Virus cases continue to rise

26 counties on the state’s ‘Watch List,’ Lake County not yet among them

LAKE COUNTY >> Coronavirus infections have continued to rise in Lake County over the past week the Health Department announced late Thursday via the latest update by Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace. Lake County has joined surrounding counties in the area by arriving at the triple digit mark and surpassing 100 confirmed cases of the deadly virus.

As of press time Friday, out of 101 confirmed cases, 19 are active. One patient is hospitalized locally, and an additional patient is hospitalized out of the area. Pace added that the rest of the patients who recently required hospitalization are recovering and have been released from the hospital. This comes in the wake of the county’s first reported death related to COVID-19 last week.

“There is some good news here,” he added. “Our active case count stood at 44 just one week ago, and that number has dropped by more than half, despite the increase of 16 overall cases in that period. Even as active cases rose over the past couple of weeks, the local healthcare system was able to respond. Our contact tracing capacity was stretched, but our team of public health nurses rose to the occasion, and we are very hopeful that additional support from the State level is coming soon. “

“Despite all of the recent viral activity in California, our local situation has remained manageable, and we are not among the 26 Counties on the State’s ‘Watch List.’ Therefore, our local economy remains broadly open, at this time,” Pace noted.

However, he wrote that the state is very closely monitoring viral activity across all California jurisdictions, and our elevated disease transmission (67 or more new cases over a 14day period or 17 cases and testing positivity rate of greater than 8%) stats have pushed state thresholds in recent weeks.

Paced noted hospitalizations and hospital capacity have remained “comfortably within allowable limits,” in part because the local hospitals, due to their corporate structures and policies, are in the normal practice of transporting individuals requiring a high level of ongoing care out of the area.

As the number of cases rise, Lake County risks being placed on the monitoring list. According to Pace, Public Health (Department) measures have proven effective in slowing the transmission of the virus: preventing public gatherings and limiting large groups, requiring masks. He noted that as things worsen, these types of interventions may become even more necessary. “Taking proper precautions now can promote public health and commerce,” he said.

In the interest of fostering common understanding with the public and our local business community, Lake County’s performance against State metrics is now published on the Lake County Coronavirus Response Hub:

https://lake-co-ca-coronavirus-response-lakecoca. hub.arcgis.com/

More information on the State’s County monitoring process can be found here:

https://www.cdph. ca.gov/Programs/CID/ DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/ C OVID 19 County Monitoring Overview. aspx

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/ Programs/CID/DCDC/ Pages/ C OVID -19/ C OVID - 19 County Data Table. aspx

https://www.cdph. ca.gov/Programs/CID/ DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/ County Monitoring Data Step 1. aspx

Response to outbreak in farmworker community showing success

As reported in the county’s update last week, many recent COVID-19 cases stemmed from an outbreak in a community of farmworkers. The Health Department detailed that approximately 35 cases have been confirmed that were workers or close contacts. Most of the initial group is now off of isolation and no longer contagious, and cases associated with this cluster are diminishing. The county reports they were able to “very quickly identify this outbreak, and test 300 individuals at relatively high risk for exposure.”

4th of July gatherings may have led to exposure — testing encouraged

The county reports a confirmed case has been connected to a large private 4th of July celebration held on Tribal lands, where multiple people may have been exposed. The event in question was not sponsored by the Tribe; this was a private gathering hosted by a private party.

“We are concerned about the possibility of broad exposure, and encourage people who were at such an event to get tested,” noted Pace adding that Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 outbreaks around the country, and health officials are now awareofmorethanonelocal Tribal community with at least one confirmed case.

“With all new infections, we perform a case investigation and contact tracing, and reach out to people that came into close contact with a known infected person during their contagious period,” wrote Pace.

“Local 6” Tribal Members are encouraged to contact Lake County Tribal Health Consortium (LCTHC) to get testing if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with a confirmed case. Tribal members not connected with a known case, but otherwise concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19, may likewise contact LCTHC, for assistance with sendout testing.

Non-Consortium members, and anyone that is not currently a patient at Tribal Health, should contact their medical provider, or go to the Verily website and get screened and make an appointment:

https://www.projectbaseline.com/study/covid-19/

The health officer added that some residents have expressed frustrations in the past surrounding Verily’s online registration process, and the department does not want this to be a barrier for those who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Those in need assistance are asked to send an email request to MHOAC@lakecountyca.gov, or call during business hours, at 707263-8174.

Scam alert — ‘Mr. Smith’ posing as the Health Department

Officials posted that they have been informed someone is posing as the Health Department and calling facilities regarding face coverings. A local business owner reported receiving a phone call yesterday from a “Mr. Smith,” who claimed he worked at the local Health Department. Smith told the owner the Health Department will fine them and close the store down if they allow even one person without a face covering into their store.

Pace emphasized that these calls are not from Lake County Public Health Services or any of their affiliates. Public Health may contact a business if there is a complaint about not following safety procedures like masking or social distancing with the goal of educating the business regarding the ways to follow some of the guidelines, exploring any obstacles, and encouraging compliance. The county currently does not levy fines or threaten closure of a business for these reasons.

“Face coverings are one of best tools we have to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Pace noted, “However, certain medical conditions and other circumstances preclude some individuals from wearing them.” The State’s guidance is available here:

https://www.cdph. ca.gov/Programs/CID/ DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Guidance-for-FaceCoverings_06-18-2020.pdf (English)

https://www.cdph. ca.gov/Programs/CID/ DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Guidance-for-FaceCoverings_06-18-2020_ (SP).pdf (Spanish)

3 COVID-19-positive inmates released to Lake County from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR’s) Early Release Program

According to the health department, state prison system has experienced multiple outbreaks of COVID-19, most notably in San Quentin where approximately one-third of inmates tested positive, and there have been some deaths. To decompress prison populations and limit the probability of further exposure, CDCR initiated an early release program, and 3,500 inmates are being released to their home counties. The program started July 1.

Lake County received three inmates that were COVID-19-positive. Two had completed their isolation prior to release, and the other was released into the community prior to completing the self-isolation protocol. That individual’s isolation period has now been completed.

These three cases are attributed to the county where the correctional facility that previously housed these inmates is located. To avoid double-counting, they are not added to Lake County’s totals.

Contact with these people has been minimal due to various logistical problems. “These miscommunications carry risk to public health, and meetings are ongoing with CDCR officials to ensure more effective communication in the future,” Pace wrote..

Testing delays occurring statewide, including Lake County

Recently, the Verily sites have seen more demand for testing than can be readily facilitated. Many people are coming in from out of county, and local residents who feel they may have been exposed are less immediately able to secure an appointment, as a result. Testing hours have also shifted earlier in the day because of the heat, which has limited access for some. The health officer said they will continue to seek to make appropriate adjustments to their practices, but added that Verily’s registration process is designed to ensure broad access to testing, not to reserve appointment availability for those living nearby a site.

The significant statewide uptick in COVID-19 infections and greater number of contacts potentially exposed due to increased social movement and business activity have left the county heavily reliant on commercial labs to process samples. Sometimes, it has been taking more than seven days to get results.

Pace added that it is important to remember, about 80,000 testing samples are being taken per day, statewide, he noted some issues and delays along the way are expected and that California local Public Health agencies and the State are working hard to ensure State supply chains and processing strategies can meet the demand.

Volunteers are still needed to help with some of the daily logistics. If you have clinical experience, or are willing to help out directing traffic, your assistance will be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator at 707-263-8174 or MHOAC@ lakecountyca.gov.

When someone tests positive that works with the public

People that work in hightraffic areas and are regularly exposed to numerous individuals outside of their immediate household are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. “Close Contact,” i.e., being within six feet of someone infected with COVID-19 for 20 minutes or more, carries significant risk of transmission. If both individuals wear a mask, the risk is markedly reduced. Precautions and transparency in the business community are essential to limiting spread and keeping potentially isolatable cases from turning into outbreaks.

CDC guidelines regarding disinfection and return to work can be found here:

https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ community/general-business-faq.html#Suspectedor-Confirmed-Cases-of-COVID-19-in-the-Workplace

The County of Lake also posted a “Return to Work” tool for local businesses, based on CDC guidelines, on their website. This is intended to help individuals and business owners evaluate potential risk when COVID-19 exposure may have occurred:

http://health.co.lake. ca.us/Coronavirus/Businesses.htm

According to Pace, people in our communities are continually evaluating risks associated with patronizing businesses, particularly those where services involve in-person contact. Local businesses therefore have a responsibility to be transparent with people, so they can make proper decisions.

Infection rates and case counts have tended to be higher in neighboring counties, and cross-jurisdictional travel is discouraged, except in the most essential of circumstances. Yet, the health department has heard reports that many residents have felt safer traveling outside of the county to shop.

Pace wrote: “Shopping localhasneverbeenmoreimportant, from an economic standpoint, and health precautions have never been more key to sustaining business opportunity. Things like face coverings, and openly sharing with the public when COVID-19 infections occur may inspire greater consumer confidence.”

“As a Public Health professional, my decisions to patronize businesses are informed by their commitment to precautions and disinfection practices and strongly responding to any health threats that arise; proactive and preventive practices have been proven to slow the spread.”

Update on COVID-19related death

According to the health officer, determining causality in a death can be very difficult and time-consuming. Usually, a reasonable determination can be made, and in the case of COVID-19, testing positive at the time of death is often considered the presumed cause of death. An autopsy can determine more closely if another unrelated reason can be the actual cause, and the decision to perform such a procedure is made by the medical examiner. In this case, whether that is being done is not public information. ‘We reported this death as COVID-related because the clinical description, in combination with the positive test, was consistent with COVID-19 being a strong informant of the death event,” Pace wrote.