Officials Urge Caution This Thanksgiving as Cases Continue to Spike
There’s no point sugarcoating reality: while San Bernardino County, along with most of the nation, made tremendous progress in our battle against COVID-19 during the late summer, we have suffered a significant relapse over the past several weeks. We not only are experiencing a steady rise in infections and positivity rates, but are also beginning to see a noticeable increase in hospitalizations.
“Despite aggressive efforts to combat the pandemic, our county — like many others around the state — has experienced an undeniable spike in COVID-19 infections,” said County Public Health Director Corwin Porter. “The majority of new cases involve those between the ages of 18-49, and there’s no question that ‘COVID fatigue’ has led some to relax on safe practices, especially when it comes to social gatherings.”
Porter noted one area where County residents have performed impressively: testing.
“We have seen a steady increase in the number of tests performed over the last two months,” Porter said. “We’re very appreciative of how residents have responded to our pleas to get tested because this has helped us hit back at possible cluster outbreaks. Without the increased testing, the spread could be even worse.”
The rise in COVID-19 cases is not limited to San Bernardino County. As of Sunday, some 1.1 million Californians have been diagnosed with the disease; more than 18,700 have died. There are currently 45 California counties, including Riverside and Orange, in the State’s most restrictive Purple Tier — compared to just 13 at the beginning of the month. Infections are also increasing in states nationwide, as well in as most European nations and elsewhere around the world.
In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom has enacted what he termed a “limited stay-at-home order” for Purple Tier counties. The order’s primary element is a curfew that prohibits personal gatherings and nonessential businesses from operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
In common with the state, much of the County’s current focus is on ensuring area hospitals are adequately equipped — and staffed — to handle an expected rise in new patients. (See related Q&A with Emergency Care Physician Dr. Troy Pennington.)
“A top priority is ensuring that our hospitals and ICU units are not overrun with new patients,” said Porter. “Fortunately, we have expanded surge capacity and are reasonably well stocked with PPE [personal protective equipment].”
Fortunately, the COVID-19 news is not all negative. In the face of the current spike in cases there is a shining light of hope: highly positive announcements from three major vaccine developers, with expectations that at least one of the vaccines will gain FDA approval before year end.
The promise of a vaccine and widespread distribution in the coming year should encourage all residents to find the resolve to continue with safe practices even in the face of COVID fatigue. As we move indoors in colder months, it couldn’t be more important to continue following the guidelines repeatedly stressed over the past several months:
- Maintain social distancing.
- Wear a face covering when around others.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
- Avoid gathering with those outside your household to the extent possible
“We have been through an extremely difficult year, and are still far from having this pandemic behind us,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “This Thanksgiving and holiday season will be like no other, and we are urging everyone to keep their celebrations small. Still, we are proud of our County’s response and impressed with the resolve shown by our residents. We will get through this.”
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State of our Readiness: Q&A with Dr. Troy Pennington
During this current spike in COVID-19 cases, we can take some comfort knowing that most people will recover and not experience any serious illness or condition associated with the coronavirus. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has proven to be a stubborn and indiscriminate foe and, as such, the county is seeing a rise in hospitalizations.
Other counties and states across the country have seen their hospitals reaching capacity with drained healthcare workers; but this a condition that San Bernardino County has thus far avoided.
We asked Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency care physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), to share some answers to key questions going into the holiday weekend.
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San Bernardino County is experiencing one of the fastest climbing COVID rates in the state. How is that impacting our county hospitals?
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The hospital census for the county overall is still 25% less than our July peak; however, we’ve seen our census increase approximately 40% week over week. In fact, there are three hospitals in the County with COVID-19 census levels higher than the July peak. ARMC, our county hospital, has experienced continuous growth in COVID-19 census since mid-October.
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How is ARMC (and the County) ready for this surge in cases?
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The county and ARMC anticipated this increase, as has the nation. ‘COVID fatigue’ has translated into people not wearing masks and not being distanced, especially in social situations, and this has been the biggest contributor to the increases. The County anticipated that the combination of fall holidays and events would bring a similar condition as the events leading up to the July surge. In anticipation, the County acquired a portable facility that can house dozens of patients. ARMC also planned for a significant expansion of its own bed capacity.
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How does a COVID surge in hospitalizations affect those that might require hospitalizations for emergencies or other causes? What about elective surgeries?
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In this COVID-19 situation, hospitals planned to expand bed capacity first by using spaces not usually used for in-bed treatment; and then by adding spaces that are not clinical, like conference or meeting rooms.
Hospitals also plan to curtail certain procedures that are not urgent or emergent so that they can apply staffing and space resources to meet the demands of the pandemic. Lastly, hospitals will look to their staff to take on the care of more patients. In July, 75% of the hospitals in the County of San Bernardino implemented their surge capacity and discontinued procedures that were not emergent or urgent. Many stretched their staffing to enable them to care for more patients.
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Other than immediately getting tested, what should people do if they are experiencing COVID-like symptoms? When should they go to a hospital?
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First of all, to help you avoid getting sick this holiday season PLEASE get your flu shot! Most people that contract COVID-19 have mild or even flu-like symptoms. Common symptoms of COVID-19 infection include fever, cough, mild shortness of breath, body aches, or headache. Others experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, and the loss of the sense of smell or taste is also a common complaint, which can help distinguish a COVID-19 infection from the flu. If you are experiencing symptoms of mild COVID-19 infection you should:
- Stay at home, contact your health care provider. Do not go out in public, except to get medical care ortesting.
- While at home, separate yourself from other people and use your own bathroom if possible. When around your family use a mask. Do not share household items with other family members such as dishes, cups, towels, or bedding.
- Use acetaminophen for a fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep track of your symptoms. Stay hydrated.
- If you are in a high-risk category and have a new confirmed COVID-19 infection there is a new treatment available. This medication is a monoclonal antibody with a fancy name, Bamlanivimab. It is a medication that can be given to anyone meeting criteria for more serious infection. Candidates for this medication must be in a high-risk category. Please contact your health care provider or contact the public health website at: https://sbcovid19.com/
- You should immediately go to the hospital if you experience one of several emergency warning signs: Severe chest pain, pressure in the chest, or shortness of breath. If you have labored breathing at a rate of 30 breaths or greater a minute, you should call 911. In addition, call 911 if anyone is experiencing new confusion, or is difficult to arouse, or if an individual is experiencing a new bluish color or change around the mouth or lips. If you are experiencing any symptoms you feel are life threatening you should call 911.
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County Extends COVID-Compliant Business Partnership Program
The County of San Bernardino has announced an extension of the COVID-Compliant Business Partnership Program with increased funding amounts to businesses and adjusted eligibility criteria.
A business or nonprofit with no more than 100 employees and that has been in business prior to January 1, 2020, are now eligible to receive the funding, providing they demonstrate continued compliance with State health orders and incorporate safety and social distancing practices and measures in their business operations.
The amount funded for these operations is now $5,000 for an initial location and $2,000 for each additional location, with an additional amount of $2,500 for any business that is relocating operations to outdoors. For business partners that participated in the program earlier this year, they will receive additional funding to bring their total allotment to these new levels. Short-term rentals and private schools are not eligible for the additional funding.
Interested businesses that have not previously applied have until Dec. 13 to apply for the funds. For those who already applied, for the moment there is nothing you need to do. The County will contact you in the very near future to coordinate the additional funding.
Upcoming Webinars Address Optimizing Your Workload
San Bernardino County in conjunction with other partners both regionally and throughout the state are pleased to bring business owners and interested residents ongoing webinars on a variety of important topics. We aim to do everything we can to help businesses succeed during this difficult time. To see all upcoming webinars, visit the Workforce Development Board events page.
Simple Success - Optimizing Your Workload
This virtual training will be based on a book “The One Thing” by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. The presentation will discuss the value of simplifying one's workload by focusing on the one most important task in any given project.
Thursday, December 3, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/simple-success-optimizing-your-workload-tickets-126487656987
Sheriff Update on Inmates and Employees Testing Positive for COVID
A total of 482 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 442 inmates have recovered from the illness.
A total of 294 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and are self-isolating at home. Two-hundred-twenty-six (226) employees have recovered from the virus; other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks.
Latest Stats
88,453 Confirmed Cases (up 1.0% from the previous day)
1,129 Deaths (up 0% from the previous day)
1,053,103 Tests (up 0.8% 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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