In today’s media availability, Dr. Teresa Frankovich, Humboldt County Health Officer, answered a myriad half-hour questions from local reporters about various aspects of the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. : Testing, reopening of schools, contact tracing, the efficacy of cannabis as a treatment, but it started with a brief statement about the particular dangers of traveling out of the county (or traveling) right now.
Below: Questions from local media in the order in which they are asked of Dr. Frankovich in the video above.
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1. Nearly 100 residents of the isolated Shelter Cove community were screened for COVID-19 on Monday. What protocols would be established if a large percentage of those tests were positive?
2. Yesterday, the county announced that they will triple the testing capacity here locally with a machine that will allow it to process up to 250 test samples per day. With current problems related to test availability, appointment scheduling, personnel problems, etc., will it be possible for Public Health to collect so many samples each day? How will this new test capacity affect the test response time?
3. It was announced yesterday that Humboldt County has tripled its testing capacity. Does this mean that the response time for the test results will be faster? If so, for how many days?
4. All it takes for the level of alertness to rise is one factor and the “spread of disease” is currently three; What is the metric that shifts “moderately high load” to “high load”, “increasing spread” to “widespread transmission”, and “some outbreaks” to “many outbreaks”?
5. Now at ‘level 3’, at what point will Humboldt County have to back down on reopening?
6. On the new county dashboard, can you explain what the chart / episode epidemiological curve represents? And what does this data mean compared to our total case count that is documented each day? How do both numbers represent the spread of the virus in Humboldt County?
7. According to the Humboldt County Panel, 0% of members of our black community have tested positive for the virus. That’s right? Can you speculate why?
8. With the city of Eureka using social media to invite tourists to the area and an upcoming street art festival featuring artists from outside the area, are the county and Dr. Frankovich receiving visitors in Humboldt County? Previously, tourism was discouraged. How is this different from traveling sports teams coming?
9. Yesterday, the Fortuna Unified School District board, supported by a poll in which 55% of parents agreed, voted to resume classes in person against the recommendation of the teachers union. Can you talk about your concerns if there are any? And what recommendations would you make if asked? What are some strategies that could be used to mitigate viral transmission if they return in person as planned?
10. And finally, if you can, what does current science offer that speaks of the effects school will not have on children and the essential workforce?
11. How can an elderly patient with COVID who is discharged from hospital care and safely isolated at home be cared for safely?
12. Can a COVID negative person be in the same home as a COVID positive person? How?
13. How about traveling to care for a loved one? (That is, the hospital says my grandfather is going to be released from the hospital to isolate himself at home, but she doesn’t have a caregiver (no one to administer medication, pick up RX, get her food / groceries, etc.). So what What happens when there are no close relatives to help a patient? Can a loved one travel to their county to care for them? And how could they put their loved one’s community at risk on their return?
14. Do face masks / covers improve breathing conditions when there is smoke from forest fires?
15. Has anyone been exposed to or contracted COVID-19 at a place of worship in Humboldt County?
16. Do health officials monitor places of worship differently than other places that are certified to be open?
17. How large is the contact tracking team for Humboldt County?
18. Publications, such as Forbes, have published articles claiming that cannabis helps prevent and treat COVID19. Can you share what you know about the virus and marijuana?
