.

“Unfortunately, (the numbers) are now going up,” she said, adding the largest spike in deaths was in July and August.

The Public Health Department is still encouraging all county residents, even the ones who have not been exposed or have symptoms, to get tested.

To make it easier to get tested the Public Health Department is considering bringing the tests to the public in a mobile option.

“The Imperial County Public Health Department is exploring different options, including the possibility of having a mobile COVID-19 testing site,” Peinado said.

Angulo said she is also stressing for community members to share with their families what COVID is, how it spreads and what it means, as many people don’t know these answers.

Supervisor Jesus Eduardo Escobar said as winter comes every time a person gets the common cold or is affected by something like hay fever, people are going to think they have COVID-19.

“Now that the cases are going up are we going to pump up (the testing)?” he asked.

Escobar said he thinks the people crossing the border do not practice social distancing or wear a face covering, while still waiting in line to cross into Calexico.

He questioned whether there a way to encourage people crossing the border to follow recommended safety measures.

“Our numbers are getting worse,” he said. “We have to be more proactive on this.”

He said the border hours and restrictions have remained consistent throughout the pandemic.

“At the end of the day its’s about individual accountability and responsibility,” he said. “Is the number of tests being taken now similar to the ones taken weeks or months ago?”