Board of Supervisors — 2020-10-13

Thank you. I will call to order the October 13th, 2020 meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Will the clerk please call the roll?

Mr. Lavinino?

I'm here.

Mr. Williams?

Here.

Ms. Hartman? Here! Mr. Adams? Here. And Chair Hart?

The next item of business is approval of the minutes from the October 6th, 2020 meeting. Is there any discussion? Is there a motion?

Move approval.

Motion's been made. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Any discussion to the motion? Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Mr. Lavinino?

Aye.

Mr. Williams? Aye. Ms. Hartman? Aye! Mr. Adam? Aye Chair Hart?

Aye

Motion passes unanimously

CEO Miyasato, is there a CEO report today?

Chair Hart and Supervisors yes there is a brief one. It's on your actually agenda we wanted to bring attention to the fact that this week is The Great Shakeout and although we've been worried in discussing the pandemic and fires there is always a possibility of earthquakes so I asked our OEM director to say a few words about that.

Miss Hubbard welcome thank you for being here today

Thank you. Good morning, Chair and Supervisors. Just real quickly, Great Shakeout is this Thursday and it is an opportunity for those around the country to stop, drop, and hold on. This year may be a little unique for many as people are working from home, kids are at home maybe not in school And so it's a really good opportunity for our families to maybe look at earthquake preparedness as a family.

Have you and your kids, if you're at home working, look at how do you get under a table? Which tables are good tables to get under? Where are your safe spots in your home? Maybe do a safety scavenger hunt where you look for things that might fall if they're not secured in an earthquake. And just talk in general about safety around the house and what to do in an earthquake with your kids and your family, what your plan is, making sure you're registered of course for ReadySVC.org And consider those emergency supplies that you might want to have at home.

A good opportunity to make sure you have food, water, first aid kit, general supplies that you can use to keep safe.

Thank you very much for giving us that good encouragement and most importantly perhaps is to be sure to sign up at ReadySBC.org because if we can't notify you, you can't hear the emergency announcements. Supervisor Williams and then Supervisor Hartman. Supervisor Hartman?

Oh, I just wanted to add for a long time I kept my supplies in the house that doesn't make a lot of sense so I just have a metal trash can out with some things in it and so Just a reminder if other people haven't thought it through like I didn't

Thank you for that Madam Clerk are there any announcements or changes to our agenda today

Chair Hart and members of the board, I just have one quick announcement this morning. And that is to remind members of the public who are participating in our board meeting today of our alternative method of public participation. And if you turn to page two of our agenda it outlines our alternative methods of public participation. If you would like to make a comment by phone please call 805-568-2240 And state your name, your phone number and which item you would like to speak on and we will call you at the appropriate time. Please make every effort to be available and mute all streaming devices once it is your turn to speak and that number is also scrolling across your screen. Thank you Barbara. Those are all my announcements this morning thank you.

The

next item is approval of the administrative agenda do any board members request to pull any items on the administrative agenda? Item 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 18 from members of the public or board members. Are there any other ones that folks would like to pull? Okay. Madam Clerk could you please read item number seven.

Chair Hart, members of the board. Administrative item number seven is from community services. It is to consider recommendations regarding the execution of a sub-recipient agreement with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara for a home key development project located at 117 North B Street in Lompoc. Assessor's parcel number 085141003 and this is in the fourth district.

And Supervisor Williams you just wanted to highlight this item?

Yeah, I just pulled this item because I wanted to highlight how important the step is for that we're taking to the overall effort to solve homelessness. Obviously during COVID, this has become an even bigger issue as some of the measures that societies would take to deal with homelessness are actually prohibited from the state. So we've done a lot more outreach to these communities which is good but doesn't get the job done unless there's also places for them to go and so The state has made monies available for counties who are willing to take the steps to create shelters and in this case permanent housing for folks experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

And I want to applaud our staff for coming up with this solution and for looking for other ones, and we still are looking for other ones. So you can tell me also if it's working to talk with this mask or if it's muffled.

Thank you. That brings us to the next item, which is item number nine. Madam Clerk would you please read that item into the record?

Chair Hart, members of the board, Administrative Item Number Nine is from General Services. It is to consider recommendations regarding a county grant of non-exclusive easements for storm drain lines to Santa Barbara Preserve LLC 003937 and this is in the second district. And we have one request to speak on this item and we are going to Mark Shatillo. All right. Go ahead Mark.

Good morning members of the board. This is Mark Chatillo and I'm speaking to you today on behalf of the Committees for Land Air Water and Species. It's come to our attention that your board is proposing to grant easements for the installation and perpetual maintenance of subsurface drainage improvements across county lands on the San Marcos Foothill Preserve land including surface roads The mapping that's been provided is incomplete and the public cannot tell exactly the land in question. In question, we need to impose a survey map on an aerial photo from what I can tell it appears that we are in riparian or drainage areas although it's difficult to tell but however legally more process is required. The granting of an easement across county park and open space land Constitutes the disposal of real property subject to Government Code 65402.

The case of Rossby Cottrell established that an easement pertinent to real property is real property. The Planning Commission thus must review the proposed easement and make a finding that the disposal is consistent with the general plan. Any disposal of an interest in the county's lands that have been dedicated to open space uses must be consistent with the county's Open Space Plan, pursuant to Government Code 65566.

These easements allow grading roads and unrestricted future maintenance in these lands. The TPL donation letter included a requirement that the lands be preserved as open space. The land in question must be subjected to biological and cultural resources surveys to ensure that their open space qualities won't be adversely affected. There's a requirement under CEQA that an addendum be undertaken, and finally under the MAP

Act,

a recorded map modification is required. Mr. Chair, members of the Board, we ask that the Board refrain from undertaking the requested actions and direct the enhanced process including Planning Commission review before proceeding with this matter. Thank you.

Thank You, Mr. Shatola. Mr. Ghazani do you have anything to add to that?

Chair and Supervisors, I think as the CEQA component the action item at recommended action C addresses the former environmental impact report in a 15162 determination that there's no significant changes. Our office reviewed this matter and believe the board has discretion to act on it alternatively if you wish to be informed by the Planning Commission that's an option also.

Thank you all right

Chair Hart and members of the board. Administrative Item number 10 is from Human Resources. It is to consider recommendations regarding an amendment to the ordinance setting compensation and benefits for members of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. And we have one request to speak on this item, and that is Andy Caldwell. All righty, go ahead.

Chair Hart, members of the board, Andy Caldwell representing COLAB. I don't know if you've ever noticed that I have never complained about your 3% annual COLAs and that's because I don't believe you're overpaid. I think you're somewhere in the middle of slow in Ventura and like I said, I support COLAs. I don't think anybody should serve At their expense, so to speak, especially in terms of inflation. So I have no problem with your annual COLA and I've stated so before in the past.

However, I do have a concern that you took this COLA this year in the middle of a COVID shutdown. I have mentioned to your board before that I thought it was ironic that you spent 10 times COVID or care relief function on your own staff than you made available to the private sector 10 times. And the bottom line is most people in the private sector are lucky to keep their jobs right now, those that have already lost their jobs or those who didn't have to give up their job because they've got to be with their kids at home because the schools are closed And I just thought it would have been a very good gesture on your part to say, hey we're with you on this and we're going to waive the COLA for this year.

Secondly, I don't think it's a good idea to make them automatic in the future. You already have the basis for an automatic raise and I don't know why it hurts you to put it on the admin calendar every year Because of accident circumstances such as this year. And again I think like I said, I think you should be setting an example not for County employees but for the general public whom you serve at their pleasure thank you.

Thank you Mister Caldwell. Supervisor Adam?

Yeah I made my comments last week. I just need a roll call.

Let's take this item separately then is there a motion? So moved.

Second.

Motion's been made and seconded, any discussion? Madam Clerk could you please call the roll?

Mr. Lavinino?

Aye.

Mr. Williams? Aye. Ms. Hartman? Aye Mr. Adam?

No.

Chair Hart?

No

Motion passes 3-2

Thank You The next item on our agenda is Item number 12. Madam Clerk could you please read that item into the record

Chair Hart and members of the Board, Administrative Item Number 12 is from Planning and Development. It is to consider recommendations regarding the Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund CREFT combined 2020-2021 cycle. And we have one request to speak on this item, and that is Mark Shatillo.

Good morning again, members of the board. This is Mark Shatillo and I'm commenting on this item on behalf of the Gaviota Coastal Trail Alliance. This item concerns the repayment of the misappropriated CREF funds and we appreciate the Board putting this item on the agenda because this is something of considerable public interest and involvement. And as the Board is aware AB 1680 passed the legislature and was enacted into law at the hand of our Assemblywoman Monique Limon, and that has triggered a revised process for the development of a revised Hollister Ranch Access Program.

It is our expectation that these CRAF funds will be available to the four agencies that are developing the Hollister Ranch Access Program And ultimately be deposited in the sub-account created under the State Lands Commission, in order to fund the implementation of that plan. The first phase of that plan is scheduled to be implemented by April of 2022, the first phase of public access to Hollister Ranches beaches. However there will be continuing phases We note that with this appropriation there will not be a complete replenishment of the $1 million for this purpose. However, we recognize that the timing of the implementation may well be delayed as a result of COVID and secondly, that this implementation may be phased. And so any additional funds which are dedicated for Hollister Ranch Access Will be directed into that program when they are available from the county at the current trajectory.

That should be no more than two more years, and that is the maximum amount of time that I think would be appropriate for the replenishment of these funds. But we wanted the board to know that this is a matter of considerable public import and we promote the unfortunate misappropriation Many years ago and wanted to support the proposed action to continue the dedication of funds so that we can get safe and equitable public access to this important community resource.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank You, Mr Stilwell. That brings us to item number 13. Madam Clerk could she read item 13 at the record?

Chair Hart and members of the board, Administrative Item number 13 is from Public Health. It is to consider recommendations regarding epidemiology and laboratory capacity ELC allocation for COVID-19 activities during fiscal year 2020 through 2021 through 2022 and 2023 in the adoption of a salary resolution. And there is a four fist vote required on this item.

Supervisor Williams. Well, I think Mister Caldwell gave me a soft softball slow underhanded pitched for this item because it shows how the county is using both its own funds and I want to say thank you not only to aggrandize public employees but to when we're spending it on resources and staff that means services. We are enhancing the capacity of our own Public Health Department appreciate the department and our director because this will enhance our own ability, our own lab laboratory ability. And the fact that she stressed the importance of expanding epidemiology and laboratory capacity for our local department before we were hit by the pandemic. So I just want to appreciate that leadership and I think it It shows that we do have these priorities in the right place.

That you know, we haven't done everything perfect in this crisis. No government has but that were continuing to try to do better and expand our capacity to be able to meet the challenge. Supervisor Adam.

Yeah, I was just going to say that I think that Mr Caldwell is not wrong and neither is Mr Williams You know two things can be true at once and often are and we have aggrandized County employees and in our most especially ourselves and And not that that's gonna make a huge difference in, statistically insignificant difference in the overall scheme of things.

But I think there's a powerful message sent when we do things like give ourselves a raise and I made comments last week which people can look at if they want to. But this is another situation here where you put the CARES Act. Mr. Williams is not wrong, this is money that is being put to work. If I had a reservation about this it would be because as Ronald Reagan said the closest thing to eternal life on earth is government program and when the COVID crisis is over you're not going to want to close it down.

And I don't know that we'll have a need for it, and it will be probably years before we actually close it down. So that would be the reservation but for now I'll support it.

Thank you Supervisor Adam. Any other comments? That brings us to the last item that the public has requested, which is item number 18. Adam Clear, could you bring that, read that item into the record please?

Chair Hart and members of the board, Administrative Item Number 18 is from Public Works. It is to consider recommendations regarding a second amendment Lynn International Agreement for Services of Independent Contractor for San Ysidro Interchange Improvements Project, County Project Number 740031 and this is in the 1st District. We have one request to speak on this item and we are going to Tom Becker.

Hello. Can you hear me?

Yes, Mr. Becker we can hear you thank you.

Okay okay good this particular agenda item deals with the San Ysidro roundabout and an additional expenditure I do believe of $35,000 for environmental and other review work to be done on it if you take a look at the list of things that still have to be done on the San Ysidro roundabout is that you have to hear an appeal that I filed on the coastal development permit For this roundabout.

And apparently some of the money that you, that they're seeking today will be used to work on my appeal. Now county staff has already spent $8000 taxpayer dollars on my appeal. That's how much it's spent so far and the appeal will be heard in November. Now, county council offered to have a facilitated meeting between myself and staff to resolve the issues without having to spend taxpayer money on it. I accepted the facilitation.

County staff refused to accept the facilitation three times they refused. Three requests were made, three times they refused. I accepted all facilitation offers The county staff went and spent $8,000 on an issue that if they had just gone with facilitation of meeting with the facilitated by County Council we could have resolved the same in two hours. But they spent $8000 after refusing facilitation for three hours. You know all I'm requesting from staff is to conduct a simple vehicle mile travel analysis I'm not sure that if that was submitted in 2017 during the eye are for this.

A VMT analysis of an alternative to the construction project that's all we have to the VMT analysis comparing an alternative to the construction project. That VMT analysis taking 2 hours to do, but your staff is refusing for 3 years to sit down and talk to anybody about An analysis involving a alternative that would have saved the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and more to the construction project.

And this is all going to come up in November when my appeal comes before you. Don't you think you should direct staff now, before they spend any more taxpayer money, to sit down with me in a facilitated meeting with county council and work things out? Don't you think that's a good thing for the taxpayers to do? I'm asking you to contact direct staff to sit down with me.

With County Council, the facilitated meeting and work these issues out now before they spend any more money. Thank you. Thank

thank you Mr Becker. I think that brings us to the end of the items that had been pulled from the administrative agenda. So at this time if I could get a motion to approve the balance of the administrative agenda

so moved

motions been made second and seconded Any discussion? Madam Clerk, could you please call the roll.

Mr. Lavinino?

Aye.

Mr. Williams? Aye. Ms. Hartman? Aye Mr. Adam? Aye Chair Hart? Aye Motion passes unanimously.

Thank you from members of the public for bringing those items to our attention.

Chair Hart, members of the board. Yes we have two requests to speak on general public comment today. We are going to begin with Mary Conaway to be followed by Renee O'Neill

Good morning Chairman Hart and members of the board. My name is Mary Conway, and I've served as the director of the Santee Meads Valley Youth Coalition for the past 12 1⁄2 years. Our mission is to reduce and prevent youth substance abuse And we feel fortunate to work with the Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Department to do just that. I speak today to ask for your consideration and support of the Santa Ynez Valley by exempting cannabis retail stores from the unincorporated townships of Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and Ballard.

I realize that the process is already underway and would have appealed sooner But quite frankly, we were unaware as a community especially during these difficult times that the designations of retail cannabis storefronts were already underway. It may surprise many to learn that the number one reason youth enter treatment programs is due to marijuana dependency and addiction.

So contrary to the perception that cannabis is not a direct threat to our youth it's just not based on facts We in the Santa Ana Valley have the highest rate of drug use among the county high school districts and we're very concerned that the influence of cannabis retail stores in our communities will have a direct impact on our youth. Our townships are simply not protected by a 750 foot barrier around schools and recreation areas.

In our family-oriented townships, these recreation areas are oftentimes in town with family members and to have a storefront influence among the other family retail shops would just not be conducive to our style of life here in the Valley so I just appeal To as you consider the process ongoing to keep in mind that. It's really never too late to protect our kids and I thank you for your time this morning in listening to our plea. Thank you so much,

thank you Miss Conway.

And we will now go to our second request to speak Renee O'Neill.

Good morning Chair Hart, members of the Board. My name is Renee O'Neill I am asking once again about what the board is planning to do to address regulating or prohibiting hemp Have you already scheduled this on any upcoming agenda? I would appreciate an answer to my questions which I have been asking repeatedly For the last three months. Supervisor Labanino I want to thank you for letting me know there was one meeting in the board.

I believe it's called administrative session or private session regarding possible litigation but that's the last time I heard anything. I would appreciate it if the board would provide me with an answer either now or by email Are there any questions or comments?

Thank you, Ms. O'Neill. Are you done with your comments? No, there aren't any questions for you, Miss O'Neill. Thank you Ms.O'Neill and that concludes our public comment today Which brings us to the next item which is department item number one. Madam Clerk, would you please read that item into the record?

Chair Hart and members of the board, departmental item number one is from the county executive office. It is a hearing to consider recommendations regarding a coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 update.

Welcome Dr. Duranosa.

Good morning. Good morning, the briefing topics that I'll be covering. I'll be giving your board an update on our quarterly demographics and update on the anticipated rating from the blueprint for a safer economy. The health officer ordered that I anticipate will be released today and an update on school waivers. This presentation today will look a little different.

I chose not to display the usual graphs, the Santa Barbara COVID-19 by the numbers because I'll be giving you a lot of graphs and want to point you for the latest status to our website publichealthsbc.org where the usual graphs are displayed under our surveillance metrics The quarterly demographics, before I start, I'd like to introduce to your board Ms. Joy Kane sitting beside me. Ms. Kane is our senior epidemiologist and she and her team worked really hard to put together the set of report that you have in front of you.

Unless otherwise noted, the population numbers used in this analysis are from the 2020 population projection from the California Department of Finance. All cases are laboratory confirmed for the SARS-CoV-2 virus via molecular assay and federal inmates are excluded from this particular analysis. So the data that I'm about to present to you covers actually two quarters from March 1st through September 30th.

This graph shows the number of COVID-19 tests conducted by month in Santa Barbara County from March 1st through September 30th. In the beginning of the pandemic, the availability of COVID-19 was very limited with an increase in supply testing steadily increased From 1,684 total countywide tests conducted in March to 40,516 conducted in July which represents the peak of our testing.

In August and September, testing numbers stabilized at approximately 30,000 per month. This graph shows the number of COVID-19 deaths conducted by month. Okay, speeding up. Between March and September, the overall testing positivity was 5.6%. Testing positivity was around 5% in March and April when testing was very limited. As the number of tests increased in May, testing positivity decreased to a low of 2%.

Between June and July, testing positivity increased from 4.4 to a high of 8.4%. Testing positivity decreased in August to 6.7% and again in September, to 3.7%. So I also overlaid the testing communication. In March and April due to the limited testing availability We followed CDC and CDPH guidelines, and testing was limited to priority groups. And these groups were hospitalized patients, symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare workers, first responders, and other social services employees or symptomatic and asymptomatic persons older than 65 years.

As well as persons identified for public health contact investigation and disease control activities in high-risk settings. In May, we were able to obtain three OptumServe sites and we launched those sites. And then the testing messaging became Come one, come all. If you need to be tested and if you'd like to be tested we're open and available. And that was primarily also following CDPH guidelines.

In June, the testing sites were heavily utilized by community members. So following again CDPH guidelines we switched to a need-based testing messaging if you are have been exposed and if you are symptomatic please come get tested in July Testing site continued on a need-based testing messaging because of the supply chain issues and the lab processing issues.

Then in September, with the infusion of testing supply increase in the ability of laboratories to process these samples, want basis. If you have been exposed, come get tested and if you want to know your status please come get tested. This graph depicts...

Supervisor Adam? I have a question.

And maybe the public doesn't understand, we don't get these graphs ahead of time. We have a special meeting on Mondays where we get these graphs presented to us instead of included in our normal packet and so we don't have a chance as the board to really digest this material adequately in my opinion And yesterday, I asked for those notes you have on your slide to be incorporated onto this graph. And the one that I'm in receipt of here this morning does not have those notes on it. Did anybody else get those notes?

I think we all have the copy that's on the PowerPoint presentation.

I don't. We'll get you the right one. My apologies.

OK, Doctor Deranessa.

This graph depicts the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases by age in Santa Barbara County. Each biweekly value represents a sum total of all the previously confirmed cases. As of September 30th, the 30 to 49 year old age group had the highest number of COVID-19 cases followed by the 18 to 29 year olds. These younger adults make up a large proportion of workers in frontline occupations and are highly exposed, and highly exposed industries putting them at risk of contracting COVID-19. The next age group with the highest number of cases was the 50 to 69 year olds followed by the 0 to 17 year old and lastly the 70 plus year olds.

It is important to note that though the absolute number of 70 positive year olds is the lowest, this age group also make up a very small proportion of the population. The elderly had lower numbers of cases likely because they are retired and are carefully following the stay at home orders. This figure compares the age groups of Santa Barbara County's population to the age groups of cases and deaths, and revealed several important trends. First, a greater proportion of cases versus the population were working-age adults aged 18 to 29 years, which representing 31% of cases versus 21%.

of the population and 30 to 49 years which represent 35% of cases versus their 24% of the population. Second, most deaths occurred among older adults at this percent was disproportionately higher than the population of COVID-19 deaths 27% were among 50 to 69 year olds and 66% were among 70 plus year olds. However, 50 to 69-year-olds made up 22% of the population and 70 plus year olds only accounted for 11% of the population.

Third, children accounted for fewer cases and deaths than their relative population. It should be noted that during the reporting period most schools were closed for in-person classes. As Santa Barbara County Schools start to reopen, it is possible that we will be seeing more cases attributed to children. Our department will closely monitor trends among children in these next few months.

This graph describes age of cases in increments of 10 years. The group with the highest number of cases is the 20 to 29 year olds, followed by the 30 to 39 year olds then the 40 to 49 year olds. These 0-9 year olds have the lowest number of cases. This slide shows the relative gender proportions of Santa Barbara County's population, COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 deaths.

The gender of Santa Barbara County's population was approximately equal with 51% male and 49% female. During the reporting period, the gender of COVID- 19 cases was similar to that of the population. However, the gender of deaths was slightly higher among males. Throughout our country and state published data reports indicate that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color highlighting racial disparities.

And we are seeing this disparity in Santa Barbara County as well. While Hispanics and Latinos accounted for 48% of Santa Barbara County's population, they represent 65% of COVID-19 cases and 55% of COVID-19 deaths. In contrast, whites represent fewer cases 9%, compared to their population 43%. White's made up 39% of deaths. Many of these deaths occurred at skilled nursing homes and other congregate care settings which have been highly impacted during this pandemic.

While the SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus. The disparate impact of COVID-19 pandemic in communities of color is rooted in the historic and ongoing social and economic inequalities that contribute to the observed racial disparities in health status, and this is the primary reason for the recent implementation of the Health Equity Metric by CDPH. This graph represents all laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in Santa Barbara County through September 30th, disaggregated by occupation.

The occupation with the most number of cases was agricultural workers. During the pandemic, there have been nine outbreaks associated with agricultural workers. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has worked closely with agricultural communities to contain the spread of disease. One example is our Housing for the Harvest program which provides temporary housing for agricultural workers who need to isolate due to COVID-19.

The retired and unemployed category is high due to the fact that skilled nursing homes and other congregate care settings have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Other occupations with high frequencies included laborer, unskilled worker, healthcare worker And restaurants slash bar slash food preparation. These workers in frontline occupations and highly exposed industries are less likely to be able to implement social distancing measures that prevent transmission, thus putting them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

To describe the burden of disease in various communities, we have divided Santa Barbara County into 10 geographic regions. Communities with smaller populations were aggregated in order to comply with privacy and HIPAA regulations. This bar chart describes the geographic regions from highest to lowest case rates per 100,000 people using the 2010 U.S. Census data.

To compare case rates among areas with different populations, the per capita calculation is made by dividing the cases in the area by its population then multiplying the result by 100,000. At 4,189.8 cases per 100,000 people, North County unincorporated areas have the highest rate of COVID-19 infection. That being said the total population and case counts in this region are relatively low.

Santa Maria with the highest case rate of 3,958.7 cases per 100,000 and the highest case count at 3941 has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. Lompoc has the third highest case rate at 1,477.3 per 100,000 And 846 cases. The city of Santa Barbara, the 4th highest have the case rate of 1333 per 100,000 and 1224 cases. The remaining data for the geographic areas are also presented in the chart.

Transmission symptomology and length of hospitalization. As of September 30th, the majority of COVID cases with a known transmission status can be attributed to a close contact and community spread. Close contact is defined as being within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes from two days before illness onset or specimen collection date. Cases labeled as community spread are those in which the individual has not had known close contact with an identified case.

While the first cases in the country were linked to international travel, less than 1% of cases in Santa Barbara County were due to travel. The transmission status of 1.3% of cases was as of yet to be determined at the date of this report's publication. Should be noted that a large percent of cases, nearly 35%, had an incomplete transmission status. This percentage represents cases who lack information regarding transmission status.

Symptomology of COVID-19 cases. This chart describes the cases that reported having any symptoms of COVID-19 compared to those that were asymptomatic, under investigation and unknown. Early in the pandemic testing was limited to those with symptoms. Since then, testing criteria has broadened. Approximately 75% of testers using our three OptumServe sites consistently report being asymptomatic.

However, the true number of cases and percentage of asymptomatic cases is unknown since these residents may not seek testing. Length of stay among those hospitalized is presented in this graph. And I, this is an ongoing effort with our area hospitals. I want to thank the hospital teams for supporting us with our data requests. We have demographics today and in the near future, I will be coming back and presenting comorbidities associated with hospitalizations.

So this is the length of stay among those hospitalized. While the majority, 57.9% of hospitalizations had a relatively short stay of zero to five days, 11.7% had a length of stay greater than 20 days. The length of stay may indicate severity of disease and need for supportive care. Outbreaks. There have been a total of 59 outbreaks at congregate care settings in Santa Barbara County between March and September. These congregate care settings included skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, independent living facilities, intermediate care facilities, the Santa Barbara County Jail The Lompoc Federal Correction Institute, homeless shelters, sober living homes, H-2A housing and other congregate settings.

Following temporal trends of cases, congregate care setting outbreaks increased during the summer months. August had the highest number of congregate care setting outbreaks. Residential care facilities for the elderly accounted for the majority of active outbreaks by month, followed by skilled nursing facilities. Our conclusions and recommendations. From March through September Santa Barbara County reported 8199 cases.

Santa Barbara County saw a wave of cases during the summer. The number of cases and testing positivity peaked in July, and they may be associated with the reopening of sectors and the summer holidays. The majority of cases was working adults from 18 through 49 years old. Hispanic Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County.

Most common occupation for COVID-19 cases in our county is among farm workers and those who work in ag. Frontline staff in healthcare, unskilled laborers, restaurant bar or food preparation workers also represent a large number of cases. North County unincorporated areas and the city of Santa Maria have the highest rates of disease surpassing the county's average case rate.

Of cases with known transmission status, the majority were close contact. Our recommendations include to continue partnering with employment sectors and post-secondary schools to mitigate the spread of disease among 20 year olds. To continue increasing prevention messaging to 20 year olds. To monitor the health needs and risks among senior population. To partner with employment sectors to slow the spread of infection among frontline workers, and this means to support staff who need to isolate or quarantine and to reinforce social distancing and masking in the job.

Our recommendations also include limit gatherings, partnering with CDPH for additional prevention strategies to mitigate sustained and or repeated outbreaks in congregate settings. Continue to outreach prevention efforts in regions with the highest case rates. to monitor cases among youth and young adults as school resumes, monitor mental health needs and promote community mental health resources.

And I'll pause for questions before I go to the next segment.

Are there questions for Dr. Darragosa?

Supervisor Williams? Well, you know you obviously have a lot of recommendations but I was trying to boil it down to the public. Maybe the top three for folks who might be watching and would it be fair to say that is Continuing to limit gatherings because we know from our contact tracing that that has been a source of transmission. To immediately quarantine any members of the household that might be sick, right? Not just confirmed cases but might be sick because that has been the largest source according to our contact tracing is household transfers.

And then continued use of basic precautions. I mean, is there other ones that you want to just try to make it really obvious for folks beyond my three?

Supervisor Williams through the chair, no you boiled it down correctly. I think the only thing I would add to that is that as we are seeing the 20 year olds as the highest group, that we continue messaging the tools that we have, the social distancing, the no gathering wearing face masks especially to that population.

Supervisor Hartman.

When this first started, my biggest concern was people working at the grocery stores because they there was such a rush and there were so many people constantly going through but the grocery stores have been really vigilant about requiring patrons to wear masks social distancing plexiglass so I don't see them up here do we? Do we know anything about Transmission and cases with grocery workers, and have these measures that they've taken help them more than say some of the other workers? Sure. Ms. Kane do you have that

information?

Yes so we have been keeping an eye out on our frontline workers including those working at grocery stores and they have not risen to the top in terms of frequency of occupation I can get those numbers for you at a later point if