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STATE MOBILE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM OFFERED TO SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FOR ON-SITE VACCINATIONS

STATE MOBILE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM OFFERED TO SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FOR ON-SITE VACCINATIONS

Available for schools, employers, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations. (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will assist the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department with mobile, pop-up, and on-site vaccinations throughout the County. Effective August 1, 2021, the state’s program will be able to supplement the efforts of the Santa…

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THE COUNTY RECOMMENDS MASKING INDOORS FOR EVERYONE

THE COUNTY RECOMMENDS MASKING INDOORS FOR EVERYONE

Precautionary Measure Against Increased Circulation of COVID-19 (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The County of Santa Barbara Recommends Masking Indoors for Everyone, as a Precaution Against Increased Circulation of COVID-19.  As of July 16, Santa Barbara's reported daily case rate is now 3.6 per 100,000 and rising. With cases of COVID-19 rising locally and increased circulation…

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LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT REMAINS VIGILANT IN ASSESSING INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASE RATES RELATED TO THE DELTA VARIANT

LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT REMAINS VIGILANT IN ASSESSING INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASE RATES RELATED TO THE DELTA VARIANT

Vaccination Urged to Prevent Continued Spread (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department remains vigilant in the assessment of the increase in COVID-19 cases and the impact of the Delta variant within the county. The Delta variant is labeled as a variant of concern by the Centers for Disease Control and…

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SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, VENTURA COUNTIES REQUEST REMOVAL FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION STAY HOME ORDER

County Boards of Supervisors Vote to Send Letter to State Requesting New Central Coast Region (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – Today, the Board of Supervisors from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties issued a letter to state health officials and California Governor Gavin Newsom to request a separate Central Coast Region composed of the three…

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What You Need to Know About Gatherings During COVID-19

What You Need to Know About Gatherings During COVID-19

By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP,  Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has consistently advised you to wear masks, stay six feet apart and avoid gatherings if not with household members. But what does a gathering consist of? Are we allowed to gather with people that live inside our house? And what about family that lives elsewhere?

According to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, members of the same household ARE permitted to gather both indoors and outdoors. A household is defined as people who live together under the same roof, whether it be family, friends, or roommates. A household only changes when a member permanently moves out, not on a day to day basis.

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department prohibits any gathering of people from different households. A gathering is anytime people get together in any place and for any reason, such as to eat, shop, work, meet, play, or pray. This includes hosting visitors in your home, having sleepovers or play dates, backyard barbecuing with friends, shopping with others, visiting with family or friends not from your household, and going to work in a non-essential capacity. It is important to understand that any in-person gathering of those not in your household is considered non-essential, and is not permitted at this time, whether it is inside or outside.

Again, the only people that are legally permitted to gather are those who live with you on a day to day basis.

These guidelines from the County Public Health Department are not merely suggestions, but legal requirements that must be followed. Please remember to social distance and wear masks in public, when you are around others, and while at essential locations, such as the grocery store or pharmacy. Following these guidelines will help us all stay safe and slow the spread of COVID-19.

However, there are still fun ways to hang out at home and stay connected to others! You can eat dinner at home, play in your yard, have a family game night or movie marathon, go for a drive, go on a family hike, walk the dog, video chat friends and family, or go to the beach (at a social distance from others).

To learn more about what the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is doing to serve and protect our community through the coronavirus, visit: www.publichealthsbc.org.

Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP is  a graduate of Justus-Liebig-University Medical School Giessen, Germany. He completed Residency training in Munich, Germany and Tucson, AZ and is board certified in Family Practice (Germany) and Internal Medicine (USA). Dr. Ansorg is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is on the Medical Staff at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. He has many years of experience in different clinical settings including 10 years of Private Practice and Urgent Care in Munich, Germany as well as 11 years of Internal Medicine/Geriatrics in Arizona as well as 4 years at the Santa Barbara County Health Care Center. Dr. Ansorg has served as Public Health Officer for Santa Barbara County since April 2019.

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RETURNING TO WORK IN COVID-19? Here’s What you Need to Know!

RETURNING TO WORK IN COVID-19? Here’s What you Need to Know!

By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP,  Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health

[SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO]

If you are in the workplace or returning to the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few important safety precautions you and your employer should take to keep everyone safe and healthy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) offers a series of safety practices to keep in mind for employees and employers during the pandemic.  It is important to remember that co-workers may not be your “stable group” and could potentially bring disease into the workplace.  For this reason, it is highly recommended that you wear your mask at all times while at work.

Here are some important practices employees can use to help prevent the spread and contraction of the coronavirus:

  • Wear a mask at work at all times
  • Regularly wash your hands properly
  • Clean and disinfect your workspace daily
  • Wear a mask when commuting/ride sharing
  • Do not share food or eating utensils
  • Remain six feet apart from others as much as possible
  • Don’t come to work if you don’t feel well

If you are an employer, there are a series of actions you can take to help keep your employees, customers and vendors from getting and spreading the virus:

  • Encourage and provide for frequent hand washing or disinfection with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Encourage respiratory hygiene such as covering coughs
  • Provide for employees to physical distance of at least six feet
  • Insist on mask wearing-provide masks to employees
  • Provide regular environmental cleaning and disinfection
  • Limit unnecessary travel
  • Provide clear policies and messages, training, and education for staff and managers to increase awareness of COVID-19
  • Requiring workers who are unwell or who develop symptoms to stay at home, self-isolate and contact a medical professional or the local COVID-19 information line for advice on testing and referral.

Remember that the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus spreads from person-to-person and between people who are in close contact with one another.  It can be contracted through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Droplets are expelled through coughing, sneezing, laughing, singing and just speaking. Droplets land in mouth, nose or eyes and thus can infect others. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. The virus can also be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.  Please be safe and practice good hygiene!

Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP is  a graduate of Justus-Liebig-University Medical School Giessen, Germany. He completed Residency training in Munich, Germany and Tucson, AZ and is board certified in Family Practice (Germany) and Internal Medicine (USA). Dr. Ansorg is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is on the Medical Staff at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. He has many years of experience in different clinical settings including 10 years of Private Practice and Urgent Care in Munich, Germany as well as 11 years of Internal Medicine/Geriatrics in Arizona as well as 4 years at the Santa Barbara County Health Care Center. Dr. Ansorg has served as Public Health Officer for Santa Barbara County since April 2019

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PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT URGES CAUTION DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH AND POTENTIAL FOR ROLLING POWER OUTAGES

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) is urging residents to take necessary safety measures to avoid heat-related illnesses. Various parts of Santa Barbara County are under an Excessive Heat Warning or a Heat Advisory due to high temperatures from 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2020 through 8 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2020. Hot weather can pose a risk of heatstroke or heat exhaustion, especially to vulnerable individuals including older adults and children.

Due to high demand on the electrical grid the California Independent System Operator (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert, calling for voluntary electricity conservation, beginning Saturday and extending through Monday. Labor Day weekend temperatures are forecasted to be 10-20 degrees above normal for California, and the power grid operator is predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use. High heat is predicted throughout the West which can limit the ISO’s ability to import energy to serve demand. During this heat event there is a potential for rolling power outages. These rotating outage events are not considered PSPS.  For more information on what to do before, during, and after a power outage visit ReadySBC.org.

the ISO is urging consumers to:

  • Set air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees, if health permits.
  • Defer use of major appliances.
  • Turn off unnecessary lights.
  • Unplug unused electrical devices.
  • Close blinds and drapes.
  • Use fans when possible.
  • Limit time the refrigerator door is open.

While it remains critical for everyone to practice safe social distancing and to avoid large groups during this COVID-19 pandemic, in order to protect your health and safety during this high-heat event, the PHD encourages individuals to take any immediate actions needed to protect their health, such as locating an air-conditioned space. If you do seek air-conditioned locations outside of your home, continue to wear face coverings and maintain at least six feet apart from others. If you have symptoms or are COVID-19 positive, do not relocate to an air-conditioned space that is shared by others outside your home, and call your health care provider for concerns you may have regarding the effects of heat on your health.

Community members are strongly encouraged to take the following precautions whenever temperatures are on the rise:

  • Take care of those who might not be aware of the danger or be able to react accordingly – especially the elderly, young children, and pets. Check on your neighbors.
  • Wear appropriate clothing. Lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothing works best.
  • Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages, especially those without sugar or caffeine. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If you have fluid restrictions from your doctor, ask to see how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
  • Limit outdoor activity. Try to schedule outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, like morning and evening hours. Be sure to wear sunscreen and rest often.
  • Take regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned room. A few hours in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Taking a cool shower or bath can help too.
  • For those who work outside, be sure to take frequent rest breaks in a shaded area or air-conditioned room, if possible. Stay hydrated and take action by moving to a cooler space if you feel signs of heat exhaustion.
  • Know the signs of heat exhaustion. If someone becomes dizzy, nauseated, or sweats heavily, find a cooler location for him or her immediately.
  • Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion. The symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion, but also include hot, flushed skin. With heat stroke, the person often stops sweating and the skin will be unusually dry. If heat stroke is a possibility, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is life threatening!
  • Do not leave children (and pets) unattended in vehicles. It only takes a matter of minutes on a relatively mild day for a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures.

Stay Connected:
County Public Health: www.PublicHealthSBC.org, Twitter and Facebook
County of Santa Barbara: www.CountyofSB.org, Twitter, Facebook
Santa Barbara County Call Center: (833) 688 – 5551
Community Wellness Team Information and Referral Line: (805) 364-2750

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HEALTH ALERT

High Temperatures Anticipated for Santa Barbara County

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is issuing a Health Alert due to the Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service for Santa Barbara County from 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2020 through 8 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2020. The Public Health Department is urging residents to take the necessary safety measures to avoid heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Community members are strongly encouraged to take the following precautions whenever temperatures are on the rise:

  • Take care of those who might not be aware of the danger or be able to react accordingly – especially the elderly, young children, and pets. Check on your neighbors.
  • Wear appropriate clothing. Lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothing works best.
  • Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages, especially those without sugar or caffeine. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. If you have fluid restrictions from your doctor, ask to see how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
  • Limit outdoor activity. Try to schedule outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, like morning and evening hours. Be sure to wear sunscreen and rest often.
  • Take regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned room. A few hours in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Taking a cool shower or bath can help too.
  • If you do not have air‐conditioning, consider arranging to spend at least parts of the day, in a socially distanced manner and with a face covering, at another space that is cool. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. 
  • For those who work outside, be sure to take frequent rest breaks in a shaded area or air-conditioned room, if possible. Stay hydrated and take action by moving to a cooler space if you feel signs of heat exhaustion.
  • Know the signs of heat exhaustion. If someone becomes dizzy, nauseated, or sweats heavily, find a cooler location for him or her immediately.
  • Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion. The symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion, but also include hot, flushed skin. With heat stroke, the person often stops sweating and the skin will be unusually dry. If heat stroke is a possibility, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is life threatening!
  • Do not leave children (and pets) unattended in vehicles. It only takes a matter of minutes on a relatively mild day for a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures.

Stay Connected:
County Public Health: www.PublicHealthSBC.org, Twitter and Facebook
County of Santa Barbara: www.CountyofSB.org, Twitter, Facebook
2-1-1 Call Center: Dial 211 or outside the area, call (800) 400-1572
Community Wellness Team Information and Referral Line: (805) 364-2750

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