‘It’s changing daily’ in Ukiah

City manager pushes for details on transmissions

With six new cases of Covid-19 announced Wednesday among Ukiah Valley residents for a total of 14 already this week, City Manager Sage Sangiacomo said he is requesting as many details as possible from Mendocino County officials regarding the transmission sources.

“There are limits in what can be disclosed in protecting privacy, particularly when it comes to health-related matters, but I have advocated, and do believe, that additional details could be provided, such as the dates of the events,” said Sangiacomo, referring to recent graduation gatherings and in-person church services held in Ukiah that were attended by nearly all of the Ukiah Valley residents who recently tested positive.

According to the Mendocino County Public Health Office, “eight of the (most recent) cases have been traced back to two end of school year/graduation related gatherings in Ukiah, and four cases over the past week have been linked to in-person church services in the Ukiah area.”

“When we say ‘graduation gatherings,’ is that college, high school, pre-school, eighth-grade?”

Sangiacomo continued, speaking Wednesday during the latest virtual meeting of the Ukiah City Council. “There’s so many different types of potential gatherings, and I think providing additional details is warranted, and would help direct those that had potential exposures to get tested, and provide more information to the community that I think is

needed.”

“It’s changing daily now, the numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19,” said Tami Bartolomei, Emergency Services Manager for the city of Ukiah, also speaking during Wednesday’s meeting. “With the reopening, the nice weather, people are feeling like it’s OK to gather.”

Bartolomei pointed out that the Wednesday press release from the county Public Health Office, which announced six new cases for a total of 53, states that, “Large gatherings are not allowed, and we’re all reminded to stay in our ‘social bubbles’ of not more than 12 people from household units, childcare units or extra-curricular activities.”

“No one is exempt from (Covid-19), and everyone can continue to slow the spread by washing their hands and covering their faces in public, and by remembering the three Cs: avoid confined spaces, avoid crowd gathering and no close contact,” Bartolomei continued.

As for assistance available to community members struggling to meet their basic needs during the pandemic, Bartolomei said that North Coast Opportunities and the Community Foundation of Mendocino

County are offering funding called “Covid-19 Relief (which offers) assistance with rent or utility payments. To-date, they have distributed $53,000 to individuals. At this time, this funding does not have an end-date; they will keep distributing it as long as they can keep raising funds to help the community.

“Also, the Mendocino County (Food Hub) is distributing food boxes to people with food insecurities; also, the Caring Kitchen is helping with meals,” Bartolomei continued. “And the Community Foundation is also going to be helping businesses out; they’re partnering with West Business Development Center to support small businesses with five employees or less, andthesefundsaretohelp them shift the way they do business.”

Other assistance that may become available for local businesses was discussed by Community Development Director Craig Schlatter, who told the Ukiah Planning Commission last week that his department recently applied for “a business assistance program … that will assist at least eight to nine businesses (affected by Covid-19) with forgivable loans. This is an application submitted to the state, and we hope they will approve it (because) we think it will be very impactful for the business community.”

On Wednesday, when

Vice-mayor Juan Orozco mentioned that many people are having difficulties making an appointment online for the Optumserve testing at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, City Manager Sage Sangiacomo said there was also a phone number (888-634-1123) people could call to make an appointment if they are having difficulties making an appointment online. (If using a phone with an area code other than 707, call 1-888-634-1123.)

“I will say that once you register, when you do additional tests it becomes easier to make appointments,” said Sangiacomo, adding that there also seems to be a delay in receiving results. “I did my second test last week and it took six days to get the results, when typically it’s supposed to be a 48- to 72-hour turnaround. There is a tremendous backlog, but I know the county is working diligently to fix that.”

Council member Jim Brown also recommended calling to make an appointment rather than using the website, which he described as such a “pain in the ass” that he gave up and called instead to ultimately make an appointment for the Covid-19 test he took Wednesday.

“The person on the phone was very helpful and I got through it with no issues whatsoever,” Brown said. “Don’t give up, just call the number.”