March 13, 2020 — Dr. Noemi "Mimi" Doohan, the county public health officer, issued a directive yesterday to cancel or postpone all non-essential social, professional and community gatherings of more than 250 people. The directive is in effect until the end of the month. A directive is not an order, because law enforcement won’t shut down large gatherings, but Doohan believes this is an essential aspect of the social distancing that’s part of the mitigation phase of the pandemic. There are no known cases in Mendocino or Lake Counties, but only about a dozen people have been tested in Mendocino County. All the results that have come back so far have been negative.
A lot of questions came up about how much it would cost for someone who is uninsured to get a test. Yesterday, California Representative Katie Porter wrenched a commitment from CDC chief Robert Redfield to make sure all Americans get free testing for the virus. Porter estimated that the out of pocket costs for an uninsured person would add up to $1,331.
It’s still not clear exactly how people will be able to access that benefit, and if it includes visits to the ER and doctor’s offices, and other tests. Locally, Quest and Labcorps are the commercial labs that can do the test, and Doohan said they are currently backed up. It takes 1-3 days for the results to come back.
When it comes to mitigating or preventing the spread, Doohan was very clear about what constitutes a non-essential gathering, and what remains essential. Schools are definitely essential. Still, Deb Kubin, the Superintendent of the Ukiah Unified School District, is preparing for a possible shutdown, by polling students grades 6-12 about whether or not they have internet at home. Those who do not have internet will be sent home with hard copies of schoolwork packets, if school is shut down. Kubin reminded the public that students have already lost three days of school due to the power shutdowns, and her goal is to keep schools open as long as it is safe to do so.
CEO Carmel Angelo gave an update on efforts to secure alternative housing for patients who need to be isolated, but are not sick enough to be in the hospital. Currently, the county has received approval to use one house, and is waiting on approval for a second house. She said the county is also researching the possibility of using motel rooms to isolate patients.
While there are no known coronavirus cases in the county at this time, Jason Wells, the president of Adventist Health, spoke about preventive measures being taken at the hospital. He asked that patients in the hospital for other issues limit their visitors to one, and that anyone coming to the hospital with a fever and cough call ahead, so healthcare workers can take measures to protect themselves. Triage, or surge tents, are being set up at the hospitals in Willits and Ukiah. However, elective surgeries are still taking place, and meetings and classes are limited to ten people or fewer.
While Representative Katie Porter has been lauded for saving lives by demanding free tests, there’s not an unlimited number of tests available. Doohan thinks it’s most useful to use those tests on healthcare workers, elderly people, those with a fever and cough, and people who have had an exposure to someone who has the virus. She urged people to listen to their clinicians’ advice, and to call ahead if you’re coming to the doctor or the hospital with a cough and fever. Stay home if you’re sick, and keep your distance.