Key Survey Findings

“COVID Update” from page 7

Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but protest leaders were skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021. They point to the U.S. government database, https://vaers.hhs.gov/, where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

The reporting site was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protecting vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

After Covid arrived, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law that allows the HHS secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company, according to a report by CNBC.

This lowers the cost of immunizations, and the protection lasts until 2024.

Dr. Pamela Popper of Ohio has sued HHS, FDA and CDC concerning vaccines for kids under 16, hopes to get discovery, the point at which both sides can get evidence. Updates are at https://makeamericansfreeagain.com/

On Jan. 6, federal judge Allen Winsor in Florida denied a motion by the U.S. Department of Defense seeking to block discovery of evidence. The lawsuit was filed by 18 service members challenging the vaccine mandate.

Omicron

The assumption is Omicron, the most easily transmissible variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus, quickly drove the increase in January and the decline in February.

Omicron was confirmed in two cases in the county on Dec. 16 and 17.

The numbers ballooned from 325 cases confirmed on Dec. 29 to 1,265 confimred on Jan. 20, according to the county health dashboard, which is updated twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays.

Hospitalizations are down from 43 to 19, including five in intensive care, according to a state dashboard, which updates daily.

Possibly people entered the hospital with another condition or for scheduled surgery, then got tested for Covid. The dashboard does not explain.

The California Department of Public Health estimates Omicron comprises 91% of cases statewide and Delta 6.5% but does not have a breakdown of Omicron hospitalizations or deaths.

Not all COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization are sequenced, and the proportion of cases due to the Omicron variant that die is still being determined.

Less Deadly

Omicron is less deadly than Delta, which raged in 2021.

Santa Cruz County reports 252 Covid deaths, up from 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron.

One statistic is similar: 79% to 81% of those who died had pre-existing conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may have a pre-existing condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure).

Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness.

So are people 85 and older.

Some people who got Covid experience “long Covid,” with fatigue and brain fog months afterward. A 2022 study in the journal Cell by researchers following more than 200 patients found many acute Covid patients had low cortisol, which could be addressed.

Pajaro Valley Schools

Pajaro Valley schools, with 19,000 students, report 1,307 active student cases and 82 staff cases in February.

Watsonville High School has the most student cases, 128, and 15 staff cases.

Aptos High School has 42 student cases and five staff cases, Aptos Junior High has 26 student cases and 1 staff case.

Valencia Elementary has 53 student cases and 3 staff cases; Mar Vista Elementary, 22 student cases and 3 staff cases. Rio del Mar Elementary has 14 student cases and zero staff cases.

Testing

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, with Inspire Diagnostic, has provided 327,100 tests.

Cases peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropping to 622 on Feb. 25. The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% a month ago, is down to 4.0%.

The County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at these locations:

Cabrillo College, Aptos, Parking Lot K, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.

Currently, all students in public schools countywide regardless of vaccination status are required to test weekly to participate in indoor sports, Band and Drama.

Schools consider test results administered by health care providers, Inspire drive-through/school clinics or CLIA-certified labs. Home tests are only for parental use.

Third-party programs on school campuses must follow CDPH guidelines which differ from those for schools.

These rules may change Feb. 28.

Hundreds of school staff have rapid response antigen tests, courtesy of the County Office of Education, and schools are distributing more for home use.

Directions are posted at https://drive. google.com/file/d/1U8AdsSyH14sDvrjD 6T25krhvOFRFsuXs/view

For test options see: https://tinyurl. com/get-tested-santa-cruz.

Shorter Isolation

Based on federal recommendations, the state has shortened the isolation time for those testing positive from 10 days to five days.

Booster shot appointments can be scheduled at https://myturn.ca.gov/ and by asking your local doctor and pharmacies. For local vaccine providers, visit www. santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine.

For help scheduling an appointment, call the Community Bridges Helpline at 831-219-8607 or 831-440-3556 (English, Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui).

For local information on COVID-19, go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus or call (831) 454-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Total COVID cases: 3,238

••• COVID Deaths: 252 As of Feb. 24 Age 85 and older: 108 • 75-84: 58 • 65-74: 44 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 203 • No: 49 Race White 143 • Latinx 88 • Asian 16 • Black 2 Amer Indian 1 • Hawaiian 1 • Another 1 Gender Men: 128 • Women: 124 Location At facility for aged: 113 Not at a facility: 139

“Anthem Award” from page 5

This historic and groundbreaking report and initiative centers the Black residents of Santa Cruz County’s true quality of life; both by the numbers in raw data and through their lived and shared qualitative experiences.”

By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities.

A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the inaugural Anthem Awards.

This year’s Anthem Award Winners will be celebrated virtually at 2 p.m. Feb. 28, at anthemawards.com.

Special Achievement Winners will recognized for their outstanding contribution and work to make an impact on society. This year’s Special Achievement Winners are: • Anthem Athlete of the Year: Naomi

Osaka for claiming her third Grand

Slam title while igniting a conversation

about mental health, racial injustice and police brutality. • Anthem Entertainer of the Year:

Adam McKay for holding up a mirror to society through his work, challenging the status quo, and for the powerful messages that he compels us to hear.

Jay Ellis, star of HBO’s Insecure, the upcoming film Top Gun: Maverick and host of The Untold Story: Policing podcast, is the awards host. n

Information was gathered in August and September 2021 via an online survey completed by 87 people and four online focus groups involving 31 people recruited by NAACP Santa Cruz County, Black Girl Magic, Black Surf Club and the Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Racial Justice and Equity, with ASR staff as scribes. • 76% felt their healthcare provider addressed their concerns most of the time or always; 54% felt their race/ ethnicity impacted their quality of health care. • 20% said they or someone in their household had tested positive for

Covid. 87% reported being vaccinated; 10% more were somewhat likely to very likely to get vaccinated.

On Jan 13, 2022, the county reported 154 known cases among Blacks,

which is .58% of total cases, less than the percentage of Blacks in the county (.87%). • 56% reported racial discrimination they had experienced or witnessed affected their mental health often or very often. (In a school survey, 19% of Black 9th and 11th graders in the county reported seriously considering suicide in 20172019, compared to 13% statewide.) • 79% reported they were financially the same or better off this year compared to last year. 71% said they pay more than a third of their income for housing. 35% reported it was somewhat difficult or very difficult for their household to pay usual expenses in the past 12 months. n •••

The 69-page Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Spotlight, with more detailed info, is at www.unitedwaysc.org/research-reports

••• Black/African American Population Santa Cruz County: 1.7% (nearly doubled since 2013) California: 7% ~~~ County Median Family Income (latest available: 2019) Black: $78,381 Hispanic/Latino: $77,307 White: $123,248 ~~~ Santa Cruz High School 11th Graders Report Chronic Sadness or Hopelessness (2018-19) Black/African American: 38% Hispanic/Latino: 32% White 32%