The County Update publishes once a week and also as needed to share important County news, currently highlighting our battle against COVID-19. Starting this week, our weekly edition moves from Wednesdays to Friday. We remain here for you. #SBCountyTogether
In today’s Update:
- Numbers prove vaccines prevent infection
- County helps schools and students “Return Safe, Return Strong”
- How to help redraw Board of Supervisors districts
- County libraries resume in-person programs
- Helping you prepare for the recall election
- Sheriff's update
 To schedule an appointment, please visit the County vaccination page or call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 Vaccines Effective Against COVID-19 and Delta Variant, Vaccinations Rise Nearly 30 Percent
There is no doubt that vaccines in San Bernardino County are working against COVID-19 and variants of concern, including the Delta variant, with only 4 percent of cases since February 1 occurring among the fully vaccinated.
The overwhelming majority of COVID-19 cases – nearly 96 percent – are among the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, according to County’s Department of Public Health data. Out of 26,232 COVID-19 cases, 25,161 were among the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and 1,071 were among the fully vaccinated. You can view the County’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard for this and other information at sbcovid19.com.
“This data proves that getting vaccinated is the best way to fight COVID-19 and protect our families and our loved ones from hospitalization and death,” said County Health Officer Michael A. Sequeira, M.D. “Get vaccinated. Get the shot. You don’t want to have any regrets when it comes to your health or the health of your loved ones, friends and co-workers.”
Statewide, COVID-19 case rates were nearly six times higher at 20.7 per 100,000 people who were unvaccinated compared with 3.5 per 100,000 of those who are fully vaccinated. Case rates among the unvaccinated are highest among 18-to-49-year-olds and African-Americans in California, which are increasing more rapidly than any other group, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Even more of a reason to get vaccinated is the prevalence of the Delta variant, which is 100 times more contagious than all the COVID-19 variants so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The week of Aug. 4, the Delta variant accounted for 98 percent of 127 COVID-19 cases sequenced in San Bernardino County. You can make an appointment or find a location to walk up and get a vaccine at sbcovid19.com.
“The good news is that our residents are beginning to get vaccinated at a higher rate than they were two weeks ago which tells us they are listening to how serious the Delta variant is,” Dr. Sequeira said. “We have seen an increase of nearly 30 percent of vaccinations in our county.”
San Bernardino County consistently rises to the top when it comes to daily doses of vaccines administered per day in comparison to state averages in that last two weeks. State public health officials have reached out to San Bernardino County to ask for strategies and best practices on how the county is keeping its vaccination rate up.
The County uses a data-driven strategy to reach our most at-risk communities and have partnered with local businesses and community-based organizations to hold vaccine drives.
“From school superintendents to city leadership to hospitals to company CEOs, we are all vested in decreasing the spread of COVID-19 and improving vaccination rates,” Sequeria said.
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 County Helps Schools and Students “Return Safe, Return Strong”
Throughout California, many students are returning to classrooms for the first time in well over a year. The County is doing its part to support local schools and school districts by making sure students in our communities “Return Safe, Return Strong.”
That’s the slogan of the County Back to School Task Force, which includes several cooperative and voluntary initiatives to help schools comply with State mandates, carry out their safety plans, and respond to outbreaks should any occur.
“The State makes policy for our local public schools and our local school boards have the heavy task of implementing those State mandates at the classroom and student levels,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “The County has no jurisdiction over schools, and the County has no legal standing to exempt schools from State mandates. What the County is offering to do is lend our public and private schools the benefit of our highly trained personnel, best practices, and other resources to help them achieve their goals.”
The County Back to School Task Force efforts will include:
- County Public Health teams that will be available to visit school sites and offer advice on safety measures.
- Making safety supplies and gear available to schools in need.
- Having health educators from County Public Health and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center available to visit middle schools and high schools to discuss COVID-19 vaccines.
- Instituting a quick-response team to provide testing, contact-tracing, and infection-prevention services to K-12 schools and higher-education institutions in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
“After almost a year and a half struggling outside of the classroom, all of us owe it to our students, parents, teachers, and other school personnel to make this long-awaited transition back to campus as smooth and as safe as possible,” Chairman Hagman said. “That was the inspiration behind this program.”
 Redistricting Effort Gets Underway
It’s time to map the future of San Bernardino County, and there are many opportunities for the public to participate.
Every 10 years, the county uses the newest U.S. Census data to redraw the boundaries of each of the five Board of Supervisors districts to ensure each has essentially has the same number of residents, preserves communities of interest such as cities as much as possible, and complies with the Voting Rights Act.
The County’s redistricting website offers a wealth of information on the process and schedule as well as contact information and a tool that allows anyone to create and submit their own map of the county’s new supervisorial districts.
This year, in response to a provision in the new voter-approved County Charter, the Board of Supervisors has appointed a seven-member Advisory Redistricting Commission to receive public testimony and recommend at least two possible sets of new district boundaries for adoption.
“Democracy works best when everyone’s voices are heard,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “That’s why we have created many opportunities for everyone in our county to participate in this process.”
The commission has held two public meetings and will hold at least 16 more, many of them in communities throughout the county, including the next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. in the Town of Apple Valley Council Chambers. The commission will meet in Barstow on Aug. 19 and in Montclair on Aug. 26. Information on upcoming meeting can be found on the redistricting website’s calendar page. All meetings can be viewed live on the County’s website and video recordings of past meetings can be viewed on the redistricting website’s past meetings page.
Sign up for email updates on county redistricting and receive notices about upcoming meetings and other opportunities to participate.
 San Bernardino County Libraries Begin In-Person Programs
Join the San Bernardino County Library as we bring back In-Person Programs. Starting this month, select programs will begin to be offered in branch as we phase back into hosting programs in person. Select programs will also continue to be virtual, with craft kits handed out for residents to pick up a Grab and Go Kit and follow along with the craft program video posted on the San Bernardino County Library System’s Facebook page.
The County Library is also holding an August Art Contest.
Embrace the artist within and celebrate the diversity of the county by participating in this art contest focusing on the native flora and fauna of the area.
Residents are invited to pick up an Art Contest template and contest form at their local County Library branch starting Saturday, Aug. 7, and emailing in both the art and the signed contest form by no later than Sunday, Aug. 15.
Please visit sbclib.org or call your local branch to get information on Library programs as well as the date and time for the in-person and virtual programs and events.
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County Gets Ready for California Gubernatorial Recall Election
Throughout the month of August, the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters (ROV) is offering virtual presentations to community groups so they can be informed and prepared for the September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election.
This online approach enables ROV and its extended outreach team to safely and conveniently connect with voters throughout the County.
Topics covered in the presentation will include:
- Brief overview: What’s different in this recall election for California voters
- How voting works: 4 easy ways to vote
- Voting in-person
- How we’re ensuring the security of your ballot
- Details of our Voter Education Program campaign
- How to get involved and spread the word
- Key resources to tap
- Question and Answer session
There will be 10 presentations throughout August on different days at different times to accommodate community members’ schedules. Presentations will be approximately one hour and will be performed in English and Spanish. Interested people can register to attend a presentation (for free) at http://sbcountyelections.eventbrite.com.
To learn more, visit ROV online at www.SBCountyElections.com. If you have any questions about the sign-up process or the recall election, call ROV at 909-387-8300. And remember, it’s “Your Ballot. Vote Safe. Vote Early.”
Sheriff’s Update on Inmates and Employees Testing Positive for COVID-19
A total of 1,207 County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic; of these, five current inmates are experiencing minor symptoms and are recovering. The infected inmates are isolated, monitored around the clock, and provided with medical treatment.
A total of 1,098 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,063 of the employees have recovered from the virus. Other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks. It is unknown when or where the employees were infected with the virus. The department continues to encourage all department members to heed the warnings of health officials.
Latest Stats
309,502 Confirmed Cases (up 0.2% from the previous day)
4,858 Deaths (up 0% from the previous day)
3,472,101 Tests (up 0.1% 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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