COMMUNITY NEWS
As Omicron Cases Shrink, Mask Debate is On By Jondi Gumz
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ith new cases, hospitalizations and positivity test rate for Covid-19 plummeting statewide and locally two years after the pandemic began, the debate over masks in schools — yes or no — is not over. The state Department of Public Health reports hospitalizations down from 15,000 at the peak of the Omicron surge in January to 2,200, and test positivity, 23% in January, is 1.4%. Santa Cruz County has 13 hospitalizations, including 3 in intensive care, 900 active cases, down from 10,000 at the peak, and four more deaths, bringing the total to 256. The latest deaths involved people 75 and older, all with underlying conditions. Dignity Health Dominican Hospital recognized frontline workers for their dedication by lighting up the front of the hospital blue. On March 15, registered nurses at Sutter Health picketed at 15 facilities in the state including the Santa Cruz VNA, to show their frustration with contract
negotiations since June 2021 and “little to no movement on key issues.” The issues include “safe staffing,” investing in personal protective equipment required by state law; presumptive eligibility for workers’ compensation that covers infectious diseases and plans to prevent violence within the hospitals in compliance with state law. Sutter spokeswoman Emma Dugas said, “We remain focused on reaching a shared resolution.” “These past two years have been difficult for all of us, especially the families and loved ones of those we have lost,” said Dr. Gail Newel, Santa Cruz County health officer. “I want to thank everyone who made sacrifices — everyone who wore a mask to protect themselves and others,
6 / March 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
employees and employers who kept everyone as safe as possible, parents and students who navigated distance learning — to get us through these last two years.” County Public Health reported: • 335,958 PCR tests • 122,890+ antigen tests distributed • 535,746 doses of vaccine given • 998,295 masks distributed • 61 pop- up vaccination clinics • 30,000 + calls answered by the county’s Covid-19 call center. • 668 vaccinations to homebound individuals Pajaro Valley Schools est positivity for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which reports testing for public schools, is 1.18 percent, lower than the state rate. The state’s guidance to schools and child care facilities: After March 11, masks are not required but are strongly recommended. This set off a heated discussion at the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board meeting. See the superintendent’s letter and a parent’s response to the board vote in this issue. Pajaro Valley schools, with 19,000 students, report 93 active student cases and 15 staff cases in March, the lowest in the Omicron surge. Watsonville High School has 22 student cases, and zero staff cases. Aptos High School has 9 student cases and zero staff cases, Aptos Junior High has 1 student case and zero staff case. Valencia Elementary has 6 student cases and 1 staff case; Mar Vista Elementary, zero student cases and 1 staff case. Rio del Mar Elementary has 4 student cases and 2 staff cases. High Transmission ased on 309 new cases, Santa Cruz County is rated red — high trans-
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mission — by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so guidelines for everyone to wear a mask indoors apply. The CDC said people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. Those at high risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about wearing a mask and taking other precautions. Underlying conditions were a factor in all 17 of the most recent local deaths during the peak of the highly contagious and thought-to-be-mild Omicron variant. Fifteen people who died were 75 or older. Fundraising is ongoing for the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Project, the local consortium seeking to buy Watsonville Community Hospital, which has 620 employees, and sharing the treatment of Covid-19 patients with Dominican Hospital. To donate to the consortium, see https://www.pvhdp.org/ “COVID Update” page 8
