Edhat Staff
The State of California confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Santa Barbara County has officially moved down into the red-colored “Substantial Tier 2.”
Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the state’s Health and Human Services Department, confirmed Santa Barbara County was one of the ten counties that met the requirements to move down to the next tier allowing further business reopenings.
The new health officer order posted by the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department can be viewed here.
Santa Barbara County joins San Luis Obispo County in the red tier while Ventura is still in the purple “Widespread Tier 1” with more restrictions.
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) officials anticipate a lower-tier assignment today allowing more businesses to reopen for indoor operations.
During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, PHD Director Van Do-Reynoso stated the county is expected to move into the red-colored “Substantial Tier 2.” California Governor Gavin Newsom will make the formal announcement at noon where PHD will release an updated health officer to be in effect at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Once official, the county will allow the gradual reopening of indoor operations. Gyms and fitness centers can resume indoor operations at 10% capacity; museums, zoos, aquariums, worship centeres, movie theatres, and restaurants at 25% capacity or max 100 people; retail stores and shopping centers at 50% capacity; and nail salons and personal care services such as tattoo parlours and massages can now operate indoors.
Bars, breweries, distilleries, and family entertainment centers are will not be allowed to operate indoors.
The substantial red tier requires 4-7 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population and 5-8% testing positivity rate. Based on PHD’s calculations the county has achieved a 4.8 case rate that’s adjusted to 4.5 due to testing above the state’s requirements and a 3.2% positivity rate.
Van Do-Reynoso stated that for the first time during this rating period there is a unanimous decrease in COVID-19 cases in all trends throughout the county. In the last two weeks, hospitalizations have decreased by 30%, med surge by 19%, and intensive care unit stays by 50%.
Governor Newsom is expected to make the official announcement at noon and will also announce new equity metrics. The goal is to ensure testing positivity rates in every county’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods do not significantly lag behind the overall county test positivity rate.
This means for a county to move to less restrictive tiers, they will continue to be evaluated on overall testing and positivity rates. In addition to the lowest quartile test positivity rate it must meet the specified threshold for less restrictive tier. This is expected to be effective on October 6.
Supervisor Das Williams summed up the full report by saying, “let’s not blow it.” He referenced home parties and gatherings as one of the biggest virus spreaders in the community and urged people to find creative ways to celebrate the upcoming holidays.
Do-Reynoso stated official guidelines will be released this Friday on how to safely celebrate Halloween as PHD fears celebrations could result in a spike of cases.
At what point/tier does Newsome tell schools they have to do everything in their power to open? We all agree that schools are essential services…at what point do our elected officials step in and tell schools they have to open…because I’m pretty sure they need that shove to accomplish something (anything!)…
Someone finally sensed the political disaster this state “numbers game” had become.
We are on our first day into this lower tier. Let’s enjoy it for a while before we open the schools and ramp up the infection rate.
We need a running obituary list of businesses who will now never re-open, regardless of red, yellow or green tier status. . Time to mourn what we lost permanently; along with whom we lost. PlumGoods was an early and huge loss. I salute you, Plum Goods – you brought independent style and vitality to State Street. The Daisy restaurant was another budding State Street stalwart hovering on the brink of independent success, but dreams now dashed and shuttered. R.I.P. Include also the now permanent loss of even the concept of the old comfort food Paradise Cafe- and loss of the best burger in town. Congratulations to the survivors – pluck, luck, determination and a rainy day fund – thank you for your sacrifices to keep some part of our town traditions still going. We owe you one. A celebratory list for you too.
Schools have already been open for weeks. 20+ private schools, daycare centers, camps, etc. The majority of children are in some form of indoor group setting. It’s only the public schools that can’t get their Sh*t together.
Duke Bosco and SacJon have commented on the schools reopening, where is 47022 and their other cohorts on this? One more post will probably force the schools to reopen.
1:28 – I actually, specifically said I’m not asking about schools. Did you not read my 3 short sentences?
PITMIX – See my comment to 1:28. My comment was about youth sports, not calling for schools to reopen. That was a different thread. Try to read before commenting.
Pitmix is unfortunately correct…the schools aren’t going to reopen anytime soon. They just don’t care. They say they care. And they probably truly believe that they do (see Educators post from earlier). They just wont show that they care in the one meaningful, tangible and real way that matters…opening. The next school board meeting will be the same. Everyone talks about the kids falling behind and how tragic it is that school isn’t open and just how terrible it is…and then will pivot to everyone congratulating themselves on “RIGOROUS ONLINE EDUCATION”! There will be a funny anecdote or two about a teacher who turned a microphone problem into a great lesson and another teacher who had some “wild and fun” visuals on their ZOOM home screen to “liven things up” which really resonated. They’ll talk about how school is going for teachers and administrators kids which will once again have a funny anecdote about a 7 year old that had to be told it was OK to take off their mask to eat lunch but didn’t want to because it was such a fun and cool mask. And then they will talk about some budget issues, legal issues before calling it a day to do it again in mid November. I will probably post another 2-3k times before they actually make the effort (or more likely are forced in some capacity) to open…
Schools will be “allowed” to re-open Oct 12. How that will happen is not yet determined and will, like everything else COVID, be different in different districts with no real basis in science. Based on the usual misinformation and fear.
Consider that, across the planet, over 50 million kids have been back in school, in person, with teachers, for three weeks. Or more. The majority with little or no COVID mitigations in place and those that DO have sensible, school and age specific remediations. Have you heard a word about the classroom COVID surge? No, of course not, because it did not happen.
Also consider that (as of yesterday) there are a grand total of 31 people with COVID *on the entire south coast of SB County*, out of 190,000 people, out of the entire area between Carpinteria and Gaviota. Your chances of bumping in to one of them are .07% Getting hit by lightening is a greater risk. So keep wearing your masks while driving in your car or going to a walk. Just in case. Also remember that, if you are otherwise healthy, your risk of NOT dying from COVID is 99.977%. If you’re not healthy and have risk factors, it still 97% you wont die. Keep that fear going.
Large parties? According to a friend who works directly with Covid patients at Cottage, many of those infected and hospitalized are ag workers and their families. The workers do not have consistent protective environments ( masks, separation, hygiene, available medical care etc)., live in dense family groups where the virus is easily spread, and have co-morbidities (ie diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc) which increase their risk of serious infection. The actual infection rate amongst other populations here is quite low.
PITMIX are you a parent or just someone who likes to talk down to working parents for wanting the best for their kids?
Great, open the schools, so asymptomatic kids carrying the virus everywhere will produce herd immunity. Susceptible folks should have taken better care of themselves or been born with better genes. As long as there is a bed available at Cottage when my kidney stones act up. Got to just carry on wearing a mask and washing hands as a vaccine may not be available for years. The Taiwanese & Koreans are smart with their mask acceptance. Us Americans got to look at each other’s ugly mugs.
@Ginger1, on 9/28, there were 30 new cases, but 170 active cases. Just fyi.
We need a running obituary column of the dead, near dead, permanently disable and just grossly made sick by the constant drumbeat of those who allegiance is to their convenience and profit. Maybe a daily dirge down State Street noting those who are suffering, including the family and loved ones of the victims. Why can’t we act with some perspective and accept a short term discipline that will save thousands or millions?
RHS – 7 months plus at least an additional 4-5 months is NOT “short term” when it comes to childrens’ and teens’ academic, social and emotional health. Screw haircuts and eating out, I could care less about not being able to eat INSIDE a restaurant. My problem is watching kids lose out on essential experiences in their development. For me, this has nothing to do with convenience or profit, it’s about my kids having a normal life. It CAN be done, it IS being done around the world, but no one here wants to even try.
Well…we’re about to open Movie theaters, churches, indoor restaurants, tattoo parlors, nail salons, etc…all of which presumably have a bit more turnover and randomness than singular classrooms…but not schools. By all means, short term discipline is great. We’re way past short term discipline. The goal posts are perpetually moved. What started as “shelter in place so as not to over run the hospitals” has turned into a handful of cases per day in Santa Barbara and Goleta and…the most empty our hospitals have ever been!! I get it, your happy to keep things closed for the short, medium and long term…but everything is open except schools. Science and logic aren’t leading the school district at this point…or seemingly any point in the last 6 months…
the data supports opening up the country for the 98% of the people! I support the “at risk” should continuing to shelter in place
May the force of bloviation be with them. We won’t last long before reverting to purple, and the school opening wailing will continue.
RHS..that’s just absurd.
RHS – Expecting these instant-gratification members of the public to perform any sort of rational analysis to the pandemic situation is futile. This will drag on forever because of them.
Yes yes, We get it… you are part of the group that has been projecting the tsunami surge every weekend for the last 6 months! Give me a rational analysis of why everything can and is open/opening other than public schools?
You still don’t get it. Almost nothing should be open, especially not schools.
Oh I get it… but I’m glad you said it. Part of the population wants to pause everything for… well… seemingly ever! I’m glad life has put you in that position (IT worker, retiree or teacher)… because everyone else is Figuring it out and making life work.
Sitting back, this all seems so arbitrary…. The announcement was last week that our testing would be low enough to open this Tuesday. How did they know that the testing would be sufficient by… Tuesday? We’ve been all told there will be a surge from Labor Day. Same with… March? Masks are absolutely mandartory! We must stop this spread! in four days from now, on Friday at 5pm… but not right now. It’s okay to eat outside, but not inside. Standing up, but not sitting down. You can get your haircut, but not a pedicure. Eating is okay with no masks, but drinking an alcoholic beverage is not. Sitting on the beach by yourself? Nope. Playing tennis? Sure! Skateboarding? Absolutely not. Camp is fine, school is not. And lets not forget about the message mid-July about morbid curiosity and getting tested, because you know, there’s a shortage of tests, BUT we can test professional sports players, every day, just to make sure… you know, so the money stream keeps going. Don’t forget about the zoo animals that are being tested. Oh and don’t let anyone touch your dog, because they can get it, but it can’t be transmitted to your pets, but peoples pets are being tested positive. Who’s getting their pets tested when it seems so difficult for a person to get tested? It all seems so arbitrary.
I think a huge difference between public and private schools is the number of kids in the classroom. My wife is a teacher and has about 35 kids in her small class. There is no way to socially distance in a confined room packed with kids.
Out of curiosity, for those who still want schools and other sectors still closed: what exactly are you waiting for to reopen? What’s the “everything is safe now” reassurance you’re looking for? Clearly by now people must realize that even if there was a vaccine, not everyone would get it. And COVID isn’t going to disappear. So here we sit, waiting for…what?
The virus needs to infect people to replicate. Stop people from going out and getting infected. Then do serious contact tracing and quarantine for the small number of infections that will occur after opening back up. Then hope for a robust vaccine, and deploy it widely. Let Darwin have the vaccine refusers who don’t do so out of medical necessity, and maybe paint them purple.
Great news! How will this affect youth sports? I’m not even asking about school, since it apparently doesn’t matter to the teacher’s union.
A very informative read from The Atlantic about how the pandemic is playing out, and what strategies used by various countries made the most impact:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/09/k-overlooked-variable-driving-pandemic/616548/
YES: Campbell; DeWitt; McLearn NO: Capps; Moten-Sims; Reid
Since I’ve been called out, I will reply. For the record my kids are doing zoom from a daycare all day. They are no “safer” than being in school. The only difference is they’re not getting the direct getting a substandard education. There is no teacher giving them personal attention and helping them with their work, there is no group activities with other kids, there is no learning from each other. My children are still small and will likely be ok in the long run. But I know many others that will not. I personally know many families with kids that are seriously struggling. Talk to any teacher and they will tell you stories of kids in the zoom classes that are either alone or being supervised by older siblings because the parents have to work. Half of the students in many classes are not turning in any work. I have spoken with Pediatricians that are seriously concerned and are seeing dramatic increases in health and behavioral issues. And I don’t have to mention that the biggest impact is being felt by our lower income families with the greatest needs. None of this is ok. I cringe when someone uses the term “safe”. Safe is relative but it’s used as a trigger word. We live in a world filled with risks and dangers. Sure COVID infection carry’s with it risk. I have experience in healthcare and I am very close with members in the healthcare community and fully understand this. However, the reality on the ground does not justify the very real costs we are choosing to put on our children (and community at large). The logic behind these decisions is not rooted in any real facts. But, the impacts are very real.
Get the incumbents Capps, Motten-Sims and Reid for Santa School Board out!
I have done my research well. Kids need to be back in school. While all the private schools and other school districts are back on campus and out of virtual learning, the current board is too busy playing politics instead of supporting education for all.
Kids need to learn to read, write and do Math, Parents and teachers voices need to be heard! Our scores are terrible and this team has failed to bring us results. More than 50% of students can’t read or write at grade level!
Time to swich teams! Our ballots are already arriving. Anyone living between Goleta and Montecieto is paying taxes for this sad mess that is hurting our families in this comunity. Check out these candidates for change.
Elrawd maclearn,
http://learnwithmaclearn.com/
Brian Campbell
https://www.brian4schoolboard.com/
Monie De Wit
https://literacyahumanright.com/
Well said Bosco,
Schools have already been open for weeks. 20+ private schools, daycare centers, camps, etc. The majority of children are in some form of indoor group setting. It’s only the public schools that can’t get their Sh*t together. That’s why we need change. Put kids and families over politics!
Vote the incumbents Capps, Moten-Sims, Reid out now. Are ballots have arrived for voting
Vote for change that’s needed with these 3 for Santa Barbara Unified School District Board
Elrawd maclearn,
http://learnwithmaclearn.com/
Brian Campbell
https://www.brian4schoolboard.com/
Monie De Wit
https://literacyahumanright.com/
Capps=Politics
I think you hit the nail on the head in your question. Duke and Bosco and SacJon and 47022 want the schools to open because that would make their lives easier, if not necessarily safer. But these decisions are being made on the basis of society as a whole, not just parents with kids who can’t work remotely. When schools reopen, if it is before a vaccine is widely available, it is likely that they will take the kids that need special ed, are bad virtual learners, or have parents who are essential workers. Hopefully that will meet the needs of the posters here.
PITMIX – You’re once again failing to read my comments before proclaiming what I “want.” Try a little harder. I’ll say it again. I work from home (thankfully) and it’s actually EASIER to keep my kids here with me. I love being with them all day! BUT…. it’s not what is best for them. I want what is best for my kids, not me. Why can’t (or won’t) you understand that? My kids are my world and if they’re not getting the education and life experiences they should, it pisses me off. If you were a parent, you’d understand.
Where we truly disagree Pitmix is that you think the decision is being made to not open schools “on the basis of society as a whole”… while I’ve listened to the board meetings and think (know?) that it’s on the basis of laziness. The schools (GUSD) confirmed they can open safely… they proudly and repeatedly touted the plan! Then they decided (and said!!!) they wouldn’t because it would be disruptive to teachers and administrators. So I guess you can make the point of a greater good being achieved by public schools (and no other schools!) being closed … but that’s not the schools Stated reason…
NO: Campbell; DeWitt; McLearn YES: Capps; Moten-Sims; Reid. $20 says I win. Any takers?
It would be poetic justice if it were to turn him Black.