Nail Salons Can Open, and State Modifies Rules for Restaurants Serving Alcohol
The State has cleared nail salons (and physician-ordered electrolysis) to operate indoors effective immediately under all tiers in compliance with guidelines, which include the use of disposable gloves, specific disinfectant measures after each service, staggered appointments, face coverings, and other protocols to ensure the safety of both patrons and employees.
A full list of guidelines for personal care services can be found here.
The state also announced some minor loosening of restrictions on restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages. The sale of such beverages no longer needs to occur in the same transaction as a food sale. However, to qualify, a business’s primary focus must be meal service, with the sale of alcoholic beverages only a complementary offering.
“The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages, will examine the entirety of a licensed business’s operations to assess whether it serves what it deems ‘legitimate meals’,” said County Public Health Director Corwin Porter. In short, the ABC requires a business that sells alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption to be a “bona fide” eating establishment, rather than a bar or saloon.
 Red Tier Within Reach if County Can Hold Numbers
With other counties reaching the red tier that allows further reopening of businesses, the question is where San Bernardino County stands.
Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its test positivity and adjusted case rate. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. To move from our current purple tier to red, we must show no more than seven new cases per 100,000 residents, and a positivity rate of less than 8%.
Our County is one week into showing these numbers. As of today, we have 6.7 cases (per 100,000) and our positivity rate is 5.7%. If we hold these numbers (or better) we should be able to move into the red tier soon.
Counties can be penalized for not meeting testing standards set by the State and held back from moving into the next tier. That’s one reason why it is vital for San Bernardino County residents to get tested, even if they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms or believe they’ve been exposed. Make an appointment to get tested. It’s fast, painless, and free. And it will allow our economy to open faster.
 Is Your Voter Registration Up to Date? Be Ready This Election!
Do you know if you are registered to vote? Have you moved recently, changed your name or need to update your political party preference? Now is the time.
Today is National Voter Registration Day, and with an important election fast approaching, it’s more important than ever to make sure your voter registration is up to date. Our County’s Registrar of Voters (ROV) makes it easy to check your voter registration status and get personalized election information all in one place through the ‘My Elections Gateway’ webpage. Simply visit the page and sign in with your name, date of birth and home address, and you’ll be on your way to getting important information about this election.
In addition to confirming your voter registration status, the http://www.sbcountyelections.com website has everything you need to know about this year’s Presidential General Election. Here you can get details about your Voter Information Guide, where you can find ballot drop-off locations and early vote sites, learn how to track the status of your vote-by-mail ballot, get information on candidates, and much, much more.
Remember, it’s your ballot. Vote safe and vote early.
 Blood Plasma Donors Needed — Especially from Those Recovered from COVID-19
Public health officials are encouraging residents to donate blood, and especially blood plasma (the liquid part of blood). They are particularly hopeful to get donations from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
“Plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 typically has antibodies that fight the coronavirus,” said Corwin Porter, the County’s Director of Public Health. “This is called COVID Convalescent Plasma, or CCP, and it is either transfused into seriously ill patients or further processed into hyperimmune globulin, which is being studied as a potentially beneficial treatment for the disease.”
Porter noted that while effective medicines incorporating CCP are still being investigated, the Food and Drug Administration has already determined that CCP itself can be safely administered to patients currently suffering from COVID-19.
“Blood plasma from those who have successfully combated the disease may play an invaluable role in our battle against the coronavirus,” he said. “We are urging people who have recovered from COVID-19 for at least 14 days to consider donating plasma.”
While the need for CCP is particularly acute, Porter also encouraged those who have successfully avoided infection to also consider donating blood.
Over the past several months, blood donations have dramatically declined due to the implementation of social distancing, the cancellation of blood drives and other related factors. However, the Red Cross and other blood collectors are now fully open and are working hard to meet a huge demand for blood — blood that is needed for everything from cancer treatments and surgeries to severe burns and traumas.
A list of plasma collection facilities, by zip code, can be found by visiting www.TheFightIsInUs.org. The website also features a full Q&A about CCP and much more information on how your plasma might help in the fight against COVID-19.
Update on Inmates and Employees Testing Positive for COVID-19
As of today, a total of 360 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. A total of 341 inmates have recovered.
A total of 194 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19; with 179 having recovered from the virus. Other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks.
Latest Stats
52,873 Confirmed Cases (up 0.4% from the previous day)
908 Deaths (up 0% from the previous day)
589,437 Tests (up 0.5% from the previous day)
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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