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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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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ON STATE MONITORING LIST: What Does This Mean?

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ON STATE MONITORING LIST: What Does This Mean?

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

[SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO]

You may have heard that the County of Santa Barbara is on a State monitoring list for the coronavirus.  It is true, at this time, our county is one of 34 counties in California on a state monitoring list due to widespread community transmission of the virus, which means that the virus has spread from person to person all across our communities. 

The number of cases reported are representative of the spreading of the virus.  One of the metrics we look at is how many new cases are we seeing each day over a two-week period within the County.  Unfortunately, we are seeing these numbers increasing instead of decreasing, which is something we are addressing in a variety of ways, including the mandate of wearing a mask in public spaces and at work, social distancing, no meetings and mixing with people outside our own household and avoidance of travel. 

It is in our power to turn the tide and trend downward with coronavirus cases in our County!  We take this very seriously and want to do whatever we can so that our children can return to school, people can visit grandparents, family and friends, businesses can fully re-open and we can all return to activities we enjoy. 

If everyone does their part, we can stem the tide and reduce our virus numbers.  This will take everyone’s commitment to adhering to protocols and the State Health Orders.  Most importantly, please wear a mask in public, stay six feet apart from others, do not gather with anyone not living inside your household and wash your hands often. 

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

Previous Updates

July 29, 2020 – Click to Watch

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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NEW CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

NEW CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) is confirming four (4) additional cases of COVID-19 today. This makes 68 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County. Below are more details about the four (4) cases announced Sunday, March 29:

  • Case #65­—in their 70s and resides in the South County Unincorporated Areas, which include communities of Montecito, Toro Canyon, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria
  • Case #66—in their 60s and resides in the North County Unincorporated Areas which include New Cuyama, Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, and City of Guadalupe
  • Case #67—in their 40s and in the North County Unincorporated Areas which include New Cuyama, Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, and City of Guadalupe
  • Case #68—in their 20s and resides in the City of Santa Maria

Although PHD has released the cities and areas where confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred, it is critical that residents in all areas of the county stay at home and practice social distancing when performing essential tasks outside their home.

Of the 68 cases, 45 are recovering at home, eight (8) persons are recovering in a hospital, six (6) of which are in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), fourteen (14) have fully recovered, and one (1) is pending an update.

PHD is prioritizing thorough investigations for cases with exposures in healthcare and other congregate settings to identify persons who may have been exposed. Mandated social distancing measures are in place to slow the spread of the virus.

Community members are reminded to take measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illness:

  • Stay home except for essential tasks
  • When engaging in essential tasks away from home, remain 6 feet away from others
  • Wash your hands with soap and water
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Keep surfaces clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant

Stay Connected:

County Public Health: www.PublicHealthSBC.org, Twitter and Facebook
County of Santa Barbara: www.CountyofSB.org, Twitter, Facebook
County Information Line: (833) 688-5551, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
2-1-1 Call Center: Dial 211 or outside the area, call (800) 400-1572
Recorded Information Line: (805) 681-4373
Behavioral Wellness 24/7 Access Line: (888) 868-1649

Community Wellness Team: (805) 364-2750

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COUNTY HEALTH CLINICS MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY

COUNTY HEALTH CLINICS MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) During the COVID-19/Coronavirus outbreak, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Care Centers ask that our patients please do the following to help protect you and all of our patients and dedicated staff.

  • Call ahead if you do not feel well so we can help you decide how best to provide your care. Per CDC guidelines, if you are feeling ill, please do not come to the clinic without calling first.
  • Please keep healthy friends and family members home rather than joining you for your appointment. Children should have only one adult with them. Adults with caregivers should only bring one adult with them.
  • As the local situation changes, you may be offered a visit by telephone or video instead of visiting the clinic to keep you healthy.

The County Health Care Centers have been partnering with all County medical providers to make sure our partners are up-to-date on all the breaking information on the pandemic from local, state and national sources. Our staff has been trained extensively on sanitizing our facilities, and clinicians and their support staff have been trained in the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) and masks have been fit-tested to provide the safest level of security in the outpatient setting while adequately evaluating at-risk patients.

We have been contacting our stable patients who have routine visits scheduled and are postponing or converting these visits to telephone or video consults so we have capacity to see those in the community who need to be seen in the health care center right away. Please call before coming to the health care center when you wish to be seen so we will be ready to serve you and also prepared to protect other patients and staff. Triage personnel who can quickly evaluate you for flu-like symptoms will be greeting patients at the front entrance of our clinics.

Our clinic hours have not changed. To support the mandate for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in the process of developing ways to care for patients remotely by phone or teleconferencing (through your mobile phone or computer). If you are interested in this type of visit, please call your health center, as we need to sign you up for MyChart (our electronic portal) beforehand. We are also accepting new patients who become ill and need assistance.

For the latest news regarding County activities and updates surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, visit our website at https://publichealthsbc.org/

Let’s all work together to keep our community safe and healthy.

Stay Connected:
County Public Health: www.PublicHealthSBC.org, Twitter and Facebook
County of Santa Barbara: www.CountyofSB.org, Twitter, Facebook
County Information Line: (833) 688-5551, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
2-1-1 Call Center: Dial 211 or outside the area, call (800) 400-1572
Recorded Information Line: (805) 681-4373
Behavioral Wellness 24/7 Access Line: (888) 868-1649

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