Another strange week culminates with COVID mandates, case increase
This was another strange week in our lives with the specter of the omicron variant always looming.
There are those who still believe that we are over the COVID hump, but the available data tells us otherwise. our sister newspaper The Ukiah Daily Journal reported this week Mendocino County’s case count had swelled to 527 cases since Friday and four more people succumbed to the disease.
In Lake County, the health department’s EPI data (at press time when I am typing this column) shows 61 percent of residents are fully vaccinated. By far the largest percentage of residents who have received a booster is the 65 and older age group at 51 percent while those 50 to 64 years (the age range I belong to) is 28 percent. There is a belief out there that the “young people” are not getting sick, but the data does not substantiate this.
According to the health department figures, updated through January 16, residents aged zero to 34 years old make up a combined 42 percent of cases in Lake County.
It has been a tricky affair to practice journalism over the past two years during the pandemic, as most people can imagine. Even though I personally am not out in the community or doing field work a lot these days, I have ventured out where I feel safe, but just like everyone else, I have to weigh the risks and wear an n-95 mask as recommended by health experts.
You, of course, are welcome to have a different opinion than mine, but I believe in the science and when the Health Officer at Mendocino and other counties state publicly that those who are most at risk are the unvaccinated, I believe them. Even though I am vaccinated and boosted (a requirement for both my KPFZ radio show and for continued employment at the newspaper) it still causes me pause to read there have been nearly 1,000 new cases in Lake County over the past two weeks.
Like a lot of people, regrettably, COVID-19 has impacted me personally, there are many relatives and friends that have been infected and sadly, a few of them also succumbed to the disease. Usually, you can find me midweek at my local hobby and gaming store participating in their many fun game nights and playing Dungeons & Dragons. This week I skipped gaming and I truly missed the people I share time with around the gaming table. Contrary to the popular stereotypes of gamers, I find that these folks come from all walks of life, are personable and fun and range in age from very young to people in their 60s and 70s.
On Tuesday of this week, I ventured into Kelseyville High School to cover this month’s meeting of the Board of education where the board failed to pass a resolution opposing COVID-19 mandates. I was surprised to hear parents and community members who said that they were afraid of vaccinations, some said even more than the vaccines. I personally felt safe there because the school and district staff took great care to make the meeting safe. The meeting was held in a large gymnasium area with chairs spread far apart and everyone required to mask up.
Elsewhere, the Middletown School Board of Education voted 3-2 to oppose mandates for staff and students after similar discussion from the community during a public hearing. Omicron continues to change our routines; on Wednesday evening I attended the latest virtual meeting of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
It was great to see the installation of the new directors for 2022 interacting with existing members and officers including perennial members like Lisa Wilson, incoming President Helena Welsh, Diane Plante, Gary Deas and Joe and Jacie Casteel, to name a few. 2021 President Bobby Dutcher said that despite a strange year which included droughts, the pandemic and the transition of CEOs for the first time in decades as Laura Sammel succeeded Melissa Fulton, the Chamber remains committed to its goals and vision and welcomed the new directors. Sammel said their upcoming board annual retreat will focus on the chamber’s strategic plan, focusing on what their vision and strategic goals are for the year and aligning the plan to the chamber’s overall vision.
A “tough year” indeed but we push on. I wish us all luck and good health.