A South County person in their 60s with underlying health conditions has passed away at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara due to complications with COVID-19, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department said Sunday.
It is the county’s second death over the past week.
“Public Health shares our deepest condolences with the family and friends of this community member,” said Santa Barbara County Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg. “We continue to ask for the support of every resident as we move forward and get through this difficult time. Only with the help of every person in our community will we make a difference in slowing the spread of this virus.”
Cottage Health also extended condolences on Sunday night.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss as we work diligently to help our patients recover. Our hearts are with all those in the hospital and in our community who are feeling the impact of this virus,” the statement read.
The PHD also announced six additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the county’s total to 174.
Four of the new cases are in Santa Maria, while both Goleta and the unincorporated area of Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria each added one.
Of the 174 cases, 103 are recovering at home, 27 are recovering in a hospital (19 of which are in intensive care unit), 40 have fully recovered and two are pending an update.
County clarifies Stay Well at Home Order for food facilities
Dr. Henning Ansorg, the PHD’s health officer, issued an additional order on Sunday to “provide clarity to select businesses in the County of Santa Barbara.”
The order went into effect on Sunday at 5 p.m. and extends through May 4.
The extensive order is focused on the county’s food facilities, and states the following:
- Food facilities must offer food to go only, and comply with hygiene and social distancing standards or be subject to permit suspension and mandatory closure.
- Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and coffee shops may only remain open to offer food for pick-up, delivery, or drive-thru.
- All food must be in containers.
- Food must be consumed off-site. No provision for on-site dining allowed.
- All food workers must wear facial covers (covering nose and mouth) supplied by the employer and maintained in a clean, sanitary manner.
- Six-foot spacing must be maintained between customers.
- Workers may not work while ill.
- Food facility employees or volunteers who have had symptoms of COVID-19 shall return to work only when they have been free of symptoms for at least 72 hours without medication AND at least seven (7) days have elapsed since the onset of symptoms.
- The Health Officer recommends that food facility operators actively screen all workers, volunteers, and outside vendors for COVID-19 symptoms upon each individual’s arrival at the food facility. Individuals who exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as defined by the Santa Barbara County health officer shall be immediately excluded from the facility.
- The following businesses are ordered to close without exception:
- Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food;
- Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys, and arcades;
- Gyms, and fitness centers, and aquatic centers;
- Wineries, breweries, and tap rooms that provide tastings;
- Trophy shops or trophy businesses;
- Tattoo parlors, tattoo businesses, tattoo artists, and body art facilities;
- Barbers, hair salons, and hairstylists;
- Campgrounds and RV parks, public and private. Only those who certify that the RV is their primary residence may be permitted to stay in the RV park;
- Nail salons, manicurists, and pedicurists to close except for medical necessity e.g. medical treatment for diabetes;
- Day spas and massage parlors, except as required for prescribed medical treatment.
- In addition, the following must close:
- Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, saunas, steam rooms (except those in a single-family residence or medical setting, with medically prescribed therapy carried out with individuals 6 feet apart)
Failure to abide by the new order “may constitute a misdemeanor punishable by fine up to $1000, imprisonment, or both. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including fines or civil penalties per violation per day, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.”
COVID-19, by the numbers
A look at the updated numbers statewide, nationwide and worldwide:
- In California, there are 15,180 confirmed positive cases, with 348 deaths related to the virus.
- Los Angeles County maintained its lead as the hardest hit county in the state with 5,955 confirmed cases, with 132 deaths.
- In the United States, there are now 337,630 confirmed cases, with 9,498 deaths related to the virus.
- Across the world, there are 1,274,923 confirmed cases, with 69,479 deaths related to the virus.
email: nmasuda@newspress.com
