Bay Area

Surge in Virus Deaths Reinforces Need for Recovery Treatment

“The takeaway message to stay vigilant on booster shots and stay focused on our community’s recovery from the pandemic,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, the County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. “Many adults have been in isolation, which can be mentally and physically devastating. Check on your neighbors and relatives, help them see their doctor, catch up on deferred medical care, or find the treatment assistance they need. These factors can be hidden behind closed doors but can be a recipe for severe illness when co-mingled with Omicron or future variants.”

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2022

Oakland Post

Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. Courtesy of Marin County.

Boosters, seeking primary and preventive care or treatment a must

A new analysis of recent local COVID-19 deaths reinforces the need for renewed attention to medical care and recovery treatment, and broader adoption of COVID booster shots.

On Feb. 25, Marin County Public Health’s weekly COVID-19 death report revealed 15 additional deaths, resulting in a total of 24 residents that have died from COVID-19 complications between January and Feb. 12 of this year. While the Omicron variant caused less severe disease than earlier variants, its higher rate of infectivity drove up hospitalization and death rates in Marin. Hospitalization rates were highest among unvaccinated and unboosted residents but were also high for older adults with underlying medical conditions and persons with lifestyle habits that put them at higher risk of adverse outcomes, including death.

“It’s not uncommon to see an increase in deaths linked to a surge,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, the County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. “We generally see a time lag in hospitalization and death rates after a spike in COVID-19 cases. What is different this time around is that the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant raised the death toll higher than past waves. Fortunately, high vaccination and booster rates protected our community from greater losses.”

Of the deaths included in the report, the majority were adults, ages 75 or older, with severe comorbidities or “end of life” from a clinical perspective, meaning they had been on hospice or comfort care over the last three to five months. Deaths are to be expected among this group due to elderly adults having higher risk factors when at the end of their lives. On average, Marin County sees about five “end of life” deaths every day. However, in this situation, the Omicron variant has accelerated the death rate for these vulnerable adults.

Three of the newly reported deaths were among residents under the age of 70 years old who did not have full vaccine protection or had known risk factors. Research has shown that poor COVID outcomes, including hospitalizations and deaths, are linked to lifestyle diseases including obesity, diabetes, smoking, and substance use disorders. Prolonged exposure to modifiable lifestyle behaviors, including smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use damages the immune system and weakens a body’s immune response to infection.

“The takeaway message to stay vigilant on booster shots and stay focused on our community’s recovery from the pandemic,” Santora said. “Many adults have been in isolation, which can be mentally and physically devastating. Check on your neighbors and relatives, help them see their doctor, catch up on deferred medical care, or find the treatment assistance they need. These factors can be hidden behind closed doors but can be a recipe for severe illness when co-mingled with Omicron or future variants.”

Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness due to COVID-19. Over the course of the Omicron surge, COVID-19 case rate among unvaccinated individuals was nearly 4.5 times higher than those who were up to date (boosted). Unvaccinated people were 17 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 and eight times more likely to die of a COVID-related illness. Notably, those who were boosted were nearly 50% less likely to be infected than those who were fully vaccinated.

As of Feb. 25, only 73% of booster-eligible Marin residents have received a booster. Boosters are a critical tool to blunt the force of potential future COVID-19 waves.

Marin County Public Health releases updated COVID-19 death data each Friday and has a two-week lag to account for processing time. Recent deaths and hospitalizations are reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19, with incidental cases removed. View Marin HHS’s COVID-19 Case Disposition dashboard on its COVID-19 surveillance and data webpage.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

7 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”