County hopeful to move into red tier as rates continue to decline, ICU capacity improves

During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors Meeting, San Bernardino County’s Director of Public Health, Corwin Porter, shared encouraging news that our Covid-positive numbers continue to decline.

"We were averaging several thousand a day just a few weeks ago, and now we are just under 600,” said Porter. “The other good news is that our positivity rate continues to drop. It’s now at 10.6 percent, but that number needs to drop to 8 percent before we can move into the red tier. Our ICU capacity is also slowly improving.”

According to Porter, once the County moves into the red tier, grades 7-12 could resume in-person instruction. “When our average adjusted case rate is below 25 cases per 100,000 people, we can re-open grades K-6,” he said. “We may be getting very close to that number by the end of this week.”

Porter explained that it is ultimately the school district's decision whether to reopen for in-person learning. “The waivers are still valid, even though the state has changed some of the parameters,” said Porter. “They have to submit a plan for the new state guidelines. But the districts are excited to have a path forward.”

One of the County’s concerns is the impact of Super Bowl gatherings, which should begin to show up with next week’s data. Porter encourages residents to continue testing.

Vaccination Update

Andrew Goldfrach, ARMC’s Chief Operating Officer, said that the County has successfully used 89.5 percent of its allocated first doses, and 42 percent of its allocated second doses. As of February 7, approximately 195,902 San Bernardino County residents had been vaccinated.

Daniel Munoz, County Manager of Emergency Services, said the County is expecting 3,200 people to return for their second dose at the Auto Club Speedway. “We will have more real estate in the Speedway itself, which will help with some of the traffic control issues that arose during the first event,” Munoz said. “We hope that the user experience will be smoother and more efficient for our seniors. The team is focused and energized to provide a better experience.”

New State Guidelines

The County has worked feverishly to adapt to the state’s ever-changing guidelines. This week, Governor Newsom announced that Blue Shield will become the main distributor of the vaccines, beginning February 15. “This could change a lot of our plans and we may have to pivot to other strategies,” said Chief Executive Officer Leonard X. Hernandez. "Rather than Public Health being the (main) distribution point, Blue Shield would be the one sending vaccines to pharmacies, hospitals, etc..” Hernandez said that the County would retain distribution of just 30 percent of the vaccines under the Governor's new plan.

Despite the hurdles, seniors remain the County’s vaccination focus, and 40,000 new appointments were made available to this demographic last week. Soon, the County's two mobile units will begin serving senior centers and underserved communities, where transportation may be an issue. Each mobile vaccine unit will be able to serve up to 150 people per day. The mobile units will work closely with the County’s senior nutrition program team to reach our most vulnerable residents.

Resources

Vaccine appointments must be made online at https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/locations/

To see the current vaccine distribution phases, go to https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/phases/

For more information or questions about COVID-19, call (909) 387-3911 or email coronavirus@DPH.sbcounty.gov

PUBLIC SAFETY

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department targeting illegal marijuana cultivations

Thanks to our San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), who has been doing great work targeting illegal marijuana cultivations in our unincorporated areas.

On February 2, investigators served a search warrant at a parcel of property in El Mirage. MET personnel located and detained 12 suspects, and arrested five of the 12 persons detained. Investigators seized 18,845 marijuana plants during the investigation.

On February 4, the team served three search warrants at properties in El Mirage. Seven people were arrested, and investigators seized 4,382 marijuana plants and 1,021 pounds of processed marijuana.

On February 8, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Colorado River Station served a search warrant at a parcel of property in Goffs. Investigators developed probable cause to arrest the 3 persons detained and seized 2,001 marijuana plants. 

The Sheriff's Department will continue to enforce California's cannabis laws and the San Bernardino County's ordinance regarding cannabis cultivation and distribution. Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and property seizure.

Anyone with information regarding the investigations is urged to contact the Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909) 387-8400 or NARC-MET@sbcsd.org. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or you may leave the information on the We-Tip Hotline website at www.wetip.com.

VETERANS

County Veterans Affairs hosting webinar Feb. 16

San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs is hosting a free veterans benefits webinar at 6 p.m. February 16 via WebEx. The department will discuss service connected injuries and how to file a disability claim. Veteran Service Officers will be available to answer questions about claims, appeals, and college tuition fee waivers. REGISTER HERE

FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR VETERANS: In other news, the LA County Bar Association is hosting a free legal clinic for veterans on February 17. They will assist in clearing outstanding tickets & warrants, and can also assist in cleaning criminal records. Register by calling (213) 896-6537 or email inquiries-veterans@lacba.org

UPDATE FROM FT. IRWIN/NTC: The National Training Center/Fort Irwin presented a Facebook Town Hall on Monday with an update about COVID-19 vaccines for our military community. View the recorded livestream here.

Applications available for 2021 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego

Veterans Affairs is accepting applications from Veterans interested in participating in the 2021 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. The deadline to submit an application is May 1, 2021. Participation is open to eligible Veterans with disabilities receiving care at any VA medical facility. This year’s clinic is scheduled for Sept. 19-24 in San Diego. VA hosts the clinic in collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project, the Veterans Canteen Service, as well as dozens of other partners. For more information, visit http://www.summersportsclinic.va.gov/ and follow VA Adaptive Sports Programs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

TRANSPORTATION

SBCTA moving forward with Elon Musk's Boring Company to build underground transit loop

On Wednesday, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) authorized negotiations with Elon Musk's Boring Company to build a 4-mile underground transit loop between the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station and Ontario International Airport.

“Along with the possibility of higher-speed rail service into the Rancho Cucamonga station (from the Brightline Apple Valley station), the Loop project provides vital transit connectivity between Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County,” said SBCTA President Frank J. Navarro.

Amtrak considering LA to Las Vegas corridor

In other transportation news, Amtrak officials are discussing new corridors that would connect Los Angeles with Las Vegas, and Los Angeles with Phoenix and Tucson. Amtrak is also considering adding the Coast Daylight to the Coast Starlight route. Ray Lang, Amtrak’s senior director for national state relations, said that Congress still has to approve the plans. Amtrak "could also get some resistance from the freight railroads over whose tracks most of its trains operate."

PUBLIC SAFETY

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department warn teens about dangers of illegal street racing

Following a dangerous event on Ridgecrest Drive in Victorville last week, the Victorville Police Department is urging drivers, and parents of drivers, to consider the seriousness of illegal street racing. "The 16-year old driver of the Nissan and the 17-year old driver of the Chevy were both issued a citation for illegal speed contest and released to parents at the scene," said Mara Rodriguez of the Victorville Police Department. "The vehicles were impounded for 30 days. This activity can take lives, cost thousands of dollars in damages and fines, and land participants in jail. In the end there is no winner.”

PUBLIC SAFETY

County's Human Trafficking Task Force rescued 14 victims, arrested 62 suspects in January 2021

Thanks to our San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force, who arrested 62 suspects and rescued 14 victims of commercial sex trafficking during the month of January 2021. The enforcement was part of the 7th Annual Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, a statewide effort aimed at combatting human trafficking.

Operations were conducted throughout San Bernardino County, including in Victorville. "Specific areas were selected for enforcement due to the high volume of activity and advertisements directly related to the commercial sex trafficking industry," said Sgt. M. O'Brien in a press release. "The operations consisted of street level enforcement, on-line advertisement enforcement and offender enforcement by state parole and county probation officers."

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

County to welcome SoCal's first Topgolf center

San Bernardino County will become the first Southern California Topgolf location. Construction begins this month on the 600,000-square foot facility, with completion anticipated for early 2022. The development is on 13.7 acres of undeveloped County-owned land adjacent to Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park at the corner of Archibald Avenue and Fourth Street in the City of Ontario. The agreement will bring in more than $625,000 annually to support our County's regional parks system.

EDUCATION

High Desert & mountain residents invited to join free monthly panels on entrepreneurship

High Desert residents are invited to join today's Virtual Innovation Dialogue featuring a panel of local entrepreneurs sharing their entrepreneurial journey. The event is hosted by Mountain Desert Career Pathways, a consortium of several high school districts located in the First District. These events are FREE to all participants, and held at 4 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of every month throughout 2021. 

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MUSEUM

Bugfest kits available at Victor Valley Museum

San Bernardino County Museum's annual "Arthropolooza: The Ultimate Bugfest!" will kick off on February 13 and 14 on the museum's Facebook page. Activity bags will be available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, February 10, at Victor Valley Museum (11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley). These bags are FREE and contain fun real-life games and activities that will complement the videos shown during the event. For more information, call the museum at (760) 240-2111.

FIRST DISTRICT FUN

Enjoy rock climbing, hiking at Mormon Rocks

Located off Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass, the striking sandstone Mormon Rocks are impossible to miss. Between A.D. 1200 and the mid-1800s, these rocks were home to the native Serrano Indians, who built villages of domed brush houses beneath the cliffs. Formed by grinding activity along the San Andreas Fault, the rocks are a popular spot for climbing, hiking, bouldering and wildlife watching. While you're here, you can do a little trainspotting along the railroad tracks, or hike the 1-mile Interpretive Trail, which begins at the Mormon Rocks Fire Station on Highway 138. 

Download the brochure.

STAY UPDATED!

Subscribe on YouTube

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Twitter