Ok, better late than never. The Ventura County press conference is beginning. Supervisor Linda Parks opens the meeting, announcing who will be speaking.
Over a quarter of people in the county who have tested positive are a-symptomatic, Parks says.
It's up to each of us to help stop the spread, she says before introducing Public Health Director Rigo Vargas.
He'll start with a numbers update: 125 new cases today, bringing us to just under 4,000 total.
3,983 specifically
He also announces we have a new death, bringing us to 51 people dead. He notes it's less than 1% but notes that's 51 families without a loved one.
There are 79 covid patients in acute care in the county's hospitals.
And more serious, he says, is the number in ICU: 31
"Please continue abiding by all scientific and public health guidelines repeated over the last few months," he says. He asks people to distance, wear masks and only gather with members of your household.
"It is still not the time to congregate, to socialize with those outside of our household," he says.
He asks we do this for our vulnerable populations and our children.
Schools might not be able to go back to school if the numbers are high, he says before invoking #VenturaCountyStrong.
Next up is Dr. John Frankhauser, director of the county's medical system.
Oops -- make that Fankhauser --- no R.
The county medical center is "extremely full," he says, adding the center is using its surge space --- the old building the center moved out of when it got its new building.
Fankhauser goes on to list some of the good things happening (like a pediatric medicine grant the county received recently) and says surgeries, etc. are still going on.
He says there is a limit to how much we can surge and we cannot continue on the path we're on. "We know how to control this disease," he says, adding he saw (personally) Ebola coming under control using simple measures like washing hands, distancing, etc.
He introduces Dr. Tara Paterson, who is head of the county's intensive care unit.
She says their E.R. and ICU are full but that they continue to "provide excellent care."
She says they're using their surge plan today and for the next few days.
She also notes the ICU has both COVID patients as well as regular trauma, etc. patients.
She also pleads people follow masks and social distancing guidelines and notes they're seeing COVID patients from across the spectrum in terms of age and prior health.
... prior health conditions.
Chief Dept. Dir. of the Public Health Care Agency Barry Zimmerman next comes to the podium. He's been overseeing the testing efforts throughout the county.
He notes there are 13 county test sites, including four drive-up sites where no appt. is neccessary. (They are at each of the community colleges and a former car lot in Santa Paula.)
Find more details about testing and testing sites at vcemergency.com.
The county is administering on average about 12,000 per week, he says.
It takes about 4-6 days to receive results.
The county will be implementing an electronic form of communication to try to speed the results.
He also notes the county's testing sites are free of charge.
Some highlights he shares: of the positive tests, 62% are 44 years or younger (as opposed to results early on showing older people are more likely to get the disease)
Testing along with contact tracing and isolation plus personal protection are the best ways to combat the spread, he says.
Paul Stamper, the county's deputy executive officer, is next.
(Wow, they're moving right along)
He speaks on business re-openings, discussing the registration process each business must complete before re-opening. He says the county has visited more than 6,000 businesses that have reopened.
Businesses can get more info at vcreopens.com
Stamper also reminds business owners that today is the last day to apply for the county's business grants. The grant closes at midnight. vcreopens.com also has that info.
He also reminds small businesses the Paycheck Protection Program was extended until early August.
County CEO Mike Powers is next to speak at the county medical center press conference.
Powers takes a moment to thank the county's medical staff.
He says the main thing moving forward is the tracing, testing and voluntary quarantines.
He says a lot of people -- as many as 20% -- are coming into the county to be tested from L.A. and Santa Barbara counties. He says the county is going to start screening to ensure those receiving tests are county residents.
He says the county wants to destigmatize the disease. (Is there a stigma? Would love to hear your opinion!)
He says the county is using only 1/3 of its capacity to trace COVID patients with all COVID-positive people having been contacted.
Over 4,000 businesses have already applied to the county's business grants, Powers says. I believe Stamper noted they'll be awarded by lottery.
He mentions "ambassadors" Stamper brought up. They are compliance folks who visit open businesses to ensure guidelines are being followed.
He discusses the county's rental assistance program has closed with 2,600 applicants vying for the grants.
Perhaps of note, this was open to anyone needing rent help (both citizens and non-citizens).
Project Roomkey has ended -- this was where the state rented motels to temporarily house COVID-vulnerable homeless folks --but the county is providing vouchers for housing.
(In the meantime, the county is working on getting some of the state's $$ to purchase a motel(s) for permanent housing.)
And with final thank yous to the medical staff by Powers, the conference is over.
