Thursday Update: 451 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

April 23, 2020, 5:03 am 9.8k Views 51 Comments

By edhat staff

Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) reports an additional 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county today. The total number of confirmed cases is 451.

Of the 11 new cases, two are persons who are incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc and part of the identified outbreak. More information about the ages and locations of each case can be found here.

One hundred thirty-eight (138) people are recovering at home, Thirty-nine (39) are recovering in a hospital, thirteen (13) of whom are in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), two hundred fifty-seven (257) have fully recovered, and twelve (12) are pending an update. Five (5) deaths have been reported.

Of the total 451 cases, 57 are healthcare workers.

SLO and Ventura Counties

San Luis Obispo County is reporting 149 total confirmed cases. Of the total, 119 have fully recovered, 28 are recovering at home, 1 person is hospitalized in the ICU, and there has been 1 death.

As of Thursday, Ventura is reporting 14 new cases for a total of 465. Of the total, 245 have fully recovered, 26 are in the hospital with 7 in the ICU, and there have been 16 deaths.

The latest death is reported as a 37-year-old male died as the result of a drug overdose with COVID-19 infection as significant comorbidity and contributing condition.

Residents who visit County of Ventura-managed beaches are urged to follow guidelines outlined in the Stay Well At Home Order issued by County of Ventura Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin.

Kiddie Beach, Silver Strand Beach and Hollywood Beach, managed by the Ventura County Harbor Department, have remained open for outdoor activity to afford residents relief. Residents are encouraged to use the beaches for essential physical activity such as walking, running, and jogging, while practicing social distancing guidelines. Beach visitors are not allowed to gather with groups on the beach outside their household.

“Ventura County residents should be proud of their efforts during this time and we want to make sure we continue to flatten the curve,” said Mark Sandoval, Harbor Department Director. “Practicing social distancing guidelines, particularly at the beach, is important. Not following these guidelines may result in our County-managed beaches being shut down for the foreseeable future.”

Director Sandoval said the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will increase patrolling of the three beaches to ensure guidelines are being met.

Parking lots and bathrooms at the three beaches will remain closed.

Please check in with your City to learn about guidelines for your area. All beaches have parking lots and bathrooms closed.

Cottage Health Partners with Vitalant for Blood Plasma

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and the Cottage Health Research Institute (CHRI) have partnered with Vitalant in Santa Barbara to use blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 to help those who are fighting the illness. Known as “convalescent plasma,” this blood component contains antibodies that may give hospital patients an extra boost in their recovery.

CHRI led the efforts for Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to become an approved site for the Multiple Patient Expanded Access protocol with Mayo Clinic for convalescent plasma treatment. Currently, three patients have received convalescent plasma transfusion as part of this emergency investigational new drug research.

Currently, there are no vaccines or proven treatments for COVID-19 because the virus is so new. Although trials for a vaccine are underway, it is expected to be many months before one is approved. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified and approved convalescent plasma treatment as an emergency investigational new drug. It is currently the only antibody treatment available to COVID-19 patients and, as such, is a promising new tool.

This form of investigational treatment may give the body more fight against COVID-19 by using antibodies that are active against the disease. Cottage and Vitalant are gearing up to help patients fight this novel infectious disease with the help of willing recovered COVID-19 patients.

“Convalescent plasma is an exciting option for patients, especially as we struggle to find effective medications for those with severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons, Chair of Division of Infectious Disease, Medical Education Director of Quality and Research, and Chair of the Institutional Review Board at Cottage Health.

“With this treatment, we hope to harness the wisdom of the immune system from those who have successfully beaten this disease, and use this wisdom, in the form of antibodies, to help the next patient suffering from this infection,” Dr. Fitzgibbons added. “I’m so grateful for the kindness of our wonderful donors, who in the wake of their own illness are offering to help those currently experiencing the severe forms of this disease.”

Vitalant is seeking convalescent plasma donors to help patients.  Eligibility criteria are:

  • Prior diagnosis of COVID-19, documented by a laboratory test
  • Complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days
  • Meet all other current FDA donor eligibility requirements to donate plasma

 

Even with these requirements, there may be additional tests or other criteria required. In some instances, those who have recovered from COVID-19 may be able to donate, even if they did not have an initial laboratory test. Those who meet that criteria and want to donate plasma are encouraged to apply through the Vitalant website Vitalant.org/covidfree. For more information, please call
866-CV-PLSMA (866-287-5762).

Vitalant will only accept donors who meet all FDA-required donor eligibility criteria and are symptom-free for at least 14 days.  Potential donors can only donate if they have applied and have been accepted to the program. Donors cannot walk in for this procedure; they must first fill out the form at Vitalant.org/covidfree to begin the application process. Potential donors will then be contacted by Vitalant.

Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

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51 Comments

  1. Governor Cuomo out of N.Y. reported today the results antibody testing conducted there, 13.9% are estimated to have had the virus which is a much greater number than reported infections. *** https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/23/new-york-antibody-study-estimates-13point9percent-of-residents-have-had-the-coronavirus-cuomo-says.html *** I think we need to tone down the fear factor. Yes, protect the elderly and vulnerable, but we need to start opening things up again.

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  2. Seems to me most stores could be allowed to open if all workers were supplied with and required to wear N95 masks (with proper training), and all patrons were required to wear face coverings and keep six feet distance. Hair salons still seem like too great a risk. Restaurants… maybe not yet.

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  3. From Reuters:
    “Overall, in the national online poll from April 15-21, 72% of adults in the United States said people should stay at home ‘until the doctors and public health officials say it is safe.’ That included 88% of Democrats, 55% of Republicans, and seven in 10 independents.”
    Go ahead and open back up. You’re not going to get the same business you were. You’re not going to hire the same staff you had. Not for a while anyways. I’m all for following the doctors advice. You know, the guys who think like doctors and not politicians. The hillbillies opposing continued lockdown are doomed and not doing anyone any favors by demanding they breathe new life into the pandemic.

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  4. This virus has a whole lot of stuff: Capability to attack lungs, blood vessels, heart, intestines, brains. Causes system-wide blood clotting. Ability to hide in the deep nerve trunk like herpes, and come back later. Hard shell to survive longer outside the body. Spike proteins that match 3 strains of HIV (according to researchers in India). Oversized shell to carry a bigger genemod payload than what it currently has. Ability to suppress symptoms while it makes copies and infects other people. It is like finding an animal that has a bunch of characteristics of other animals: lion teeth, bear claws, fish gills, eagle wings, lobster shell, chameleon hiding ability, carrying capacity of a horse. Very unnatural.

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  6. After weeks of social distancing and masks how do we get 5 new cases in SB? I can understand a grocery worker or medical person who is more prone to be dealing with random people – but if these are not the people have new cases, then who? Is it due to more testing being done? How can we expect to get people back to work if new cases keep occurring. After being out and about all I see are people staying away from one another. Sure there are groups – but it is not random strangers commingling. Each new case can equate to millions of $ of economic impact as it delays businesses from getting to open again. Personally I would be highly embarrassed if I got CV right now – as it would reveal to others that I was being selfish in my actions. If you are one of the 5 and not an essential worker and have no good reason for getting CV, then shame on you.

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  8. Look at the statistics. Younger folks more likely to be infected (or tested, a lot more are out there without being tested), and males. The virus is out there spreading among the young while older people are being careful and staying home. Interesting that it is also spreading more in North County and in Santa Barbara versus Goleta. The latter has been very proactive and conservative in mitigations and it is paying off so far.

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  9. We will definitely work this out when there is a vaccine, possibly a year from now. Until then, since the U.S. let the virus spread unabated in January and February, it’s here to stay. The only ways to protect ourselves is social distancing, stay at home, PPE for medical professionals and front line (ie: grocery store, police, firefighters, paramedics etc) workers. This is a invasion of a nasty germ and anyone who thinks it will go away soon is not looking at the science.

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  10. I looked at that Reuters poll. “” The question about sheltering in place gathered responses from 1,004 adults, including 452 Democrats and 404 Republicans.””
    one. thousand. people. — uhhh huh. yeah, real good measure of “public opinion”.

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  11. Reality is, there is a significantly larger percentage of our global population who are at a huge risk of starvation due to this lockdown than there are people dying from the virus, if you read the stats. This lockdown needs to stop now.

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  12. Sure would be nice to blame someone but the facts don’t bear this out. Do you have a fact based proof that ” it was designed in a lab by some country ” or is this more faux news which is more harmful than helpful? “Everyone is entitled to his opinion but not to his own facts.”. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

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  16. because we all know that “online polls” are where people care the most and present their most honest values.
    you might want to be careful before you wish bad business upon everyone. do you really think everyone who has been declared “non-essential” will just twiddle their thumbs for a year + til Vaccine Dream?
    ironically, a Dem addition to the CARES bill has ensured that it WILL actually be quite hard to rehire people….due to their Paycheck Protection Payment being worth more than their actual wages for many jobs.

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  24. MacP: would you please refrain from using the term “fruitcake”….that term is offensive, which is your intent, but still very hurtful and mean-spirited. You keep using it over and over, so maybe come up with some other offensive term to make others feel less than worthless.

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  25. A couple of months ago the Business Insider ran an article saying it was racist to suggest the virus originated as a result of people eating bats. Oops, that turned out to be the mainstream narrative. A few weeks back ZeroHedge was banned from Twitter for suggesting the virus originated from a lab. Oops, a few days ago FoxNews ran an article explaining why confidence in the lab origin theory increasing. The lab was located near the wet market and focused heavily on collecting various corona viruses from bats and studying them. They published papers and videos about going into caves and collecting samples and discussed how dangerous it was, etc. In addition, the Wuhan wet market apparently didn’t sell bats. I certainly don’t know the true origin of the virus, but I would caution that a “consensus” doesn’t make a theory correct and being on the fringe doesn’t make a theory wrong. I think the research lab in Wuhan that was collecting and studying corona viruses, playing around with them as part of their research, and getting called out for safety concerns right where the virus allegedly originated is worthy of some consideration. Time will tell.

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  27. 1) The probability of the virus jumping from animals to humans outside the lab is much higher than the virus infecting humans inside the lab
    2) Yes, the Wuhan lab studied bat coronaviruses and SARS-related viruses. But there’s no evidence it discovered or was working on the new virus.
    3) Scientists like to gossip about new viruses. There was no chatter before the outbreak about the virus that causes Covid-19.
    4) The US military chief reviewed the evidence and says “the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural” origin

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  28. @1:31: Please, who really cares about how many cases keep getting reported? Is this a contest? It will only confirm that the fatality rate is MUCH lower than originally projected and infection will spread no matter how much lockdown and detriment to our economy our governments order. A recent statement from a Swedish scientist stated, perhaps in reference to the herd practices there, “This virus, is going to do what it is going to do regardless of how we try to contain it.” Gee, what a surprise. I think we had a President at one time during another crisis that stated “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” I think I learned about him in third grade. Do you happen to remember his name?

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  29. Generaltree, nothing you are claiming has been proven. In fact, most inteligence sources are now refuting the claim it came from a market and not a lab. And if you want the CCP to give us the true facts, you are barking up your “wrong tree.” There were no bats for sale at the Wuhan markets, wet or otherwise. But the lab a few blocks away WAS studying horseshoe bat viruses. A silly coincidence? I don’t think so

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  30. 3:16 PM – More fruitcake nonsense. Instead of sucking up drivel from social media cons, you should try more truthful sources, like virus scientists:
    =========================================================================
    https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-not-human-made-in-lab.html
    ========================================================================= https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/23/841729646/virus-researchers-cast-doubt-on-theory-of-coronavirus-lab-accident
    =========================================================================
    https://www.vox.com/2020/4/23/21226484/wuhan-lab-coronavirus-china

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  31. Blackbar. “Truthful’? Look at the dates of your supposedly irrefutable sources. They are a month old. What is being reported now about the lab being the probable source in Wuhan has been published elsewhere in the past week and from outside Chinese propoganda news agencies. That very trustworty claim from “livescience” came from the CCG China news source: “Just today (April 18), the vice director of WIV Zhiming Yuan CGTN, the Chinese state broadcaster, said “there is no way this virus came from us.” Sure, I believe everything China has been telling us -NOT. Certainly not implying anything, but some people really are suckers:)

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  32. There are, indeed, many suckers out there. The propaganda campaign against China to claim they engineered the virus relies on such a pool of credulous individuals. China’s propaganda about the virus being released by the US Army is exactly the same thing. Fodder for the ignorant and nationalistic. While China did indeed cover up the initial stages of the pandemic, increasing its spread, it is ludicrous to believe it was engineered by anyone other than Batman.

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  33. @5:03. The point of where it came from, whether lab or market, is the WHOLE point being made about it’s origin. Do we continue to have a vast majority of our drugs, goods, food, etc. come from China and let them continue to control our economy, and the world’s for that matter? And do we continue to allow our own companies to outsource our technologies and manufacturing to them. Viruses as deadly have been traced to them several times in the past, so do we just let them continue to do so? I would rather pay an extra $500 for my refrigerator if it was made here in the U.S. by our own workers and keep our money in OUR country than be held captive by the CCP. Let’s be kind to our own people first and not corporations that support “free” trade with China and help support THEIR economy.

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  35. Since it there isn’t a cure or antidote and it’s happening all over the world, unless it’s space aliens trying to sanitize the planet by wiping out the entire population before landing their ships ala “Independenc Day”, “War of the Worlds”, etc., we can rule that one out.

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  36. I agree. I feel like we could TRY being quasi-open with strict rules. Wouldn’t it be better to wear masks and distance and be able to go out and do a few things and patronize a few local businesses? Right now I’m avoiding a few of my favorite local places because they seem to be hotbeds of denialism – young people, almost no one in masks, people seeming to meet up. It’s very dismaying. I would go every day if everyone would show up in masks and properly distance. It almost feels like by having lax rules, we are able to do less. What if we make rules somewhat stricter in an effort to allow us to actually get back to something more normal?

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  37. detailed stats have already been published. —
    https://newspress.com/reporting-of-covid-19-cases-called-into-question-at-santa-barbara-county-board-of-supervisors-meeting/ — now take a look at the Findings halfway down the article. “Social distancing at home before getting sick: Yes: 58%; No: 38%; No answer: 4%” — let that sink in. 60% of people who were “doing things right” still came up positive. === https://www.noozhawk.com/article/majority_of_covid_19_patients_in_santa_barbara_county_have_now_recovered — now look at our hospitalizations curve. notice how it’s not even really a curve, and it plateaued back on april 6th..

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  39. COOLIO you got that right. What we are witnessing from these young people is a complete failure of parenting. No respect for the elderly and even their own parents, or themselves. Selfish attitudes, me me me. Life is going to hand them some real hardballs maybe then they’ll learn.

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  40. COOLIO you got that right. What we are witnessing from these young people is a complete failure of parenting. No respect for the elderly and even their own parents, or themselves. Selfish attitudes, me me me. Life is going to hand them some real hardballs maybe then they’ll learn.

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  41. LUVADUCK, I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but what you say is absolutely not true. As of last night, all the current data and corresponding mathematical analysis that complete lockdown, no lockdown, high-density population areas, and low-density populations have virtually no difference in infection rates per percentage of population. If one thing is certain about this virus, it’s that there has been almost unprecedented fear and hysteria created by both the media, the debunked “projections”, and opinions based on inadequate data analysis. This virus is much more widespread and ubiquitous than originally thought, it started much sooner than anyone thought, and is proving to be far less lethal than originally feared. Everything currently being discovered and disseminated about what we have discovered proves this.

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  44. “This virus has a whole lot of stuff: Capability to attack lungs, blood vessels, heart, intestines, brains. Causes system-wide blood clotting. Ability to hide in the deep nerve trunk like herpes, and come back later. Hard shell to survive longer outside the body. Spike proteins that match 3 strains of HIV (according to researchers in India). Oversized shell to carry a bigger genemod payload than what it currently has. Ability to suppress symptoms while it makes copies and infects other people. It is like finding an animal that has a bunch of characteristics of other animals: lion teeth, bear claws, fish gills, eagle wings, lobster shell, chameleon hiding ability, carrying capacity of a horse. Very unnatural.” So good from yesterday anon poster, I’m submitting it with quotes.

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  45. Yes, NYC “piling bodies” and also in Trenton NJ, considered part of the New York metropolitan area, where the vast majority of the deaths have occurred. Yet other high-density areas like Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle have much lower, still sad, but almost insignificant, death rates. We don’t even know if those deaths reported in NY or NJ were actually caused by the virus itself or accelerated or even attributable to all those other “underlying causes.” But we do know their governors and mayors are asking for the most amount of federal money.
    From news,as published by NBC three hours ago: “Up to 2.7 million New Yorkers may have been infected with coronavirus — more than 10 times the number of confirmed cases, according to preliminary results from the state’s first antibody study. While the preliminary data suggests much more widespread infection, it means New York’s mortality rate is much lower than previously thought.”
    And, actually, many doctors and medical experts do agree on my “opinion” of lethality rates as data is accumulated and analyzed.
    Open our businesses now! Anyone is free to lock yourself inside, boycott businesses that do open, and wait for Godot to arrive with the vaccine.

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  46. As an example, I heard on the radio one of Ventura’s (if I recall) “cornavirus” deaths this week was someone who over dosed but because he tested postive for covid, is booked as a covid death. All the unfortunate and terminal ill people in hospice, who would have been pushed over the edge by a cold or the underlying condition imminently anyways, would also be booked as a covid death if they had. In addition, there are many deaths counted as covid yet no covid test was performed so they were just going off of presumptive symptoms. All this significantly skews the stated mortality rates.

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