Santa Barbara County’s COVID-19 cases now total 1,376, including 895 cases from the correctional complex in Lompoc, a federal prison. The northern part of the county continues to be the hardest hit by the virus, with 190 cases in the city of Santa Maria, compared to just 69 case within the city of Santa Barbara. As we have also seen nationally, the virus has had a disproportionate impact on the county’s racial and ethnic minorities. According to a recent presentation by the Santa Barbara Public Health Department, Hispanics make up less than half of the county’s population, but account for over 60% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases. What is the county doing to control the spread of the virus? Are their efforts to flatten the curve working? What is being done to assist the Latino community to prevent virus spread, access health care and care for basic needs?
Join host Fred Munroe in conversation with Santa Barbara County's public health director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso, as well as two people involved with the Immigrant Health Rapid Response Task Force—Dr. Melissa Smith, director of Health Equity Initiatives at UC Santa Barbara and interim coordinator of the Immigrant Health Rapid Response Task Force (IHRRTF), and Patty Herrera, manager of community health at the Northern California Central Coast Division Dignity Health— about the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 in racial and ethnic minority groups, and what is being done to prevent the spread of the virus amongst the Central Coast Latino community, as well as removing barriers to testing and treatment for those who have been affected.
Broadcast date: 5/14/20
Central Coast Voices is sponsored by ACTION for Healthy Communities in collaboration with KCBX and made possible through underwriting by Joan Gellert-Sargen.
