Doctor Mase:
First of all, I want to acknowledge how hard it must be to decide what measures to take to protect those at risk of dying from COVID-19. Secondly, I believe that you are taking what you believe to be the best measures.
With that in mind, there are many questions I have that I believe others share:
Is there evidence of someone being infected by SARS-Co-V-2 while outdoors? And if that evidence exists, how high is the risk? Is there evidence that people at the beaches on the weekend of March 21 and 22, 2020 were not maintaining social distance? Some of those who were there say that people were in fact doing so. What rationale exists for closing all parks in your March 23 Order? Why were steps not taken to enforce social distancing first before the shutdown?
As of April 29, 2020 at 8:30 p.m., in Sonoma County there have been a total of 232 known cases of coronavirus infection with 25 hospitalizations and two deaths. Also, I have personally heard case after case of people being turned away from testing because their symptoms were too mild, and although that is merely anecdotal evidence, it does beg the question: Where is the evidence that our County is not already nearing herd immunity? The low numbers of confirmed cases seem very unexpected: In our County (as opposed to a densely populated area like New York City with lots of indoor spaces where people congregate) is this virus less easily spread? Is it less virulent than previously thought?
Slowing the spread and containing the virus is one way of looking at the situation, one story. There are other lenses to look through, such as considering individual immune function. One question I have had all along is why are so many people in the high risk categories? Does the Sonoma County Health Officer have plans to study individual immunity and recommendations regarding that?
Another lens is to consider the other needs of the population. While we are learning about the coronavirus, we are simultaneously taking part in an experiment in widespread social isolation. How is the Health Officer planning to address the emotional, mental, and physical stress brought about by this experiment? Having the Warm Line for people under emotional stress and anxiety is a small beginning.
The negative emotional and mental effects of the Health Officer’s orders as well as the lack of lucid explanation for the orders leaves me wondering what the plan is for our County. No clear rationale has been presented for the measures of sheltering in place and closing the parks while the length of time of these Orders is open for further extension. Specifically, were other strategies considered, and why were these rejected? Would the strategy have been different if California had not dismantled its pandemic preparation in 2008 and onward?
Further, given the slow and steady increase of confirmed cases and lack of widespread testing, how will we know when it is safe to lift the sheltering in place? Are we waiting for the approximately 50% immunity that conveys herd immunity? How will we know when that has arrived? What exactly is the plan? Once sheltering in place is lifted, when will those at high risk be safe to leave their houses? Without information, citizens are left guessing. While I understand that all of us are learning as we go, why has the Health Officer not explained to the citizens of Sonoma County clearly what her plan is?
Lastly, I believe that the Health Officer needs the trust of her population, and she needs to also trust her population. A good way to begin to build mutual trust would be to open up all parks while maintaining social distancing protocols within them if necessary. (I do appreciate the recent slight amendment of the parks closure to allow those who live close enough to bike or walk.) A second way would be to explain decisions she has made. Instead of saying something has been enacted to “slow the spread” of coronavirus or “to save lives,” please clearly show why those decisions are necessary. Please consider other possible plans and why those have been rejected, and take into account the needs of the population as a whole.
Sincerely,
Joseph P. Young
Santa Rosa
Acknowledgments: All those mentioned in my other article “We’re All Gonna Die!” as well as Rose Conner, Gail Hartman, Tanna Jordan, Michael McCarthy, and Nick for talking about this issue, which is not saying they agree with me at all. An extra thank you to Cliff Bernzweig and Thomas Young again for discussing things in great detail.
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