COVID-19 cases have dropped by more than two-thirds in San Joaquin County during the past three weeks.
Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions are on the decline allowing the lifting of mask mandates and other statewide executive orders. She noted that COVID-19 case rates are dramatically decreasing from 66 to 22.3 cases per 100,000 since Feb. 15.
COVID statistics show San Joaquin County:
*has experienced 164,814 total COVID-19 cases and 2,057 deaths since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
*77 people are currently hospitalized with 25 COVID-19 positive people in ICU including 19 of those patients on ventilators.
*1,176,023 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to San Joaquin residents or 75.8% of the eligible population.
*62.9% of San Joaquin County’s total population are fully vaccinated and 12.9% are partially vaccinated for COVID-19. An additional 178,278 residents have received a booster or extra dose.
*hospital ICU’s are 101% full, with 25% of hospital ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients which is down from 41% on February 14.
Park noted that certain testing sites are closing, including the Robert Cabral Agricultural Center and the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds. She said that the OptumServe test sites will be open on weekends and the SNAP Nurse mobile testing and vaccine unit will operate at multiple locations throughout the County. Residents are encouraged to check www.MyTurn.ca.gov for information about testing and vaccine locations and hours of operation.
Park also overviewed the recent state guidance regarding state masks mandates including the following:
*Masks strongly recommended (but not required) for the public indoor (vaccinated & unvaccinated) and in the workplace (vaccinated & unvaccinated) with employers required to provide masks upon request
*Masks required are still required in schools and childcare (vaccinated & unvaccinated) until the state order expires at 11:59 p.m. March 11.
Masks are still needed for the vaccinated and unvaccinated in health care settings, public transits, prisons, and homeless shelters.
“According to the CDC’s latest assessments, San Joaquin County’s COVID-19 community transmission levels are considered medium based on our COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations,” Park said. “We encourage residents to continue taking precautions such as talking to a health provider about wearing a mask if you are at high risk for severe illness, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, and getting tested if you have symptoms. People are still welcome to wear a mask in any setting and if someone tests positive, has symptoms, or is exposed to someone with COVID-19, it is important to wear a mask.”
The Board also heard a presentation from the Office of Emergency Services (OES) regarding the County’s COVID-19 Local Emergency and Local Health Proclamations. County staff told the Supervisors that both Proclamations are consistent with the State Emergency Proclamation. Staff recommended to keep the local Proclamations in place and re-evaluate in 30 days. These Proclamations will permit:
*100% of allowable costs for FEMA reimbursement
*continued eligibility for available mutual aid from the state
*sustained non-profit State partnerships
*ongoing use of contact tracers
The Board received an update from the Employment and Economic Development Department (EEDD) regarding the Relief Across Downtown (RAD) digital gift card program. To date 26 businesses are enrolled in the program with 46% having business sales over $1,000 and 28 percent having business sales over $10,000 from the RAD program
Some $2.5 million has been spent at local businesses since May 2021 while $1.7 million has been spent to purchase RAD Cards equating to $3.4 million in consumer purchasing power.
At an upcoming meeting, the Board will consider an additional $2.3 million budget request for Round 3. This funding will continue to provide matching dollars to businesses participating in the RAD card program, provide technical equipment and training to participating businesses, and provide outreach for the program.
