State Limits County Schools to Distance Learning to Start School Year
Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced a new policy affecting all K-12 schools in those counties on the State’s Monitoring List — which currently includes San Bernardino County. The new policy mandates that schools limit instruction to distance learning until the County is removed from the Monitoring List for 14 days — at which point they may resume in-person instruction with specific guidelines and limitations.
“This announcement reaffirms how important it is for all County residents and businesses to work together so we can move off the state’s Monitoring List,” said Corwin Porter, interim director of the County’s Department of Public Health.
The Monitoring List also governs whether we can reopen business sectors. It points to specific criteria in elevated case transmission, hospitalization and ICU bed capacity. Residents can monitor our County’s daily progress for these essential criteria on our COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard under the CDPH Monitoring tab.
“Rigorous distance learning”
In his announcement today, Gov. Newsom stressed the importance of “rigorous distance learning” and noted there will be state assistance in technology devices.
“The virus will be with us for a year or more, and school districts must provide meaningful instruction in the midst of this pandemic,” the governor said in a statement. “Students, staff and parents all prefer in-classroom instruction, but only if it can be done safely.”
In his press conference, Gov. Newsom addressed distance learning by saying teachers must have have daily interactions with students, challenging assignments and work that can be adapted for ESL and special education students.
Strict criteria announced when schools do re-open
When our County is allowed to reopen – subject to staying off the Monitoring List for 14 days – all staff and students in third grade and above will be required to wear masks, have symptom checks to enter school, and have sanitation stations. In addition, social distancing between students and teachers are required.
The state’s new guidelines largely conform to a COVID-19 Guide and Toolkit in development by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health in consultation with County school districts. The toolkit, which is being modified in consideration of the State’s announcement today, will offer specific guidance for how schools should respond to the emergence of positive cases of COVID-19 among students, teachers, staff and school visitors. It will list actions school officials should take to isolate and protect individuals who have tested positive or have possibly been exposed to the virus, as well as guidance for implementing contact tracing to curtail further infections.
“We will continue to work closely with school districts in the County to help them prepare for resumption of in-person instructions when conditions permit,” Porter said. “The Toolkit will be an invaluable tool once we gain permission to reopen in-person instruction.”
County Data Shows Majority of COVID Cases Comes from
Private Gatherings
Four months into closures and stay-at-home efforts, we are all tired of the COVID-19 pandemic and wish we could just get back to normal. Unfortunately, the virus and the disease are still with us. It’s still infecting County residents (over 21,000 so far). It’s still sending people to the hospital (some 600 are there right now). And it’s still killing our family members, friends, neighbors and colleagues (310 of our County residents are no longer with us).
So while we’d all enjoy getting together with friends and extended family members, these types of gatherings are still prohibited under the State’s stay-at-home order, and public health officials are strenuously warning against violating that order, pointing out that private gatherings have been clearly linked to recent COVID-19 outbreaks.
In the last 28 days, 71% of those infected with COVID-19 told a contact tracer that they had attended a family gathering in the last 14 days -- a total of 228 people out of 319 interviewed by contact tracers that indicated they attended a gathering. Three percent of those infected told contact tracers that they had attended a religious service and 3 percent indicated they had attended a protest in the last 14 days.
All of this means that the safest option for a family get together still remains a virtual gathering, using digital tools such as Zoom or Facetime. It is foolish to endanger the lives of those you love the most.
Remember that anyone can get COVID-19, and the data now shows that the majority of confirmed cases (52.2%) is coming from those between the age of 20 and 39. And 24.4% of the cases are between the age of 10 and 19. What hasn’t changed is that the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are at extreme risk of death if they contract COVID-19. Please, think twice about exposing them to younger family members who may have been socializing with others outside the household.
Despite any order or health expert advice, we know there will always be some who will gather anyway and put all of us at risk. We hope those who do will at the very least minimize the size of their gatherings; keep everyone outdoors, masked, and at least six feet apart at all times; and ensure no items are touched by more than one person.
Gathering with family and friends from other households -- chatting, laughing, and having a great time -- is precisely how this virus spreads. That’s why the State’s stay-at-home order banning gatherings among people from different households is an order, not simply advice.
The best option for you and those you love is to gather virtually, or wait until orders have been lifted. The more we care about our families and friends by being responsible, the sooner we will defeat COVID-19 and the sooner life can return to normal.
 Clarifying State Mandate on Closed Personal Care Services
Effective July 13, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered that specific businesses on the county monitoring list must close immediately in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This applies to all hair salons, barber shops and personal care services (which includes nail salons, esthetic salons, and electrology offices) that are within the monitored counties, which includes San Bernardino County.
There was some question on whether these services could be performed outdoors, however Section 7317 of the Business and Professions Code requires that all barbering, cosmetology and electrology services be performed in a licensed establishment. Therefore, establishments that are within San Bernardino County must close immediately and not offer any services (including any outdoor services).
Fourteen County Jail Inmates; 10 Sheriff’s Employees Test Positive For COVID-19
Fourteen County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Eight inmates are at the West Valley Detention Center, two are at the Central Detention Center, one is at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center, and three are at the High Desert Detention Center. Five inmates were new arrests and determined to be positive for the virus during their medical assessment when they arrived at the jail.
A total of 188 County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Many of the inmates are only experiencing minor symptoms of the virus. The infected inmates are in isolation, being monitored around the clock, and are being provided with medical treatment. One hundred and fifty-five inmates have recovered from the illness.
All inmates continue to be provided with face coverings, cleaning supplies, soap, and are urged to wash their hands repeatedly throughout the day. They are routinely reminded of the need to practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Ten department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and are self-isolating at home. A total of 115 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Eighty-seven employees have recovered from the virus; other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks.
Latest Stats
23,238 Confirmed Cases (up 8.2% from Wednesday)
315 Deaths (up 1.6% from Wednesday)
199,767 Tested (up 6.1% from Wednesday)
For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
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