[Goose]

Some of the people living in the most infected zip codes are essential workers in wealthier zip codes.  This may result inn the virus moving back and forth between these areas. While the rate of cases in northern SCC is well below San Jose and South County, the rate of infection has been increasing rapidly in Palo Alto as well recently.

Makes sense. I’m not suggesting these are easy issues. Far from it. I know there are things we can and should all do to make things better etc. But I also think that looking at the reality of the situation demographically is important and figuring out ways to tone down hotspots in lower income areas is no easy task. I don’t know if it’s something government - at the local or even state level can handle.  And certainly it’s not something the federal government can handle across 50 states and tens of thousands of counties cities etc. So moving forward looking at creative ways to deal with these issues I think is important.  If not for this pandemic then for the next one. And how local business interests can help to me is one thing to look at. They have an invested interest after all

I think it is instructive to read https://www.smchealth.org/health-officer...-statement. As is pointed out there, many of the people in these essential workers category "...live with lack of trust in, and in fact have downright fear of, government." Therefore, solutions eminating from the government probably will be totally ineffective. It appears to be a catch-22. I am inquiring what San Mateo County is doing to address this problem. I know they at one time had hotel space for people who couldn't isolate. Beyond that, I don't know, but I am trying to find out. Certainly whatever it is does not appear to be working based on the numbers shown on the dashboard before they took them down.

I understand what he saying and agree with some of it but I really question whether that’s his function.
In fact, I don’t question it.  It is way beyond his function.  If he wants to be a social justice warrior for economic theory then so be it. But that’s not his function. As a healthcare director. He should act like one.

I agree that his "social commentary" was out of place, IMHO. I suspect Scott Morrow went off on a bit of a rant because he is horribly frustrated that much of the tracking and tracing work his department has been doing is useless because people won't cooperate. However, in terms of the point he made about the "essential workers" being the "majority" (no percentage given, why not?) of his COVID-19 positives and further that he was not getting isolation and quarantine cooperation from them IS his function, and he has been more direct about this situation than anybody else I have seen in the Bay Area. I give him lots of credit for that. Unfortunately, he hasn't stated what should be done to obtain that cooperation. His statement about not trusting government and actually fearing it makes it hard to believe SMCHealth has a plan to fix the problem. I too have plenty of "social commentary" about the entire situation, but it helps nothing right now. What is needed is a plan that has some hope of working.

[Goose]

Some of the people living in the most infected zip codes are essential workers in wealthier zip codes.  This may result inn the virus moving back and forth between these areas. While the rate of cases in northern SCC is well below San Jose and South County, the rate of infection has been increasing rapidly in Palo Alto as well recently.

Makes sense. I’m not suggesting these are easy issues. Far from it. I know there are things we can and should all do to make things better etc. But I also think that looking at the reality of the situation demographically is important and figuring out ways to tone down hotspots in lower income areas is no easy task. I don’t know if it’s something government - at the local or even state level can handle.  And certainly it’s not something the federal government can handle across 50 states and tens of thousands of counties cities etc. So moving forward looking at creative ways to deal with these issues I think is important.  If not for this pandemic then for the next one. And how local business interests can help to me is one thing to look at. They have an invested interest after all

I think it is instructive to read https://www.smchealth.org/health-officer...-statement. As is pointed out there, many of the people in these essential workers category "...live with lack of trust in, and in fact have downright fear of, government." Therefore, solutions eminating from the government probably will be totally ineffective. It appears to be a catch-22. I am inquiring what San Mateo County is doing to address this problem. I know they at one time had hotel space for people who couldn't isolate. Beyond that, I don't know, but I am trying to find out. Certainly whatever it is does not appear to be working based on the numbers shown on the dashboard before they took them down.

I understand what he saying and agree with some of it but I really question whether that’s his function.
In fact, I don’t question it.  It is way beyond his function.  If he wants to be a social justice warrior for economic theory then so be it. But that’s not his function. As a healthcare director. He should act like one.

I agree that his "social commentary" was out of place, IMHO. I suspect Scott Morrow went off on a bit of a rant because he is horribly frustrated that much of the tracking and tracing work his department has been doing is useless because people won't cooperate. However, in terms of the point he made about the "essential workers" being the "majority" (no percentage given, why not?) of his COVID-19 positives and further that he was not getting isolation and quarantine cooperation from them IS his function, and he has been more direct about this situation than anybody else I have seen in the Bay Area. I give him lots of credit for that. Unfortunately, he hasn't stated what should be done to obtain that cooperation. His statement about not trusting government and actually fearing it makes it hard to believe SMCHealth has a plan to fix the problem. I too have plenty of "social commentary" about the entire situation, but it helps nothing right now. What is needed is a plan that has some hope of working.