Edhat Staff
Cottage Hospital Emergency Room (Photo: Cottage Hospital)
By edhat staff
Santa Barbara County health officials announced an increase in six new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases during a press conference on Thursday afternoon, bringing the total to 32 confirmed cases in the county.
Of the 32 cases, three patients are hospitalized with one of those patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The remaining 21 patients are recovering at home while 8 have fully recovered.
The new positive cases fall between the 30’s-60’s age range. Two patients are in Santa Maria, two are in the Santa Ynez Valley, and one is in Lompoc, and on is in Santa Barbara.
- Case #27—in their 60s and resides in Santa Ynez Valley
- Case #29—in their 30s and resides in Santa Barbara
- Case #30—in their 40s and resides in Santa Maria
- Case #31—in their 30s and resides in Lompoc
- Case #32—in their 50s and resides in Santa Maria
Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer, urged the public to practice social distancing the “flatten the curve” so our healthcare system does not get inundated with new patients all at once.
“Only if everybody complies with physical distancing and stay at home orders do we have a chance to accomplish this. I urge you to comply [with social distancing],” said Dr. Ansorg.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager Jan Koegler confirmed officials are planning for a potential surge of patients. They are identifying areas within Santa Barbara County that could serve as additional medical sites to step down patients who do not require high levels of hospital care.
In surrounding counties, the numbers continue to climb. On Thursday evening, Ventura County reported 1 death and 61 positive cases with the majority of cases between ages 25 and 64.
In San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, the number of confirmed cases jumped to 54 with four in the hospital, one of those patients being in the intensive care unit (ICU).
On Tuesday, SLO County officials launched a hotline for residents to report violations of the shelter-in-place order. They stated if a business refuses to comply it may face a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, or both.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown previously stated law enforcement will urge compliance through warnings instead of citations but is not opposed to giving tickets for frequent offenders.
The full press conference will be available here. For more information on COVID-19 resources visit publichealthsbc.org.
This is why I am calling for reporting of violations.
Why do edhatters seem to not want to deal with the issue of social distancing violations?
Edhat staff :. Can you clarify ? Headline says 1 hospitalized. Story says 3.
One is in intensive care. The headline should be fixed though
The article mentions businesses that violate the order. So, is a restaurant that allows outdoor seating violating? What is the precise letter of this specific order?
Yes. Outdoor seating still constitutes dining in
Restaurants are only allowed to do take out or delivery right now
From the Kentucky State Health Dept. website: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 million Americans became sick with the flu, 490,600 were hospitalized and 34,200 flu-related deaths were reported during the 2018-2019 flu season. Signs and symptoms of the flu typically are intense and occur suddenly. Fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children) are common symptoms. From the California Health Dept. website: https://countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/phd/PROGRAMS/Epidemiology/Flu%20SBCPHD%20update%20(week%2011%202020).pdf
I’m anxious because I have autism and being stuck at home is rough for me, but I understand the need to protect. There is no need to be rude. Being autistic makes me hyper vigilant.
Different flu.
MAR 26, 2020 08:19 PM
Different flu, different virus – but if Covid 19 has caused the death of 81 people in California, where is the freak out over 685 deaths with influenza, including 16 ‘pediatric’ deaths in California this season so far? Or the 23,000 deaths in the US last year due to the ‘flu’.
Without a test you have no idea if you have it. That’s science.
Under Newsoms order, restaurants that serve food may stay open, but may ONLY provide take-out or delivery of food. No in-restaurant dining is allowed. Patrons may also not dine or picnic on patios or outdoor tables at the restaurant.
Science is that the test is 30% unreliable. And unavailable. Also thanks for your encouragement and empathy.
The CNN Town Hall meeting video referenced by sbmh2015 at 11:14PM is available at:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/app-news-section/full-coronavirus-town-hall-march-26-2020-app/index.html
I have it; my husband has it and we traveled to a very high risk area now identified as such but in the US!! We will not take up a precious test or risk exposing others. Again I have said it’s not the numbers of cases recorded; it’s the lack of testing that currently is our emergency. Also to note 40% estimated transmission in China was from asymptomatic people! It may be you not the other guy. Pressure our City Councils to begin now creating isolation facilities at public facilities especially for those who live in huge densities in their homes. Stop pharmacies from telling sick people they have to come in to pick up prescriptions and pay!! Stop any store from lining people up. There is a lot to wake up to right here right now. I have been at it, from bed, now for a week, trying to get real action. It is our natural disaster we did not expect.
Can you please describe the details of your illness? When did it occur, symptoms each day, how many days, progress, improvement or decline, etc.
Everything you read. It takes too long. So far 14 days and intermittent everything you hear about. Stomach as well.
I don’t feel like going through all of that. Almost all symptoms but intermittently. Stomach just got way worse at 14 days.
The country needs to be listening to the experts like Dr Fauci and Bill Gates. It’s unfortunate we have a president who is putting his own self-interest before that of nations health and lives.
Literally WTF does the flu have to do with Coronavirus?
431–how can people like you so stubbornly ignore the facts. This is not the traditional flu–it is twice as infectious, it is harder to detect, it is far more deadly and there is no vaccine.
Seriously, you people still going on about this not being different from the flu, just quarantine yourselves.
PUGLUVR, thank you for your vigilience. We need that right now. Any and all violations should be reported and taken seriously. This is for the greater good. We will get through this, but it’s of crucial importance that we all adhere to the rules for a bit. Life WILL return to a state of normalcy after time. Please do report violations. We should have a hotline for it.
Tell ya what scientist 158537733, come over and document our symptoms. We have stayed away from people during our two weeks of hell but you’re special and are welcome as our honored guest. Love to have ya!
PHD Santa Barbara are not doing their job well. New leadership is needed. Act now. They are not pushing enough, trying harder enough to get testing faster and more efficient. The statistics is a joke and they know it is but don’t feel ashamed to toss it out there, because they think they are doing a job. Shame on them!