| Ventura County Star
COVID vaccine: can you still be contagious?
Vaccinologist Dr Greg Poland discusses what it is like after your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Staff Video, USA TODAY
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The transmission of COVID-19 is rising at an increasingly alarming rate in Ventura County, pushing even more patients into already packed hospitals, officials said Tuesday.
Data released by the California Department of Public Health showed that the unadjusted rate of 131.4 COVID cases per day per 100,000 people in Ventura obscured the 127.3 rate in Los Angeles County.
The rate is for the week ending January 2 and is the second highest in the Southern California region with 11 counties. Only San Bernardino County is higher.
A record 449 COVID patients received hospital care in Ventura County, officials reported Tuesday, with 89 of them in the ICU. Hospitals were flooded with a total of 1002 patients, including those with non-COVID diseases.
“Nearly half of our hospitalized patients are COVID patients and that’s just amazing,” said Steve Carroll, administrator of the Ventura County Medical Services Agency. It turns out that the 1 002 patients is a record. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look any better.”
More: Inconsistent pipeline complicates plans to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in Ventura County
Hospitals have been stretched to the limit but still provide care, Carroll said.
“Our heroes in the hospital are just exhausted. They need our help,” said Rigoberto Vargas, director of Ventura County Public Health. He encouraged people to stay home, wear masks and follow other COVID protocols.
“Do the right thing,” he said.
The rising virus numbers were unveiled at a meeting of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors where officials also provided an update to the vaccine that includes new information on how people who are high on the priority list can register for shots.
The state adjusts the COVID case rates of the province based on the extent of the testing efforts in a region. Vargas said the province’s per capita test rate was the best in the state for a week.
The test levels mean that the adjusted rate per 100,000 people in the country is 72.7, better than several counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles.
To test the volume aside, Vargas calls the COVID numbers of the country alarming. He attributes at least part of the turnout to Christmas gatherings.
He also said that cases were emerging due to the high COVID testing. He and others urged people to continue to be tested for the virus.
If people test positive, they should isolate and share information about other people who have been exposed, Vargas said.
According to the new state data, 17.5% of the people tested in Ventura County came up positive in an average of seven days. This is almost 1 in 5 people.
Speculation about the new virus strain
Ventura County Health Officer Robert Levin referred to rising COVID numbers as a second strong bump in the ongoing boom. He said the rise could continue or could begin to level off.
“This week is critical. I think we will know over the next five days how we are monitoring the census of the hospital,” he said.
Experts: New COVID strains are not yet worrying
Levin said it is also possible, although not known with certainty, that the new virus strain – first reported in the UK – occurs in small numbers in Ventura County.
“I think it’s here,” he said, pointing out that the virus strain is thought to be susceptible to the COVID vaccine. Levin said the province’s vaccination efforts mean it is on track.
Register for the COVID-19 vaccine
Although the country needs even more vaccine from the state, efforts to give shots are increasing, officials said.
“Whatever it takes to get it done,” Ventura County executive Mike Powers said provincial agencies were involved. “All hands on deck.”
According to the province, the current efforts are being accelerated to include not only the first level but also all levels of the so-called Phase 1A, in line with the recommendations of the state issued last week. The phase’s three levels include a variety of medical workers, ranging from dentists to home health care workers.
People in Phase 1A can register for vaccinations in a new portal at https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/. Registered people must still show a professional license or other identification to get shots at vaccination sites.
“If they are not in the health care sector at this stage, they cannot receive vaccination,” said Barry Zimmerman, deputy director general of the Ventura County Health Agency.
Federal officials said Tuesday they are now encouraging states to vaccinate people 65 and older as well as younger people under existing conditions. The federations also encourage states to use all their doses and not hold back some for the required second shot.
Zimmerman said the province is awaiting state guidelines on how to handle the new federal leadership.
Ventura County Public Health received approximately 24,000 to 28,000 initial doses of the vaccine, Zimmerman said. A similar amount has been received and is currently being held for second doses.
Another 10,000 doses of Pfizer are expected in the next few days.
‘Like a war zone’: ICU beds have been expanded and body bags in play as Oxnard Hospital boom
The aim is to build the run-up to the point where by the end of the month 5,000 shots are given per day. That’s about twice the current rate, Zimmerman said.
Eligible registered enrollment sites include two sites in Oxnard, the Ventura County Fairgrounds, and an unknown first responders site.
The province is also looking for qualified people who will volunteer their services to give vaccinations.
Some pharmacies, including several Vons locations, are vaccinating people on the priority list, Zimmerman said.
Officials said they are constantly asking for more vaccine from the state, noting supplies could run out at some point if the pipeline is not accelerated.
“The limitation at the moment is that our award is not our ability,” Powers said, reiterating the goal of getting as much vaccine in the arms as possible. “We’re going big here.”
California Department of Public Health officials also said provinces could vaccinate people who are lower on the priority list if the vaccine is about to lapse or the demand has subsided in higher-priority groups. Zimmerman said the guideline is being followed in Ventura County.
Update: Ventura County adds 3,288 new COVID cases over the weekend, 17 new deaths
The next phase for vaccination – 1B – is a massive group that includes people aged 75 and over, law enforcement, firefighters, farm workers, groceries, public safety workers and teachers.
Planning for the phase has begun. Levin predicted that vaccinations could begin within two or three weeks. The exact timing will depend on the vaccine supply.
Levin also said that vaccination efforts could help with the ongoing boom. He said up to 40% of the province’s deaths involve residents of long-term care facilities. Residents of the facilities are now being vaccinated.
“This could mean a significant decrease in hospitalizations and ICUs and a decrease in deaths,” he said.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at [email protected] or 805-437-0255.
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