Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. State data released showed the county's unadjusted COVID case rate fell from an average of 80 cases a day per 100,00 population  to 62 cases a day for the week ending Jan. 30. Ventura County officials announced Tuesday that COVID vaccinations have opened up to people 65 and older. COVID-19 has now killed more than 400,000 Americans in less than a year as infections continue to mount across the country. In an email after the meeting, Zimmerman said the county decided it would be difficult to "manage the qualifying factors" in trying to limit vaccinations to people with certain health conditions. People without access to the internet can call 805-477-7161. Last month, very small samples of two COVID-19 mutations were found in an Oxnard sewage study that looks for evidence of the virus in human waste. You will need to register before adding a comment. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255. For the past three months, the COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force has worked to develop a comprehensive vaccination plan which allows the County to begin vaccinations and distribution immediately once the vaccine arrives. COVID-19 Information VenturaCountyRecovers - Official recovery information for COVID-19 and Ventura County Fires COVID-19 Testing Information. AP Domestic. Officials said requests for more vaccines are made constantly to the state. VENTURA COUNTY CORONAVIRUS CASE INFORMATION Updated February 11, 2021. The Small Business Administration has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans of $150,000 or more. COVID-19 testing is available for all residents. He was "generous, kind, loving and cared about his family and our world," she said in an email. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. He said he was told the county has the 12th highest volume of vaccine being administered in California. This interactive map provides a picture of the ranks of the unemployed at the national, state and county level. American waiving change fees amid coronavirus crisis. Stanford Medicine has launched a major surveillance program to track coronavirus variants in the San Francisco Bay Area. It combines data from the World Health Organization, U.S. and European CDCs, and the National Health Commission of China. Coronavirus Unemployment Tracker. Please consider a digital subscription to The Star so we can continue doing this important work. Ventura County Star Today at 12:58 PM Ricardo Ramirez (Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO), "To those who think this isn’t real, I’m a witness to the horrible reality of it,” she said, elaborating on the point in an email. This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you. Ventura County officials are reminding businesses to adhere to social distancing and safety measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.. "That is an excellent, excellent penetration," he said, noting the progress helped trigger the decision to expand eligibility to younger seniors. The county is also vaccinating a wave of people who received their first doses in January and are now due their second doses. He also noted that the entire age group in general is considered at higher risk. "I just want to wake up in the morning and think it was nightmare. Ventura County is now allowing residents 65 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19, officials announced Tuesday. The colored icons on the map below indicate the hospital’s bed occupancy, but do not represent local hospitals surge plans to accommodate more patients. It is free. Check out bed occupancy rate of hospitals. To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs. COVID-19 vaccines began … More than 920,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported elsewhere in California outside Ventura County. A location could be opened later this week at 2340 N. Rose Ave. in Oxnard. It is a self-administered swab to the nose. Levin said the county is still awaiting lab results to determine whether the discovered mutations are indeed the strain that emerged in England. The area's biggest vaccination site, the Ventura County Fairgrounds, is temporarily being used exclusively for second doses. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber. More: Experimental COVID-19 treatment aimed at keeping Ventura County residents out of hospitals. County officials previously said the group next in line for vaccinations would be people 65 to 74 who have health conditions that make them more vulnerable to serious COVID illness. What are the symptoms? We have 100 ways to avoid going stir crazy indoors. The Ventura County Star is your source breaking local news, sports and entertainment news from Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Simi Valley, California. Source: State and county health departments. Ventura County reported its sixth coronavirus-related death this week, less than two weeks after the county reported the first fatality. Another site is expected later this month at 5100 Adolfo Road in Camarillo. Ventura County has been in the purple tier, the worst of the state’s four-color COVID-19 recovery plan since Jan. 25, when the state lifted its most recent regional state-at-home order. 95% of people don't wash their hands correctly. This is your state and county equivalent level look at how many have gotten a dose or doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Experimental COVID-19 treatment aimed at keeping Ventura County residents out of hospitals, https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/, Conejo Valley Unified, teachers union negotiate COVID-19-related stipends for teachers, COVID-19 vaccinations launched for vets at Oxnard Veterans Affairs clinic, Public help sought with body found on Oxnard beach, Former Ventura congressman Robert Lagomarsino dies, Catalytic converter theft crew busted in Fillmore, Young whale spotted in Channel islands Harbor, Two charged in Camarillo hate crime and robbery, Wednesday COVID Update: 155 new cases, 13 deaths, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Ventura County Star View Comments COVID-19 vaccinations are being rolled out at specific CVS Health pharmacies in Ventura, Newbury Park, … As the US passes 400,000 deaths from the coronavirus, a memorial is planned Tuesday in DC. Appointments are directly dependent on vaccine supplies. Vargas reported five more deaths Tuesday linked to the virus, bringing the county's total to 683. This page shows COVID-19 capacity for hospitals in Kern County, Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles County and Ventura County in California. Instead they opened the door to all people in the age group. Previously, Ventura County … It's feared the variant could become the dominant strain in some regions, Levin said, adding it could be 30% more contagious than the Wuhan strain. That rate was still the highest in California. More than 1.2 million of coronavirus have been reported elsewhere in California outside Ventura County. Levin told supervisors that the vaccines are believed to be effective against the UK variant of the virus that is being found in an increasing rate across the state and nation. Zimmerman said Tuesday no more first dose appointments are available for this week. Ventura County Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas told the Board of Supervisors the county's COVID metrics continue to improve. Vaccine supplies could increase. What should I do if I think I have coronavirus? At the Board of Supervisors meeting, she said the death devastated her family. Please make your selection below: Please consider a digital subscription to The Star so we can continue doing this important work. New coronavirus cases increased in 5.4% in California in the latest week ending Saturday as the state added 282,474 cases. We are working closely with Ventura County Public Health Officials to ensure our community receives credible information and guidance during this time. July 2, 2020 – Ventura County Public Health Officer Order – Beach Closures; June 25, 2020 – Ventura County Public Health Department issues modified health order Allows for reopening of additional sectors ; May 29, 2020 – STAY WELL VC Order – Safely Reopening Ventura County shall become effective at 11:59 p.m. on May 29, 2020 And he will still come through my front door to get his mail.". Lab tests on a second cruise ship passenger from Ventura County showed no signs of coronavirus, public health officials said late Friday. Ventura County Star. Read or Share this story: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2021/02/09/people-65-and-older-can-get-vaccination-appointments-ventura-county/4414391001/. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: To see more stories like this, subscribe here . Other sites are planned for Santa Paula, Camarillo, Oxnard and Simi Valley. Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in. There are some outlandish rumors out there. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. 58,497 talking about this. Pipeline problems in delivery of the vaccine from the state to the county continue and will likely mean people may have to wait for vaccination appointments. It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban. Compare the spread of the infection with other areas in the U.S. We debunk the myths. To provide our community with important public safety information, the Ventura County Star is making stories related to the coronavirus free to read. "Variants will inevitably come to Ventura County but the vaccines we have appear to be protective," he said. At the current rate of delivery, it could take 22 weeks to administer two doses to all of the people currently eligible for vaccines, Zimmerman said. Mending California's coronavirus-ravaged economy and fixing the fraud-riddled state unemployment agency are at the top of the to-do list. (Feb. 4) This interactive map provides a picture of the ranks of the unemployed at the national, state and county level. A third vaccine provider, Johnson & Johnson, has applied for vaccine approval and a fourth product, from AstraZeneca, could emerge as well. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255. No appointment needed. Experts recommend that even healthy people should stay inside as the coronavirus outbreak spreads. Has the curve flatten in my town? Officials say the high level of testing is a partial explanation for the high case rate. The county is also slated to transition to the state's My Turn appointment portal on Feb. 22. More: Conejo Valley Unified, teachers union negotiate COVID-19-related stipends for teachers. Please consider a digital subscription to The Star so we can continue doing this important work. As COVID-19 numbers rise in Ventura County, the County prepares to receive 6,800 Pfizer vaccine doses from the California Department of Public Health in mid-December. Twenty new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported by Ventura County public health officials on Saturday, pushing the total to 416 cases so far. Ventura County Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin noted that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has promised a 16% boost in vaccination supplies from the federal government. As COVID-19 mutates in potentially more dangerous forms, the United States is ramping up efforts to detect the new variants. Both mutations are among the many found in the UK strain. This is your state and county equivalent level look at how many have gotten a dose or doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This map is your interactive guide to confirmed cases, recoveries and deaths from the coronavirus around the state, nation and world. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: To see more stories like this, subscribe here. The positivity rate and the number of cases are also falling, said Vargas. They include 696 people in Ventura County as of Wednesday, according to county public health data. The county's COVID testing rate — an average of 800 tests a day per 100,000 people — is among the state's best. A small pilot program involving vaccinating workers at two Santa Clara Valley farms could begin later this week. To provide our community with important public safety information, the Ventura County Star is making stories related to the coronavirus free to read. News, sports, opinions, business and community information for Ventura County According to the Ventura County Star, 15-year-old Braden Michael Wilson of Simi Valley died of coronavirus complications.According to a GoFundMe page established by … becoming a digital subscriber. That changed Tuesday with vaccinations now expanded to all seniors. More slots covering next week are expected to added to the system on Wednesday. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) In the City of Ventura, the health and safety of our community is a priority. Vaccinations are also being offered by pharmacies that are teaming up with the county. Coronavirus news:Experimental COVID-19 treatment aimed at keeping Ventura County residents out of hospitals Eligible veterans include health-care workers, people who have received or … Ventura County's spike in COVID-19 cases continued Thursday with 305 new cases recorded, prompting warnings from public health officials. "We will still have a lot of people we can't serve until we get more vaccine," said Supervisor Kelly Long. He was a 64-year-old retired electrician and an Army veteran who lived on his boat in the Channel Islands Harbor. Use our searchable database to see who received funds. Zimmerman also said it's anticipated the county will move into the next tier of front-line essential workers, including teachers, farmworkers, law enforcement and grocery store workers by the end of March. You have the option of searching only the ventura.org website, or ALL of Ventura County websites. As of Tuesday evening, 2,303,159 Riverside County residents, 2,303,383 San Bernardino County residents and 1,030,683 Ventura County residents had been tested for COVID-19. Supervisor Carmen Ramirez announced at the board meeting that her brother, Ricardo Ramirez, died from the virus. More than 80,000 Ventura County residents ages 65 to 74 can now receive COVID vaccinations but limited supplies of vaccine mean it could take months to protect them all, officials announced Tuesday. At that point, people may be able to make appointments through the end of March, Zimmerman said. Ventura County added 1,373 new COVID-19 cases and 21 new deaths on Friday. Zimmerman said that as of Monday nearly 99,000 doses of vaccine had been administered in the county. The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Ventura County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions. Barry Zimmerman, Ventura County vaccine task force leader, said at a Board of Supervisors meeting that the county had administered the first of two doses to 53% of the area's seniors 75 and older. People can register for appointments at https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/. COVID-19 Hospital Capacity. It's unlikely the mutations have disappeared permanently but the diminished presence is good news, Levin said. The county also continues to add more appointment-only vaccination sites. Ventura County added 653 new COVID-19 cases and 19 new deaths on Friday. You do not need a Facebook profile to participate. Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. Detected cases of the novel coronavirus in Ventura County climbed to 73,618 as of Feb. 8 with 678 people who have succumbed to the illness, officials said. Check out bed occupancy rate of hospitals. Ventura County records 1,139 COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths over weekend Editor's note: The Star is making this story free to readers due to public health concerns related to COVID-19. Editor's note: The Star is making this story free to readers due to public health concerns related to coronavirus. And while some counties opened the vaccination door to all seniors in January, Ventura County officials limited inoculations to a high-risk group that includes health care workers and people 75 and older. Clinic systems that are providing the vaccines at their sites are being asked to give the shots first to seniors who are at the highest risk, Zimmerman said. If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them. "We only get 10,000 maybe 12,000 in a good week," said Zimmerman of the doses delivered. Daily Stats File for February 11, 2021 (Excel Format) CLOSE Editor's note: The Star is making this story free to readers due to public health concerns related to coronavirus. Private clinic systems, including Clinicas del Camino Real and the Community Memorial Centers for Family Health, will also partner with the county to offer vaccinations. Ventura County officials on Wednesday said they are working with the business community to slowly begin reopening the economy, saying they will … Levin said samples taken a week ago from the Oxnard sewage project also showed less evidence of one of the two mutations and no new evidence of the second. Please be polite. The Star's Data Central page has an interactive map … More: COVID-19 vaccinations launched for vets at Oxnard Veterans Affairs clinic. As of Monday, 263 people with COVID required hospital care — down from a peak of 449 in January. The message from Dr. Robert Levin, the county’s public health officer, was grim: Ventura County could see as many as 1,000 people die from COVID-19 … "This buys us a few weeks or maybe months and maybe by then we’ll have given out enough vaccine to make this a moot (point)," Levin said. Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. The shopping list for your own home quarantine kit. Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber. The county now stands at 48,317 total cases and 334 deaths. The county now stands at 69,050 total cases and 598 deaths.