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- Written by: Lake County News reports
On Sunday, Dr. Gary Pace reported that the first positive case in Lake County had been identified, and was an individual who had been in contact with a known case at an out-of-county workplace, as Lake County News has reported.
On Monday, Pace said the second case was confirmed, and it’s a family member of the first patient to test positive.
“There continue to be no signs of community transmission in Lake County,” Pace said.
He called Monday’s development “not unexpected,” adding that it reinforces the fact precautions must be taken.
Pace said people should:
– Stay at home (and in contact with those in your immediate household, only) except for essential business;
– Isolate, even from family, if you develop symptoms;
– Wash your hands frequently; and
– Use cloth masks (not N95 or surgical masks) when out of the house.
“People strictly following these rules will give us the best chance of keeping the spread slow enough it is manageable for our medical facilities,” he said.
Pace said that anyone ignoring the shelter-in-place order, which went into effect on March 19, is breaking the law. They’re also running the risk of jeopardizing family and friends’ health, as well as the health of the vulnerable people in their area.
For Lake County-specific Coronavirus information, visit the Lake County Health Services Department’s website, email
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is an independent global health research organization at the University of Washington School of Medicine that has been forecasting COVID-19 resource use and deaths across the nation, as Lake County News has reported.
The institute’s forecasts show California’s number of cases creates a far flatter curve than the nation as a whole and many other states.
In updated estimates issued over the weekend, which were based on newer and more complete information, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation puts California’s peak resource use – specifically, hospital beds and ventilators – on April 14, where last week it had been put at April 26.
The institute estimates that California’s deaths will peak on April 17 at about 70 per day. Previously, the forecast had expected deaths to peak at 100 per day on April 25.
The nation’s peak resource use remains at April 15, while the institute has pushed back its peak deaths to April 16.
As of Sunday night, the number of cases statewide totaled 15,182, with 350 deaths, according to a survey of Public Health departments across the state conducted by Lake County News.
Among the new cases on Sunday was Lake County’s first, as Lake County News has reported.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the patient – who had been from contact with a known case at an out-of-county workplace – is currently doing well, following appropriate precautions, and is isolated.
Officials did not release the patient’s gender or community of residence.
As of Sunday, Lassen, Mariposa, Modoc, Sierra and Trinity have so far not reported positive cases.
Counties across the state are following separate reporting protocols. Some have online dashboards that break down case numbers, tests, gender and age, and recovery status, while others do not.
Meanwhile, the number of tests for COVID-19 are continuing to grow across the state.
The California Department of Public Health reported that, as of the latest numbers available on Saturday, approximately 131,500 tests had been conducted in California. At least 116,563 results have been received and another 15,000 are pending.
CDPH said those numbers include data California has received from commercial, private and academic labs, including Quest, LabCorp, Kaiser, University of California and Stanford, and the 22 state and county health labs currently testing.
The state’s numbers indicate that the number of male patients continues to trend higher than females, with the 18 to 49 age group having the largest number of patients – nearly the same as the 50 to 64 and the 65 and above age groups, combined.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online on the county’s Facebook page or at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to
At 9:30 a.m., the board will consider an update on the requirements for the benefit zones established in the Clear Lake Riviera, Buckingham, Riviera West and Riviera Heights last year in an effort to reduce vegetation.
In a memo to the board, Supervisor Rob Brown asked that, in light of the COVID-19 crisis and likely overlap with the impending wildland fire season, he’s asking the board to consider an update on benefit zone efforts, a shortening of the abatement requirements for necessary fuel reduction, public notifications of the need for property owners to ramp up reduction of hazardous vegetation, and reinforcement and confirmation of the definition of “essential worker” to include vegetation services, tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners and property managers.
“Given our current situation, with the very likely potential of COVID-19 in Lake County, we would be hard pressed to deal with an additional and avoidable disaster such as a wildland fire. We need to, more than ever, reduce that possibility and I am asking the Board to consider any action possible that would further the reduction to that risk,” Brown wrote.
In other business, at 9:10 a.m., the Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will give the board an update on the COVID-19 situation.
In an untimed item, the board will continue its discussion from last week about sending a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend legislation that would affect private enterprise jobs.
In another untimed item, the board will consider a letter responding to the city of Clearlake regarding the city’s concerns with property tax sales by the Lake County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve late travel claim for County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson for January 2020, authorizing the auditor-controller to pay.
5.2: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 19-0737-008-SF with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to provide reimbursement for Asian Citrus Psyllid Winter Trapping Program for the amount of $8,762 beginning Oct. 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
5.3: Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District, authorize the air pollution control officer to submit the Ozone Emergency Plan exemption request to ARB and EPA.
5.4: Approve geothermal consultant agreement between the county of Lake and Harold W. Bertholf Inc. for appraisal services starting April 30, 2020, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Adopt resolution authorizing Lake County Behavioral Health Services rate adjustment for substance use disorder services.
5.6: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Behavioral Health Services as lead agency of the Lake County Continuum of Care and Kelseyville Methodist Church as the fiscal agent of the Hope Rising Warming Center Project for Fiscal Year 2019-20 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.7: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for Substance Use Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program and outpatient drug free services for Fiscal Year 2019-20, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Adopt resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors authorizing Lake County Behavioral Health Services Department to advance funds in order to maintain COVID-19 shelter operations until receipt of COVID-19 emergency homelessness funding from the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council.
5.9: Approve 6th Cycle (2019-2027) Housing Element Update contract with EMC Planning Group for $51,960 and authorize chair to sign.
5.10: Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2020 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
5.11: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Mountain Valley Family and Child Services for specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2019-20 increasing the total amount payable from $25,000 to $48,400 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.12: Adopt resolution approving county of Lake Health Services to apply for one time grant funding in the amount of $158,987 through the California Department of Public Health for Fiscal Year 19/20.
5.13: Approve extended leave of absence for Deputy Probation Officer III Claudia Acosta from March 9 to May 10, 2020.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2020 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
6.3, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of Update on COVID-19 .
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of (a) update on benefit zone requirements, (b) shortening abatement requirements for necessary fuel reduction, (c) public notifications of the need for property owners to ramp up reduction of hazardous vegetation, and (d) reinforcement and confirmation of the definition of essential worker to include vegetation services, tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners and property managers.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from March 24, industrial hemp zoning ordinance text amendment (AM 20-01) categorical exemption (CE 20-07).
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Continued from March 31, consideration of letter to Gov. Newsom asking to suspend legislation that would affect private enterprise jobs.
7.3: Consideration of ratification of county administrative officer's action to send letters to tenants of the Harbor Village Artist Cottages to offer relief of rent during the COVID-19 Health emergency.
7.4: Consideration of letter responding to the city of Clearlake regarding concerns with property tax sales by the Lake County Treasurer-Tax Collector.
7.5: Consideration of acceptance of a donation of a refrigerated trailer for disaster response by Hub Group Inc. of Oak Park, Illinois.
7.6: Consideration of Change Order No. 3 with Coleman Environmental Engineering Inc. for FEMA FMAG Culvert Replacement No. 1 & No. 2, Federal Project No.'s FMAG DR 5093-1-1R & FMAG DR 5112-1-1R, Bid No. 19-01, For an increase of $2,540.94 and a Revised Contract amount of $647,841.27.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) Chief Negotiator: M. Long; county negotiators: C. Huchingson and P. Samac; and (b) employee organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA and LCSMA.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
This also highlights the important role parents of young adults can play in providing their children a better understanding of the impact that alcohol (and drugs) can have on their lives, and the lives of those around them, according to Lake County Behavioral Health Services officials.
Alcohol and drug use by young people is extremely dangerous, not only to themselves and the community at large, but is also directly associated with educational failure, violence, traffic fatalities, suicide, unsafe sex and alcohol overdose. This even applies to those who may never develop dependence and/or addiction.
Adolescence is the prime time of elevated overall risk-taking, and as alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are often faced with a very unique set of challenges.
Parents sometimes justify underage drinking or drug use as a “rite of passage.” Parents must adjust their attitudes and take an active role to learn about alcohol and drugs, and how to assist their kids in doing the same.
It is not always an easy task to discuss the perils of drinking and drug use with children, but is well worth the effort parents put into it.
Studies have shown that children who have conversations with their parents early on and learn about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are more than 50 percent less likely to use these substances than those who did not have such discussions.
This is the opportunity for parents to reinforce the fact that imbibing alcohol is not a “rite of passage.”
When parents foster a change in attitude about alcohol and drug use in both themselves and their children, it helps them all to understand drinking is not a way to be or feel independent, “cool,” or to fit in, socially.
Young people can learn alcohol and drugs are not a requirement in order to have a good time, and non-use of any substance is a viable and, most importantly, the healthiest option. We must learn to honor and respect another individual’s decision not to drink alcohol.
Behavioral Health Services said that alcohol and drug use is a very risky business for young people, and parents are the lynchpin in making a difference. The longer young people delay alcohol and drug use, the less likely they are to develop the inherent problems associated with it.
For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health Services at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.