Thursday, May 21, 2020

CoViD-19: San Diego County Restaurants & Retail Re-Opening Protocols | Support San Diego Zoo & Safari Park | Slow Implementation Caused Unnecessary Deaths

I love these guys at San Diego Zoo. No idea what they are. 1.8.2020
Early in the pandemic, I was sent a bunch of free trials and links to all kinds of virtual things. The ones I can share, I added to the Quarantine Activities Page which you can access from your laptop or desktop underneath my title banner, or with the little triangle pulldown menu on mobile. One of the private things I got was a three month free trial of the streaming service Topic. I will say that I don't love the interface, and I wish all streaming services would include the language of the movies or shows because while I love foreign films, I'm almost always writing while watching and can't follow subtitles when doing so. But besides those things, I've been enjoying some of the programming and last night burned through the 2 seasons of Birds of North America. The episodes vary in length from a few minutes to regular tv show length, but they're well done, the host is funny and knowledgeable and as a person of color from the Bronx, the show addresses the generally narrow demographics of birding and highlights different groups that are more inclusive nationally. The show is also on YouTube, where the episodes are actually numbered backwards from how they appear on TV but they don't necessarily need to be watched in order, either. Anyway, today's briefings mostly clarified the rest of the movement through phase 2, and the news has continued to pivot from how bad outbreaks and the numbers of infections and deaths are to PARTY PARTY PARTY USA #1!, CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY NO MATTER WHAT. So yeah, get ready for those spikes in numbers in the next 2-3 weeks. Today's links after the jump.


  • During Tuesday's County Board of Supervisors meeting, Kristen Gaspar did a whole bunch of grandstanding and pandering. But one of her proposals--to treat San Diego Zoo and Safari Park the same as outdoor museums which could allow them earlier openings than currently planned--didn't seem too crazy, though her accelerated timeline did. We already know that a couple weeks back, San Diego Tourism Authority released guidelines to open our attractions and amusement parks when the time comes. I miss the Zoo and Safari Park, and can't wait to see the baby pygmy hippo along with all of my other favorites. If you remember a few years ago, a pygmy hippo was born but died at 3 days old, so this successful birth is a big deal.
    Opening has to happen when it's safe for employees, guests, and especially the animals. I can't say I'll be there on day one, but I'll be back for sure, though we can probably say goodbye to cheap soda refills. If you want to support the Zoo now, they're having a flash sale on merch and taking pre-orders for face masks.
  • Coronavirus latest: world hits ‘tragic milestone’ of 5 million Covid-19 cases after WHO reports record daily surge - South China Morning Post (5.21.2020)
  • San Diego County Daily Briefing:
    • Support restaurants, but make sure they're open, make reservations when possible, and be courteous and understanding that they are operating at lower capacity
    • Don't let your guard down, continue diligence
    • Greenlight to advance all the way through Stage 2 with modifications and protections for employees and customers
    • One step forward eagerness to move even further forward. Continue to protect public health as we work on economic recovery
    • Widespread adherence of safety guidelines (Masks, Hand washing, Temp Checks and Health Screenings, Physical Distancing)
    • Restaurant Protocols:
      • Daily temp screenings of employees
      • Employees with symptoms can't work
      • Tables six feet apart or barriers between them
      • Post signs for social distancing
      • Employees must wear facial coverings
      • Customers must wear facial coverings except when seated
      • No self-service (salad bars/buffets/drink machines)
      • Encourage reservations
      • Expand outdoor seating
    • In-Store Retail Protocols:
      • Daily temp checks and symptom screenings of employees
      • Employees with symptoms can't work
      • Post signs for social distancing
      • Employees & Customers must wear facial coverings
      • Limit number of customers to maintain six feet
      • No changes for fitting rooms except cleaning
    • NOT YET OPEN:
      • Hotels/AirBNB
      • Gyms/Fitness Centers
      • Hair/Nail/Tanning Salons
      • Pools
      • Beach Parking/Sitting 
      • Religious Services
    • San Diego Chapter of California Restaurant Association
      • Restaurants are ecstatic to be opening
      • Employee & Customer Safety are paramount
      • Restaurants and Customers should take as much time as they need to be safe
      • Stay patient
      • More outdoor dining in parking
      • Separated tables 
      • Menus will be single-use
      • Fewer contacts with staff
      • Contactless payments
      • Supply-chain may be an issue and limit menus
      • Don't come in if you're sick
      • Dine with same household only
      • Treat reservations like an appointment
      • Read and comply with posted signage
      • One way entrances and exits
      • Directional signs on floors
      • Wait in cars until table is ready
      • Restaurant week in September will invite all restaurants, not just CRA members
    • Dr. Wooten addressed Hospital Capacity 
      • 24 hospitals
      • 6,085 bed capacity
      • 37% available capacity for surge
      • 799 licensed ICU beds in SD
      • 65.3% ICU beds occupied
      • Following stats closely for triggers to dial-back
    • Elderly, people of color, and low income tend to have higher number of comorbidities. These populations should use extreme caution. Stay home as much as possible
    • County of 3.3. million some areas have elevated cases 
    • All public health orders are enforceable by law enforcement of specific jurisdiction but we're relying on business partners and the public
    • Hotels are only allowed to be open for essential workers or Covid-related
    • Bathroom Protocols:
      • Hygiene/sanitation - frequency of bathroom cleaning increased by frequency of use
      • Counting on a culture of adherence
      • Multiple stalls don't need additional separation
    • What’s Allowed, Not Allowed in Restaurants, Stores - County News Center
    • City of San Diego Daily Briefing
      • Reiterated state approval for dining and in-store retail
      • "This is not about getting back to normal, this is about adjusting to the new normal"
      • San Diego Life Sciences industry highlighted. Representatives of Biocom, Sorrento Therapeutics, and Inovio Pharmaceuticals discussed local work on vaccines and therapeutics with promising movement forward to clinical trials. Also huge focus on antibodies, serology testing, and quick testing developed in San Diego. 
      • Viruses mutate and change, but novel coronavirus doesn't seem to mutate in the region that would affect vaccine Inovio has developed
    • Columbia University Study: If social distancing was implemented two weeks sooner, 36,000 lives could have been saved -CBS New York (5.21.2020)

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