Dr. Humboldt County Health Officer Teresa Frankovich, sitting outside this time, begins her latest media availability video with good news: the county is changing its case count down by three, because it appears that their first tests, conducted outside the province, returned false positions.
‘They have run the copies again. They were negative and confirmed as negative, ”says Frankovich. The overall case selection has been adjusted accordingly.
Below you will find our standard, timestamp manual for the Q – & – A.
(0:53) The Redheaded Blackbelt asks, “We understand staff at another nursing home in Humboldt County has a positive COVID test attached to it.” What applicable lessons did Public Health learn from the outbreak in Alderbaai? Does the province as a state offer more personal protective equipment (PPE)?
There has so far been only one case, not an outbreak, at the last facility, Frankovich says. (The Redheaded Blackbelt reported that the infected person works at Fortuna Rehabilitation and Wellness Center.) Frankovich says lessons have been “learned across the board.” Public health works to ensure that senior facilities are good with PPE and follow safety protocols. The province also provides the assistance of an infection control specialization in facilities that report a positive case.
(3:16) The Redheaded Blackbelt asks, “With nursing homes traditionally staffed by low-paid workers who are often engaged in multiple jobs to keep their finances afloat, what can be done to support staff by Humboldt County Public Health? and have your suggestions [for] how can our community as a whole support both staff and the elderly? ”
Per state guidelines, employers should have plans to work with employees who need a quarantine, Frankovich says. What we can all do to support employees and parents is what we’ve been talking about for months now, she adds: limiting travel and meetings, distance and consistent use of face masks.
(4:37) The Redwood News asks, “With kids back in school … what is your advice to parents on the best way to keep their kids safe this fall?”
Otherwise, the importance of face covering should be emphasized, hand washed / sanitized and distanced, says Frankovich. “I also think parents should be really active in checking their children for signs and symptoms of infection so that we do not send children to school when they are sick,” she adds. And families should limit their activities to their own households.
(6:15) The Redwood News asks, “There’s been a lot of talk lately about a COVID-19 vaccine and the trials for a vaccine. St. Joseph’s Hospital was involved in a clinical trial for Remdesivir Is. Is Humboldt County involved in any vaccine trials? If so, what will it look like?
Nothing planned for Humboldt so far, Frankovich says. Most clinical trials are centered around large academic institutions in larger cities. But if anyone has a proposal to involve the local people, “We would be happy to talk to them,” she adds.
(7:15) The Redwood News asks, “Can you give us an update on the flooding / plastic problem that occurred at the Public Health lab on Friday? How much of the lab was affected? Was any equipment damaged? Were tests or collected? samples scanned? Has testing been scanned in any way – or will it be?
Fortunately, the flooding mostly affected the lower level of the building, including Frankovich’s own office. The lab was barely affected. Staff ‘went up a bit and cleaned up what they needed and got back to work,’ she says.
(8:47) De Lost Coast Outpost asks, “Yesterday, the director of the California Department of Public Health resigned after it came to light that the state failed to receive results from a quarter of a million tests conducted by Quest Diagnostics between July 31 and August 4, as a result of a technical “How did this glitch affect Humboldt County’s reported test numbers last week? We note that the two major positive case reports last week were on Wednesday, August 5th and Thursday, August 6th – the two days after the correction of this glitch.”
Frankovich says she does not know there is any connection between the dismissal of the state health officer and the laboratory issue. The vast majority of tests done in Humboldt are performed through the Public Health lab, the Optum lab at Redwood Acres or within local health care facilities, none of which are affected by the Quest Diagnostics glitch, “so I hope the impact will be relatively small , ”She says.
(10:54) The Lost Coast Outpost asks, “Many epidemiologists now claim that the country could deploy rapid, inexpensive and not very sensitive detective tests that can be administered at schools, workplaces, or at home – the idea that the amount of such tests would more than compensate for their lower quality. (See a New York Times article here.) Does this approach get treated in circles of state public health? Do we have such tests available in Humboldt County in any quantity? Are they on the horizon? ‘
There are many people who create test platforms of varying degrees of sensitivity and usefulness, says Frankovich. Public Health staff are looking for each new option in partnership with the state. It is “a big deal” in terms of resource allocation to get false test results, so the accuracy of tests is very important. At some point, a high volume of testing may become a major priority, “but I do not think we are at that point yet,” she says.
(13:02) ????? [The audio completely cuts out during the reading of this question.]
There has been an increase in cases in children, largely from within infected households, Frankovich says. It is less common that the child is the original case.
(14:14) The North Coast News asks, “Just as thousands more students come to classes this week, another study shows how easily children can get coronavirus. More than 97,000 children in the US test positive for coronavirus in the US.” last two weeks of July according to a study at the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Association of Children’s Hospital.At what point would you consider turning back course and closing schools altogether for instruction?
Public Health personnel monitor local epidemiological data, hospital data and capacity daily, Frankovich says. We are currently not learning more than the threshold of the state for mandate at a distance, although our trends continue. If cases continue to grow, banning person classes could happen, “but we are not quite there yet,” she says.
(15:37) The North Coast News claims: “California’s top official has been fired days after the state announced a … glitch that caused a delay in reporting coronavirus test results ….” glitch impact on Humboldt County data?
See above.
(16:21) Officials from Hermosa Beach said the city is using a private police company to help police enforce an ordinance requiring face-covering in public areas…. Would you support local officials if they take such action to enforce your orders here?
‘Now, of course, I’m open to all conversations about things we can do to improve enforcement,’ she says, ‘but that would certainly be heavily informed by what local legislation finds they can do in our local areas. to increase the attachment of local orders. ”
