Getting off state's COVID-19 watch list nearly impossible, Solano County public health official says
95 percent of Solano County's new cases in recent weeks are as a result of private, social gatherings, according to a county health official.
SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- Solano County was first in the Bay Area to be put on California's monitoring list on June 29 and every other county has followed after.
San Mateo County was put on the list Wednesday after weeks of being on high alert because of its case rate.
RELATED: Coronavirus watch list: 38 California counties where COVID-19 is getting worse
Since being put on the list, Dr. Bela Matyas says his team has been using the only tool they have to try to reduce their cases and stop the surge -- education. But, it's not working.
According to Matyas, 95 percent of the county's new cases in recent weeks are as a result of private, social gatherings.
"It is possible that our county may remain on the watch list for a very long time because we aren't going to be able to change those behaviors adequately to reduce the numbers," said Dr. Matyas. "The cause of the outbreak is something we have very little control over."
App users: For a better experience, click here to view the full map in a new window
On paper, getting off the list seems simple enough, according to the state -- after a county is within threshold for all metrics for three days, it is removed from the county monitoring list the following day.
But even that gets complicated because the state still has to conduct its investigation on a case by case basis. Adding to the complication, a county could meet one metric one day and not another, making it very difficult to meet all three metrics for three consecutive days.
Dr. Matyas says even after meeting all metrics, it's possible that the county would have to reapply for a new variance which adds new hoops to jump through before getting the green light to reopen.
LATEST FROM NEWSOM: Gov. Newsom announces $52M investment to help Central California amid COVID-19 surge
"It really is up to the state to either change its narrative from containment to mitigation or to recognize that the metrics are too harsh given the way the disease is currently spreading," he said.
He says neither choice is easy.
"You have to simultaneously recognize that what we're doing is harming businesses without getting any benefit but at the same time we're going to have to endure a high level of disease if we changed the metrics," he said.
VIDEO: What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?
In San Mateo County, Supervisor David Canepa pleaded for different metrics too. But after weeks of being on high alert, the county was put on the watch list Wednesday.
"If you look at other indicators, we are doing rather well. Deaths within facilities was zero," he said, adding that the county has done a lot of work trying to isolate cases and doing contact tracing.
Matyas says he is in daily contact with state public health officials as the county refocuses its messaging on harm reduction.
RELATED: Coronavirus live updates: COVID-19 cases rise above 51,000 in Bay Area
"It's not as clear as it could be from the state but I don't challenge them on this because this has been a very dynamic disease," Matyas said.
Matyas suggests that metrics would be less punitive on businesses if shutdown orders were specific to where outbreaks were happening.
"I would focus on the realm specific metrics and I would acknowledge that we can't control what people are doing their personal lives," he said. "I've been through a lot of outbreaks and I know that what we're doing is unsustainable."
If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.
Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- COVID-19 Help: Comprehensive list of resources, information
- Watch list: Counties where COVID-19 is getting worse
- MAP: Everything that's open, forced to close in Bay Area
- Everything to know about CA's confusing reopening plan, summer shutdown and what comes next
- From salons to dinner parties: Experts rate the risk of 12 activities
- Coronavirus origin: Where did COVID-19 come from?
- Life after COVID-19: Here's what restaurants, gyms will look like
- What is a COVID-19 genetic, antigen and antibody test?
- What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?
- What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area
- Experts compare face shield vs. face mask effectiveness
- COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during novel coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
