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Su n day, O C TOBE R 31, 2 021
NEWS-PRESS SPECIAL REPORT
Dealing with COVID-19 Physicians stress need for vaccinations despite some people’s objections
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about COVID-19 and local physicians’ comments about community concerns.
Murder trial continues in SB More witnesses to testify in Han family case
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
The COVID-19 roller coaster continues. And each turn of the ride brings something new. The pandemic has led to passionate views on all sides, from the medical community, who stress that vaccines are safe, effective and urgently needed to protect the population (including the most vulnerable), to business owners trying to survive a sluggish economy and people resisting vaccine and indoor mask mandates because of what they feel are their civil rights. It’s been almost a year since the first vaccines were rolled out, starting with healthcare workers and senior citizens. Now it’s readily available for everyone 12 and older, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to give the final approval this week for a Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11. And boosters are now recommended for people 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions or those in atrisk occupations. Recent months have seen reopening of indoor movie theaters and resumption of concerts. But caution is still prevailing. An indoor mask mandate was brought back to Santa Barbara County and other counties throughout California. Venues such as the Santa Barbara Bowl, The Granada and the Lobero Theatre have stressed that anyone attending concerts must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before the show. And many people continue to participate in meetings of their local city councils, school boards and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors by sitting on their sofa, opening a laptop and clicking onto a virtual service such as Zoom. And telemedicine has seen a surge. Life has changed. Fortunately, the number of cases is falling nationally. The U.S. is now averaging 73,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, less than half the almost 173,000 cases reported on Sept. 13, according to The Associated Press. And on Friday, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported 39 new cases in the county, down from Thursday’s report of 67 cases. “The cases are going in the right direction,” Dr. Henning Ansorg, the Santa Barbara public health officer, told the News-Press. “We still have a community transmission problem that is considered to be substantial. Susceptible people can easily catch the virus in the community.” Rather than a big decline in cases, Dr.
FYI The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported people can get vaccinated this week at the following clinics. • From 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Santa Barbara High School, 700 E Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The vaccines are Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson Janssen. • From 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Boys & Girls Club, 901 N. Railroad Ave., Santa Maria. The vaccines are Pfizer and J&J Janssen. • From 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Carpinteria Children’s Project, 5201 8th St., Carpinteria. The vaccines are Pfizer and J&J Janssen For future clinics, see the full list at publichealthsbc.org/vaccine. And you can get vaccines at doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTOS COURTESY SANTA BARBARA NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS
Vaccines continue to be given at the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, which has seen 65 to 70% of its patients vaccinated.
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Physicians talk further about the pandemic in Tuesday’s News-Press. Ansorg said he expects the number to plateau. And like other medical professionals, Dr. Ansorg wishes the vaccination rate, which recently crept up from 59% to 60.1% of the total population, was much higher, around 80% or 90%. (The number could get a boost when the vaccine is approved for ages 5-11.) Of the eligible 12-and-older population, 71% is fully vaccinated, according to the county’s latest numbers. Dr. Ansorg noted how easy it is to get vaccines. “Every single pharmacy has it. There’s no appointment necessary. You can walk in. When you see your doctor and get your flu shots, you can get your COVID shots.” And the county lists upcoming vaccination clinics at publichealthsbc.org/ vaccine. (See the FYI box for this week’s clinics.) The Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics continues to provide vaccinations every day at its clinics, Dr. Charles Fenzi, the CEO and chief medical officer, told the News-Press. He said 65% to 70% of his clinics’ patients are vaccinated. “It’s comparable to the county. “The folks who are hesitant (to get vaccines) are across socio-economic lines,” Dr. Fenzi said. “I’ve had several people who still feel very strongly that some of the conspiracy theories are correct.” Dr. Fenzi said he’s uncertain about how to convince those individuals to get the shots. He said it’s easier to persuade other unvaccinated people. “The closer we get to the 80% total vaccination rate, the more comfortable people will be,” Dr. Fenzi said. “As we go past the one-year mark (for vaccines) and we see people having the vaccination are not having any problems, that will be helpful for those who are hesitant because of the speed the vaccine was made.” Please see COVID on A7
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Supreme Court to hear arguments over Texas abortion law By BRITTONY MAAG BALLOTPEDIA FOR THE CENTER SQUARE
Dr. Anapuma Sharma of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic administers a COVID-19 vaccine.
(Ballotpedia for The Center Square) —The U.S. Supreme Court has accepted two new cases for review during its 20212022 term. Both cases relate to Texas’ abortion law Senate Bill 8 and have been scheduled for oral argument Monday. Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson concerns a state’s ability to avoid federal judicial review of state law by creating a private enforcement mechanism. The question before the court is: “(W)hether a State can insulate from federal-court review a law that prohibits the exercise of a Please see COURT on A7
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Pierre Haobsh, who’s charged in the 2016 triple murder of the Han family, will be back in court for the second week of his trial. More witnesses are slated to testify this week in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Judge Brian Hill is presiding over the trial in a Santa Barbara courtroom. Mr. Haobsh is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of herbalist Henry Han, his wife Jennie and Emily, their 5-year-old daughter. If convicted, Mr. Haobsh faces the death penalty. The case is being prosecuted by Hilary Dozer and Benjamin Ladinig. The head defense attorney is Christine Voss. The Han family members were found dead on March 23, 2016, on the floor of the garage of their home in the 4600 block of Greenhill Way in unincorporated Santa Barbara. Authorities reported that the Han family’s bodies were bound in plastic wrap and duct-tape and that all three died of gunshot wounds to the head. Mr. Haobsh was arrested at gunpoint early March 25, 2016, at a gas station in Bonsall, near Oceanside, where he was living with his father. Authorities said he was in possession of a loaded 9 mm handgun and property belonging to one of the victims. He was 26 at the time of his arrest. Four days later, Mr. Haobsh was charged with first-degree murder.
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