It’s deja vu all over again.
Yogi Berra
Due to the spike in COVID-19 cases, parts of California are being ordered into lockdown again. I believe the criteria is >15% ICU availability and is evaluated by region. Orange County is part of the Southern California region, and the total ICU availability is 10.9%. At the state level, total ICU availability appears to be 14.2% from covid19.ca.gov.
Since March, I’ve been working from home exclusively, and have basically not met with anyone outside my immediately family. I’ve not eaten out, even with outdoor seating, but relied on home cooked meals and take-out. I also wear a mask during the few times I have to go indoor to buy food or groceries. I have a lot of risk factors for COVID-19 so I’m being super careful.
However, I do have some issues with the above order. First, how did they determine the 15% threshold? Why not 10%? Maybe 15% is too lenient and we should be shutting down at 25%. Also, why did they group the statistics by arbitrary regions instead of by county? Orange County is being ordered to shut down since the Southern California region is at 10.9%, but the county is only at 18%.
For sure 18% is a bad number, but if you’re going to make up rules that affect the livelihood and lives of millions of people, should it be more rigorous? Why not enforce the order at the county level when the data is readily available? I’m very lucky that my job is not really impacted by the pandemic so far since we’re an essential manufacturer, and revenues are from long-term contracts that have not been affected so far. I would hate to be a restaurant owner. After 9 months of shut down orders, they have to again decide between closing and going out of business, or staying open and risk losing their business license. Also, what is causing the current spike in cases? Is it from people eating at outdoor seating at restaurants? I’m actually curious since I don’t go anywhere.
Finally, governor Gavin Newsome was caught attending a dinner party with lots of people apparently not wearing masks. When asked about it later, he claimed the party was outdoors but there are some photos and witnesses that seems to suggest otherwise. So not only did the governor violate his own order, but also lied about it afterwards.
The witness also claimed no one at the party was wearing masks, which would seem to violate the state’s guidance that individuals at gatherings wear face coverings at all times when not actively eating or drinking.
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Gavin-Newsom-birthday-party-indoors-outdoors-COVID-15736490.php
Politico reported on Tuesday that top California Medical Association officials were also present at the birthday party.
On Monday, Newsom said he will try to set a better example going forward.
“I made a bad mistake,” he said at a press conference. “I should have stood up and … drove back to my house. The spirit of what I’m preaching all the time was contradicted. I need to preach and practice, not just preach.”
It’s hard to make sacrifices when the actual governor and medical people don’t follow their own rules and recommendations. It appears that the state is forcing restaurant owners to choose between bankruptcy and losing their business license. Likewise, Newsome had to choose whether to go to a dinner party or not, and he chose to go. There doesn’t not seem to be any consequences for the governor “making a bad mistake.” Maybe he should “lose his job” for violating health orders then lying to the pubic about it.
This whole situation sucks and handled poorly by government at all levels.
Life with chronic diseases 