••• “The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Santa Barbara County remains at nine, officials announced Friday. But based on the timing and transmission methods of known infections―and the predicted disbursement of unknown cases―it has become clear, ‘We now have widespread community infection,’ said Public Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg. ‘We can no longer hope Santa Barbara will be spared by this virus.’ Testing kits are still in short supply and the turnaround time for results remains slow. More than 200 local test results are pending.” —Independent
••• According to reporter Tyler Hayden, who wrote the above article, Santa Barbara has just 907 hospital beds.
••• The Four Seasons Biltmore has closed. —KEYT
••• So has the Ojai Valley Inn. —Edible Santa Barbara
••• “Cottage Health announced that it has installed triage tents in parking lots outside its emergency rooms, stationed nurses and health-care workers at hospital entrances to screen potential patients for Covid related symptoms, and has postponed many elective procedures [….] Cottage declined to comment on unconfirmed reports that two medical professionals may have been infected. […] In order to minimize risk of further exposure, Cottage has recently terminated all visits to the hospital except in a few cases.” —Independent
••• “Santa Barbara Airbus to Suspend LAX Shuttle Service Due to Coronavirus.” —Noozhawk
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