By John Leopold, First District Supervisor
In times of crisis, it is critical for a community to come together. We have seen this compassion and unity in Santa Cruz County during times of earthquakes, floods, and fires, and now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our community is working hard to help slow the transmission of the coronavirus and protect the health of local residents.
John Leopold
From the outset of this pandemic, County Public Health decided to take swift action to limit the spread of the virus using the best available science. Our “Shelter In Place” order was put into place a few days before the state and ahead of most of the nation.
Working with the county Superintendent of Schools, local schools were shuttered to limit COVID-19 spread. Soon thereafter, visitors were blocked from entering nursing homes to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Most impressively, the community has responded in ways that would have seemed impossible just a few months ago. The active effort of so many county residents to stay home and only venture out for essential services or employment has been incredible.
Our community stepped up and has played a leading role in slowing the spread of the virus in Santa Cruz County. Through the efforts of so many, we have lengthened the days of doubling new cases from six days to ten days.
The drive to “flatten the curve” has yielded some of the best results in the state, allowing our hospitals to prepare, for new care sites to be established, and to “stand up” new shelters to limit transmission.
When senior volunteers could no longer help with the Grey Bears food distribution, other community members stepped up and filled those roles to ensure healthy food for seniors. Volunteers have come forward to support the new shelters that have been put in place to prevent the spread of the virus among the homeless population.
Sewing machines have been buzzing all over the county to help provide critically needed masks to help protect disaster service workers, in-home supportive service workers and other essential staff. These communal efforts really show how caring, supportive, and special our community is during this historic time of need.
We are, however, in the first inning of a long fight against the COVID-19 virus. Flattening the curve does not make the virus go away. We will continue to see new cases in our community as we work to expand testing. Our hospital census has remained low so far, but that could change.
The County has established a Testing Task Force to prioritize responsive testing so we have the best information about who is carrying the virus in our community. We are also working with UC Santa Cruz to help meet the need for testing in our community.
Our Health Officer, Dr. Gail Newel, is working with her colleagues around the Bay Area on identifying the steps to expand testing, contact tracing, and other measures that will need to be in place before the “Shelter In Place” order can be lifted.
The County has partnered with the Community Foundation to hire a COVID recovery director to ensure all our efforts closely align the county with our hospitals and clinics to best serve the needs of local residents.
As we all look forward to the day when some or all of these restrictions are gone, it is now critically important to support our local business community. Treat yourself to a great take-out meal from one of our local restaurants or go online to purchase products from one of our local businesses. The help you give now will help ensure that we continue to have a bright and vibrant community in the future.
The strength of our community is defined by how we care for each other during these times of need. Our community has displayed incredible fortitude in our efforts during this COVID-19 pandemic so far. But we need to continue to work together to protect our community.
Keep yourself informed about the local situation by visiting the County website at www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, watch the weekly press conference on Santa Cruz County’s Facebook page every Thursday at 10 a.m., or listen in to my weekly Telephone Town Hall meeting with local leaders on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m.
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John Leopold is the First District County Supervisor. His Telephone Town Halls can be accessed by calling 831-454-2222, and then enter the collaboration meeting code of 855976.
co.santa-cruz.ca.us/john_leopold