[Final UPDATE 8 p.m.] Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 3-30-20

Please add what strikes you as important in the comments below.

UPDATES of important information as we hear it in the Virtual Town Hall:

• Senator Mike McGuire says that the Shelter in Place is lasting until May 1.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich said Humboldt County has had its first case of community transmission (a case not tied to travel or connection to someone who traveled.)
• Sheriff Billy Honsal says there has been a “dramatic drop in crime and calls for service.”
• Samantha Karges says they have received hundreds of questions and while many overlap not all questions will be gotten to. However, they will try to answer them eventually.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich said they are trying to ramp up testing.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich said that at some point when the disease is widespread throughout the community, testing and isolating won’t be a useful strategy anymore but right now it is one of the best way to slow the spread.
• Connie Beck Director of Health and Human Services says they are trying to secure entire motels in areas throughout the county for the homeless. FEMA will provide up to 75% of the cost.
• Michele Stephens, Public Health Director, says they are working on getting PPE’s for all the staff working with the homeless.
• 2nd District Supervisor Estelle Fennell thanks all the first responders.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovitch said that a big piece is planning for Surge (when many people get COVID-19 and began seriously impacting our medical system here.) She can’t say when the Surge will be but she says it isn’t going to happen next week or even the week after. “The better we do at this front end right now…we can have a huge impact on delaying that surge” and lowering the curve. Delaying the surge could allow more time to plan.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich says that normally we have about about 172 beds in the county but we can get up to about 300 beds. But then we could add tents, etc. to get more.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich says, “We need to develop the health care workforce.” Because we need the staff to work the extra beds.
• Sheriff Billy Honsal says, “As this goes on we’ll be less and less tolerant of those violating” shelter-in-place and referring business to the District Attorney.
• Why not release information about where the positive cases are located? Dr. Teresa Frankovich says, We have to be really careful about not only not violating people’s medical privacy but also providing safety in case of vigilantism.  She said they will soon be releasing gender and eventually ages down the road. The worst people can do is assume their area of the county doesn’t have any cases. There is risk throughout the county. We need everyone to behave as if there is a cluster of cases in their area.
• Masks. Dr. Teresa Frankovich says, the thoughts on this are evolving. The homemade mask is a tool. It needs to be clean. They shouldn’t handle it. In addition, she stated firmly, People who are ill should not go out even with a mask. Please don’t go out and buy industrial masks. They need to be available for the key people –medical and first responders.
• Sheriff Billy Honsal says, “We’re not prepared enough.” Not enough PPE’s.
• How can people help?
  • Sheriff Billy Honsal says, Donate to organizations like Betty Chinn’s. Help family and loved ones. Check in on neighbors. Make phone calls so people stay connected. “Exercise patience.”
  • Dr. Teresa Frankovich suggests volunteering with non-profits and donating blood. Help seniors and high risk individuals stay at home.
  • Supervisor Fennell says people should lead by example by staying home.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich single point in time testing for people who are asymptomatic isn’t very effective. As testing capacity increases, she’d like to start testing some of those that are ill with less serious symptoms. She suggests that those who have some mild symptoms monitor temperature and watch your symptoms. Also STAY HOME.
• Dr. Teresa Frankovich says if you have symptoms Stay home until you have three days without fever without having taken any medicine and have seven days since your first symptom.
• Sheriff Billy Honsal talks about what happens if a number of people die. We have capacity about 40. If there are more bodies, we do have the capacity to increase capacity.
• Supervisor Fennell says we have been modifying our policies in response to the community’s concerns. She welcomes calls or suggests calling the COVID-19 information line with questions and suggestions.
• Who do you turn to for advice?
  • Sheriff Honsal says not one person has all the answers. Meeting with community leaders.
• Closing statements:
  • Director Beck: In spite of eviction moratorium, Folks still need to make a plan to pay their rent. Folks that are strapped for funds need to reach out to their landlord and to the government for help.
  • Michele Stephens thanks her public health team and Dr. Frankovitch and the people who are taking this seriously.
  • Dr. Teresa Frankovich everyone is a really critical piece of this response. I want to thank everyone for what they’ve done so far.
  • Sheriff Honsal says we realize how much this is effecting everyone. Humboldt County is known to be a resilient and stubborn community. Focus on looking out for others.
  • Supervisor Estelle Fennell: We talk about essential workers but everyone is essential in this instance.

For further information,

• Via Facebook: HumCo COVID-19. A special post has been created for you to comment your questions.
• Via OpenGov: humboldtgov.org/covidtownhall
• Or call (707) 441-5000.