Santa Barbara County reports second coronavirus death

A second coronavirus death was reported in Santa Barbara County on Sunday evening, as the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases edged up to 174.

The patient who died was a South Coast resident “in their 60s” with underlying health conditions, according to the county Public Health Department.

Officials have not been disclosing specific identifying traits such as gender.

Public Health officials said there were six new confirmed cases Sunday, with 27 patients hospitalized, including 19 in intensive care units.

That was a slight increase from Saturday, when 26 people were hospitalized, and 17 were in ICUs.

There were 103 people recovering at home, officials said, adding that 40 have fully recovered and two were pending an update.

To date, 1,426 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County, with 1,047 (73.4 percent) coming back negative, 174 (12.2 percent) positive and 204 (14.3 percent) pending, officials said.

Continuing the ongoing trend, four of the six new cases were in the North County, specifically the city of Santa Maria.

The North County has had more than twice the number of COVID-19 cases than the South Coast thus far.

Of the other new cases reported Sunday, one was in Goleta and one in the unincorporated area of the South Coast, which includes Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria.

Four of the patients were between 50 and 69, one between 30 and 49, and the other between 18 and 29.

Also on Sunday, county Public Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg issued an order, effective at 5 p.m., stipulating that all food facilities must offer food to-go only, and comply with hygiene and social-distancing standards “or be subject to permit suspension and mandatory closure.”

The order includes the following:

• Food facilities: Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and coffee shops may only remain open to offer food for pick-up, delivery, or drive-thru.
• All food must be in containers.
• Food must be consumed off-site. No provision for on-site dining allowed.
• All food workers must wear facial covers (covering nose and mouth) supplied by the employer and maintained in a clean, sanitary manner.
• Six-foot spacing must be maintained between customers.
• Workers may not work while ill.

Food facility employees or volunteers who have had symptoms of COVID-19 shall return to work only when they have been free of symptoms for at least 72 hours without medication AND at least seven days have elapsed since the onset of symptoms.

The Health Officer recommends that food facility operators actively screen all workers, volunteers, and outside vendors for COVID-19 symptoms upon each individual’s arrival at the food facility. Individuals who exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as defined by the Santa Barbara County Health Officer shall be immediately excluded from the facility.

In addition, the following businesses were ordered to close without exception:

• Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food.
• Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades.
• Gyms, and fitness centers and aquatic centers.
• Wineries, breweries and tap rooms that provide tastings.
• Trophy shops or trophy businesses.
• Tattoo parlors, tattoo businesses, tattoo artists and body art facilities.
• Barbers, hair salons and hairstylists.
• Campgrounds and RV parks, public and private. Only those who certify that the RV is their primary residence may be permitted to stay in the RV park.
• Nail salons, manicurists and pedicurists to close except for medical necessity e.g. medical treatment for diabetes.
• Day spas and massage parlors, except as required for prescribed medical treatment.

In addition, the following must close:

• Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, saunas, steam rooms (except those in a single-family residence or medical setting, with medically prescribed therapy carried out with individuals 6 feet apart).

“This order is intended to reduce the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19, thereby slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Ansorg said.

“Violation or failure to comply may constitute a misdemeanor punishable by fine up to $1,000, imprisonment, or both,” he said. “Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including fines or civil penalties per violation per day, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.”