Amid progress, virus confusion continues
If you think you’re confused over just what the latest directives are on the pandemic, join the crowd.
Start with the conflicting information on vaccines – both availability and priorities.
With 58 counties and three cities in the state managing their vaccine rollout, the situation has been chaotic for Californians trying to find out when or if they can get a vaccine. The lack of adequate supply from the federal government is causing widespread confusion for people 65 and over. Although the state has said that anyone 65 and older can be vaccinated, counties have been setting their own eligibility requirements depending on how much vaccine they have.
Last week, in the face of increasing criticism and as California’s vaccination rate lags behind almost every other state, a statewide website was launched with little fanfare, to help residents discover when they are eligible to receive the vaccine and to schedule appointments.
The site is called MyTurn (myturn.ca.gov). The goal is to allow Californians to register to be notified in a number of counties when it’s their turn for the vaccine. But as of Monday, the home page still bore the disclaimer “pilot site” and could only be used to schedule appointments for healthcare workers and individuals 65 and older in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
The site also says, “Online appointment scheduling for other groups and residents of other counties will be available soon.”
Santa Cruz County, meanwhile, isn’t just waiting for the state or federal government to act, but is attempting to roll out vaccine to the most vulnerable population, opening a drive-through vaccination clinic at the fairgrounds in Watsonville. But while this is a much needed effort to vaccinate South County residents in an area which has recorded 53% of the known cases in the county while only making up 19% of the county’s population, the clinic for now can only vaccinate those 75 or older and health care workers.
Another drive-through vaccine clinic has been set up for Sutter Health patients at the site of the old drive-in on Soquel
Drive, with the same age and occupational restrictions. Dignity Health also has opened a vaccination clinic.
These all seem to be well run and appreciated. But with vaccine supply still limited, public health and health providers are still working to get the first phase vaccinated before moving on to other age groups. The hope is that Biden administration directives to ramp up distribution will quickly prove effective.
Then there’s the state’s stayat-home orders.
With COVID-19 hospitalizations dropping throughout California, Gov. Gavin Newsom Monday lifted the regional stayat-home order that had placed most Californians under tight restrictions since Dec. 4.
But, don’t think that everything is suddenly back to normal, especially for local businesses. Lifting the strict stayat-home order just means we’re back in the color-coded tier system. Santa Cruz County, which as of Monday had recorded 120 deaths attributed to COVID-19, will remain with almost all other counties in the state in the “purple tier.” Counties with more than seven daily new cases per 100,000 residents or higher than 8% positivity rate are in the purple tier, which allows some modest relaxation of restrictions for a few businesses such as hair and nail salons, and allows houses of worship, restaurants and gyms to allow outdoor operations and attendance. Bars, breweries and theme parks remain closed.
But even with these various levels of restrictions, confusion and a lack of compliance seem to reign. Here’s an example: During the spate of balmy weather in mid-January, crowds from outside Santa Cruz County flocked to local beaches and hiking trails. This in turn provoked angry responses from many local people, who saw these visitors, often unmasked and congregating in crowds, capable and culpable of spreading COVID-19. Stay-at-home?
It’s good news infections and hospitalizations are dropping. But the lack of preparedness and clear communications that started with the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control, then spread to state health authorities, continues to play out with too much confusion.