Posted on

LIBRARY SET TO REOPEN; NOT SURE ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER

SBCounty Together

July 31, 2020 Update

The County Update is now publishing three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and also as needed, in order to share important news and resources in our battle against COVID-19 and to keep our economy running. We remain here for you. #SBCountyTogether

For latest Statistics and link to our COVID-19 Community Testing page, scroll to the bottom of today’s Update

test
All residents urged to get tested at convenient sites using easy-to-use nasal swabs

County Overcomes Testing Supply Shortage with New Supplier

Responding to a recent statewide shortage in COVID-19 testing materials, San Bernardino County has contracted with a new supplier to secure an adequate supply of test equipment and is now encouraging all County residents to get tested.

“Now that our testing capacity has expanded and stabilized, we hope that every resident, regardless of whether they have experienced any symptoms, will make an appointment to get tested,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “Testing is free, painless, takes only a few minutes, and can be obtained without a doctor’s prescription.”

The County is now offering testing with an appointment at 10 locations, using an easy-to-administer nasal self-swab. Results can also be expected in no more than 5 days, but usually within 72 hours. There is no cost to take the test, however County residents will be asked to enter insurance information when setting an appointment in order to assist taxpayers in recouping some of the costs associated with testing.

New supplier, improved nasal tests

The County’s new supplier is Fulgent Genetics, a Southern California-based genetics testing company that provides diagnostic testing for improved patient care. The company’s COVID-19 polymersace chain reaction (PCR) tests involve a relatively short nasal swab, which most patients consider much less uncomfortable than the longer “nasopharyngeal swabs” commonly used earlier during the pandemic. Fulgent collaborates with Healthvana, an HIPAA-secure information portal, to provide test results 3-5 days after testing.

The County has established testing sites In Fontana, Hesperia, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino and Victorville, along with the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. In addition, tests (and other services) are provided to underserved and vulnerable populations at County Health Centers in Adelante, Hesperia, Ontario and San Bernardino. 

In addition, COVID-19 testing is being conducted at various state-run testing sites, as well as sites operated by private clinics, certain Rite-Aid Pharmacy locations, and HMO-operated facilities. State sites and private clinics may be using providers other than Fulgent, and testing methods vary at these other locations. Residents are encouraged to visit the County’s Testing Sites webpage to see all the County, state and private testing options, and to schedule an appointment.

Benefits of widespread testing

Public health experts believe that many of the people who carry the coronavirus do not know it, since they exhibit no symptoms of the disease (referred to as asymptomatic carriers). As a result, hundreds of thousands of infected people could be unintentionally spreading the virus to others.

“Increasing the number of people tested is essential to lowering the infection rate, getting the County back to work, and allowing recently reopened businesses to stay open,” said County Public Health Director Corwin Porter. “Testing gives us a better idea of community spread and the scope of infections, and helps us concentrate medical resources where they are needed most. And working in concert with our contact tracing team, we can better stop the spread of the virus.”

Expanded testing and lowering our positivity rate will help San Bernardino County get off the state’s Monitoring List and allow more flexibility in our reopening efforts.

Porter cautioned, however, that a negative test result should not be seen as permission to stop being cautious.

“Regardless of your test results, you still need to avoid gathering with people outside your immediate household.” Porter said. “You also should continue social distancing, continue wearing a face covering whenever in public, and diligent washing of your hands. Expanding our testing is an essential step in our war against COVID, but we’ve already seen what can happen if we relax prematurely.”

To learn more about the County’s testing program, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Library

County Libraries Now Open for Summer with Limited Hours

Most San Bernardino County libraries have begun opening their doors with limited library services and modified hours. Although COVID-19 conditions are continually evolving, locations in the High Desert, Chino, and more will be operational Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with some variations for some locations.

County residents can visit a webpage to view a full list of County libraries open to the public, along with hours and safety measures.

Libraries have implemented a variety of safety measures, including temperature testing for all employees, installation of sneeze guards at all service counters and removal of some furniture to ensure proper social distancing. In addition, computer sessions have been reduced to one hour and face coverings are required for all employees and visitors.

The move to reopen comes as San Bernardino County libraries is featuring an online Summer Reading Program. Students can use their library card to register on Beanstack, an online tool for facilitating reading programs and begin logging in their reading progress for reward badges and potential prizes. Programs are organized into several age categories, with an adult program also available for participation.

County libraries also offer program kits to library card holders for weekly crafts tutorials hosted on Facebook Live. Participants follow along online and are provided with instructions and materials in a prepackaged kit available for pickup at their open local library. Patrons are also strongly encouraged to visit the County Library website to place items on hold, use self-checkout, and have access to all available eContent such as audiobooks, eBooks, and magazines.

Website-Info-Sheet-2-JUN20

masks

Don’t Wait! County Offering Free Face Masks to Nonprofits

The County is now providing complimentary disposable face masks to help 501(c)3 organizations throughout San Bernardino County.

To obtain free masks through the County’s Purchasing Department, please email a request to vendor@pur.sbcounty.gov. In your email, share documentation designating your organization as a 501(c)3 non-profit, along with the number of masks needed for your organization. The Purchasing Department will contact you when the complimentary disposable masks may be picked up.

Mask are available as supplies last, so don’t delay. The County is also asking that our County nonprofits only request what they need so we can help as many as possible.

15 Jail Inmates and 11 Sheriff’s Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

Fifteen County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Three inmates are at the West Valley Detention, two are at the High Desert Detention Center, eight are at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center, and two are at the Central Detention Center.

A total of 232 County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Many of the inmates are only experiencing minor symptoms of the virus. The infected inmates are in isolation, being monitored around the clock, and are being provided with medical treatment. One hundred and eighty-six inmates have recovered from the illness. 

All inmates continue to be provided with face coverings, cleaning supplies, soap, and are urged to wash their hands repeatedly throughout the day. They are routinely reminded of the need to practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Eleven department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and are self-isolating at home. A total of 152 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19. One hundred and thirteen (113) employees have recovered from the virus; other employees are expected to return to work in the next few weeks. 

Latest Stats

32,230 Confirmed Cases(up 1.7% from the previous day)
409 Deaths(up 1.5% from the previous day)
248,086 Tested(up 1.9% from the previous day)
For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobiletab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
Testing Sites
COVID-Compliant
CW Food Assistance

For all COVID-19 related information, including case statistics, FAQs, guidelines and resources, visit the County’s COVID-19 webpage at http://sbcovid19.com/. Residents of San Bernardino County may also call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911 for general information and resources about the virus. The phone line is NOT for medical calls and is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions about social services, please call 211.

County of San Bernardino Logo

The above text came directly from San Bernardino County. To learn which libraries are reopening, click here. Mentone is listed. – MM

Posted on

COMET AND CHAMBER MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MARCH

On Tuesday night the COMET and Chamber of Commerce met by telephone conference call. Here are some highlights: 

From Scott Ward, field representative for Dawn Rowe: the County Board of Supervisors has voted to place the repeal of the fire tax on the November ballot. Some areas in the desert are not paying the fire tax but will have a vote, as well as those who are paying. Readers may access more information by utilizing this link.

Small business owners who have been impacted by the pandemic may apply for assistance at this link.

Pandemic numbers have been escalating, partly due to increased testing as well as other causes. There are over 24 locations for free testing, for which you need an appointment. The closest location to Mentone is Citrus Valley High School, he said. Chamber members stated it takes up to 10 days to hear the results, in one case even when those tested were positive. You may view more testing sites here.

Regarding fireworks: if you see something, say something. Take a picture. You may report the location at the San Bernardino County Fire website; here is the link. For more instructions, see under Sheriff’s Department below. For the latest on SB county fireworks, please see the website here.

The County has extended its contract for legal services to seniors, so those who are receiving them may rest assured they will continue for now. 

From Nohelia Orellana, field representative for Assemblyman James Ramos: the County is running a 54B deficit but is asking for help from the State for small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Bills are being introduced, mostly related to COVID-19. One asks the Legislature to make it illegal to sue a restaurant for a customer who contracts the virus. Another regards suicide prevention among Native American tribes and another tribal lands. Readers who have lost  their jobs and are having difficulty receiving unemployment are encouraged to contact Ramos’ office. 

Regarding COMET’s counsel’s February letter to Ms. Orellana, requesting that Assembly Ramos’ office re-submit the bill making it illegal to demand annexation in exchange for water, she said she was told that because it’s been such a long time (since 1996) there was not much they could do and it would be reviewable at the LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission) level. By law, LAFCO’s duties are ministerial, only: to supervise whether new developments comply with the law; it does not supervise annexations. When assured that it was not a LAFCO problem or project, she said she would try to re-submit or re-introduce it.  As previously reported, the bill never made it past an aide in Senator Morrell’s office and Senator Leyva’s office has never responded to a similar request by COMET’s counsel.           

From Rachel Achilly, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office: the Department has had COVID-19 cases, mostly in the jails. Regarding fireworks, the County will fine and even jail violators of the no-fireworks law in this area. Each offense carries a fine of $1,250 and can go up to $6,000. Fireworks are illegal to set off in any area where they are not sold. They can be sold only in Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino and south of the Freeway. However, moving or aerial fireworks are illegal everywhere. Only those fireworks that are safe and sane are legal to buy in those communities, she added. If anyone sees a neighbor setting off fireworks, even in their backyard, the observer is encouraged to report it and a video or snapshot  is welcome because it is presently a misdemeanor, which means that the Sheriff or Fire Department investigator must see it in order to arrest the persons responsible. She added that a photo or video must show the address clearly visible. Some Fire Department investigators have law enforcement authority. A representative from the Red Brennan Groups shared its efforts to get the Fire Tax repealed. 

Other news: the Library may be reopening July 6 (this was before the latest shutdown news), the Senior Center later on. No meals will be served, however. The June 13 celebration of Mentone’s development and Film Festival were, of course, postponed due to the pandemic. Hopefully, in 2021 the celebrations will be able to be held. As far as the Mill Creek Casino Night, “We will see,” said Jim Lotito, co-owner/proprietor and Ways and Means Committee co-chair. He added that the Mill Creek Cattle Company was operating at  25-30% of its regular business and hoped that business would pick up by December.  Someone defined a “bar” as a place that doesn’t provide food, so it technically doesn’t fall under the definition of a “bar” and, as of Tuesday night, could stay open. 

Chairman David Wilder mentioned CalTrans and the members discussed its slowness to paint the straight-ahead arrow at the corner of Wabash and the Boulevard (westbound), which it promised to do at least two years ago; he promised to bring it up again and ask that it be done sooner rather than later. 

Op-Ed:

It is certainly a shame that, in an area that is paying the fire tax (get out and vote it down in November), those who set off illegal fireworks –  2-3 times a night between dark and 10 p.m. in Mentone – can be guilty of only a misdemeanor. That means that, unless you get a photo or video with the home’s address clearly showing, they can set one off, you report it and the Sheriff arrives but there is nothing to see and the miscreants lie so the Deputies have to leave. Then the miscreants do it again and again, each time spacing them out so the Sheriff cannot view them. It should be made a felony, which is reportable by an eyewitness and thus more prosecutable.

Those who do this in quiet neighborhoods like Mentone should be arrested and punished because of the impact on those who have PTSD from honorably serving in the military and everyone’s pets (f you’ve ever cleaned up dog poo, including diarrhea, off a rug at 3 a.m., as I have, you understand why folks want to be able to put their pets out at night).  It is incomprehensible that anyone should think it’s “fun” or “clever” to disturb everyone else’s peace simply because they can get away with it. 

It seems the misinformation never stops: first, CALAFCO, which has nothing to do with Redlands’ extortionate annexation of Mentone territory, successfully lobbied to keep the proposed legislative amendment out of the Senate, most probably because of some personal ties with someone in Redlands’ city council.

Now, Assemblyman Ramos’ office – and he did nothing to help Mentone with this problem before he went “upstairs” – thinks it has a “statute of limitations” problem.  Senator Leyva’s office “next door,” whose website requests proposed legislation, failed to respond to a similar request. Someone, somewhere, sometime, has to recognize that “little, old Mentone” has rights, too, and that time has already come long ago.

Maybe readers would start a letter-writing campaign to Ramos, Leyva and Senator Mike McGuire, chairman of the threshold Finance and Governance Committee, to demand that this legislation – which has already been  reviewed and revised by Legislative Counsel – be submitted to the Senate.

The “Donut Hole” – the businesses around the intersection of Alabama and Lugonia, was excluded from Redlands’ control by Legislature, so why not Mentone?  Of course, Redlands is receiving that area’s sales taxes, but doesn’t have to provide fire, police and other services, so that was a win-win for it. (The Donut Hole developers’ attorneys, based in Redlands, sold them a bill of goods, but that’s another story for another time.) 

Local businesses, especially restaurants, are hurting; everyone likes to eat something someone else prepared so why not patronize the local businesses, even if it means you still have to wash the dishes? So many businesses have failed elsewhere that it would be a shame to see some of our local ones also “go away,” after many years of serving the community. 

Posted on

Back by Popular Demand! COVID-19 SCAMS and Healthcare Fraud Webinar

California SMP

These are troubling times and the robocallers and COVID scammers are out in full force. If you missed our May webinars, please tune in to our California Health Advocates Senior Medicare Patrol webinar on COVID-19 SCAMS and Healthcare Fraud on Monday, July 13 at 11am (Pacific) and learn:

  • How to spot the scammers
  • What offers to beware of
  • How to identify Medicare fraud schemes
  • Where to report fraud
Details
Date:Mon, Jul 13, 2020
Time:11:00 AM PDT
Duration:1 hour
Host(s):Micki Nozaki
Presenter Information
Micki Nozaki

Micki Nozaki is the Director of the California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). Micki had previously served as a Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) counselor, offering in-person Medicare counseling at Micki Nozaki is the Director of the California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). Micki had previously served as a Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) counselor, offering in-person Medicare counseling at several sites throughout Orange County. Her professional experience includes 25 years in the private sector, for mainly healthcare, insurance, and government-contracted organizations, where she lead the development, implementation and promotion of information security and privacy programs.

Register Now
Posted on

SOME THOUGHTS ON OUR TIMES

We’re not even through the pandemic and we are “hit” with 24/7 news showing protests and looters. To their credit, one Los Angeles County city actually scheduled a peaceful demonstration for Sunday, apparently forgetting the past: does anyone else remember the 1965 Watts riots? They actually destroyed their own community, focusing on store owners who were different than they and probably immigrants. I had moved to L.A. just the previous year and was shocked at the lengths to which some people would go, purportedly in order to vent their anger at injustice, would steal what was easily grabbed, would beat up innocent people who disagree, would set fires to businesses and, I think, even homes. If you don’t remember that week of riots you can read about it on Wikipedia, along with how the riots and protests started: a Black man was stopped for reckless driving near his mother’s home; his brother left the car brought her to the scene. She chewed her son out for drinking and driving, then ended up attacking the police, and the three of them – mother and two sons – were arrested. The rioting started then and grew to as far away as Pasadena, Pacoima, Monrovia, Long Beach, and even San Diego.

The exact same incidents took place in those cities then as what we saw in the past week: the defiance of necessary curfews, the necessary deployment of the National Guard, attacking first responders like police and their vehicles, arson and looting of stores. Curiously, this time the LAPD and Sheriff were unprepared for the similar actions and the necessary measures took a few days to be employed. Winston Churchill, paraphrasing George Santayana, said “‘Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”

I can understand their frustration and anger somewhat: my immigrant White ancestor, who came here simply to bring the gospel and served the American Indians for years, was murdered by some (who were probably also related to me); years later her son and grandchildren were driven to seek refuge in Canada by the same tribe. But how could I justify punishing American Indians alive now, for what their ancestors did? Somewhere, sometime, somehow, vengeance has to stop being people’s motivation for acting as they have been doing in the past 50+ years.

Am I alone in thinking that what happens in L.A. or elsewhere in California doesn’t really affect the police in Minneapolis? So what good does marching in the streets and on the freeways, disrupting traffic, torching businesses that they would need in the future and the very police vehicles that might have been called to assist them at other times, and otherwise straining LAPD’s and others’ resources, really do? One has to believe that the looters are just hoodlums looking to make a quick buck on someone else’s property. And this time the looters can wear masks to conceal their identities without raising suspicions.

And why would people, who just didn’t like being forced to stay home the past two months in order to stop or slow the pandemic, get out there and violate social distancing, quite likely exposing themselves or others to the Coronavirus, and starting another upsurge? It defies reason.

If the Floyd family can ask for the violence to stop, and respect what George Floyd would have said was appropriate, who is entitled to continue it?

From the policeman’s history, it seems like he should have been fired and arrested a long time ago. For that failure, George Floyd paid the ultimate price, but out of his untimely death perhaps can come some good: a bad cop is finally off the streets. And he will probably have to watch his back constantly when he goes to prison, where he belongs, because the other inmates will likely exact their revenge.

If it seems like these troubles will never end, for the Bible readers Matthew 24 gives a good description of what we can expect in the future. MM

Posted on

Tele-Town Hall Update from Employment Development Department

EDD Telephone Town Hall Image

Get insight on how to receive benefits quicker.

Unemployment benefit claims have reached levels not seen since the Great Depression. This issue has caused uncertainty and a slowing of benefit payout to workers. Join my office and Russell Best, EDD Employment Program Manager III on this call to get insight into best practices to receive benefits quicker. The EDD will also answer the most common questions asked during this COVID-19 pandemic.
My office has organized this virtual town hall, and I encourage you to participate in this important discussion.

Thursday, June 4
3 p.m.
Call In Number: (888) 204-5984
CODE: 3731564

Because of the volume of virtual guests we are expecting, live questions will not be possible. Those who wish to submit questions, please do so by Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. by emailing my office.

RSVP Today


Event information can be found on my website as well as additional COVID-19 resources.
Sincerely,

Eloise Gómez Reyes
Assemblymember, 47th District

Capitol Office: State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0047
Tel: (916) 319-2047		District Office:
290 North D Street, Suite 903
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Tel: (909) 381-3238