Supervisors to Press Governor on Reopening
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to submit a resolution to Gov. Gavin Newsom focusing on three specific requests:
- Make the process counties must follow to reopen businesses more stable and predictable.
- Attach the State’s testing metric to a fixed number rather than the ever-changing median testing number of all 58 counties.
- Allow communities that have experienced historically low rates of infection (such as those in the county’s rural areas) to reopen.
“The constantly changing criteria for reopening counties have been devastating to our residents and businesses,” said Board Chairman Curt Hagman. “Our county has adhered to all State public health guidelines. We have slowed the spread of COVID-19. We have lowered hospitalization rates, increased capacity and protected skilled nursing facilities. We have implemented extensive testing and tracing programs. And we have made critical investments in support of our local business, non-profits, schools, and disadvantaged communities. Now we are asking the governor to offer consistent, stable guidelines and consider a few common-sense accommodations.”
Hagman noted that San Bernardino County, which spans 20,000 square miles, is the nation’s largest county by area — and many of its remote, rural areas have experienced very low rates of COVID-19 infection yet have suffered enormously from mandated closures.
“It really isn’t reasonable for far-flung communities with minimal infection rates to endure the same closures and restrictions imposed on more-populated urban areas,” Hagman said. “This one-size-fits-all solution produces lots of harm and little or no benefit.”
The supervisors also expressed concerns regarding changing criteria for reopening. In late August, the state unveiled its “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” which emphasized two major benchmarks for allowing businesses to reopen within a county: new cases of infection and the county’s overall positivity rate. However, several days later Gov. Newsom announced an adjustment to the Blueprint that included factoring in median testing rates for the state’s 58 counties when determining case rates. The Board is asking the state to base the testing metric on a fixed number rather than this ever-changing median.
“Frankly, by frequently modifying reopening criteria, the State complicates our ability to manage this crisis, forcing us to regularly change course and revise priorities — consuming time, incurring expenses and straining local personnel and resources,” Hagman said. “We have faithfully complied with an array of State mandates and are now asking the State to consider the impact of ever-changing rules.”
Please click here to read the complete resolution.
County Offers Free Flu Vaccinations for All Residents
The County’s Public Health Department is sponsoring a flu vaccination campaign offering every resident a flu shot at no cost. The department has established “medical point of dispensing” (MPOD) sites throughout the County and plans to add additional sites (including mobile clinics) throughout the flu season.
“This year it’s more important than ever for residents to get a flu vaccination,” said County Public Health Director Corwin Porter. “This year’s flu season is overlapping with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, so we’re doing everything we can to avoid what we’re calling a ‘twindemic.’”
Porter said getting a flu shot will not only reduce your risk of illness, hospitalization, and even death, but it will also help free-up capacity for those who require medical attention for COVID-19 or other ailments.
“People who get vaccinated for the flu are much less likely to require medical care, which will save medical resources and reduce the burden on an already-strained healthcare system,” he said.
Following is a list of flu clinics providing free vaccinations throughout October. Many of the sites also offer COVID-19 tests, which the County is also encouraging residents to get. Additional information on the flu and the flu vaccination, along with a more extensive list of vaccination clinics, can be found by clicking here.
Sites offering flu vaccinations and COVID-19 tests
Needles Recreation Center
1111 Bailey Ave., Needles
Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. – Noon
Rancho Sports Center
8303 Rochester Ave., Rancho Cucamonga
Oct. 9 from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Victor Valley College
71 Mojave Fish Hatchery Rd., Victorville
Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
National Orange Show (NOS) (The Dome)
689 S. E St., San Bernardino
Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center
15556 Summit Ave., Fontana
Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Copper Mountain College (Bell Center)
6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree
Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sites offering flu vaccinations only
Ontario Conference Center (North)
1947 E. Convention Center, Ontario
Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Ecclesia Christian Fellowship
1314 E. Date St., San Bernardino
Oct. 14 from 1 – 5 p.m.
Lucerne Valley Senior Center
10431 Allen Way, Lucerne Valley
Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Chino Neighborhood Activities Center (NAC)
5201 D St., Chino
Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Big Bear City Hall
39707 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake
Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Victorville Activities Center
15075 Hesperia Rd., Victorville
Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Lytle Creek Community Center
14082 Center Rd., Lytle Creek
Oct. 26 from 2 – 6 p.m.
Update on Inmates and Employees Testing Positive for COVID-19
As of today, a total of 368 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 348 inmates have recovered.
A total of 198 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19; with 192 having recovered from the virus. The other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks.
Latest Stats
56,522 Confirmed Cases (up 0.2% from the previous day)
966 Deaths (up 0.4% from the previous day)
654,884 Tests (up 0.4% 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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