••• “A positive COVID-19 patient was tested in Ventura County yesterday, one of six Venturans who had been passengers aboard the Grand Princess. […] The patient’s spouse was also on the cruise and is not showing symptoms. Among the four other passengers, one has mild symptoms, Ventura County officials said. The initial patient had not felt well since coming off the ship and had remained home, only leaving to visit the doctor. The doctor had the patient stay in the car and provide a specimen at the curb to limit possible exposure.” —Independent
••• “On March 24, the Grand Princess cruise ship […] is scheduled to arrive in Santa Barbara. It’s unknown if this ship will still continue with its scheduled trip to the area.” —Edhat
••• “Banning big ships is not so simple. Cruise ships in Santa Barbara contribute almost $4 million to the economy. Passengers’ reported spending averages $110 per party, according to a 2016 Visit Santa Barbara survey, the most recent commissioned by the tourism promotion group. ‘As of right now the city will continue cruise ship visits,’ said [Mayor Cathy Murillo]. […] The county’s Public Health Department and the city’s new waterfront director, Mike Wiltshire, backed the mayor up, stating on Tuesday that cruise ship standards regarding COVID-19 include ‘denying boarding to passengers who have traveled from countries of concern, as well as increased screening procedures.'” —Independent
••• “‘We have zero cases of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County,’ explained Santa Barbara County deputy director of Community Health Paige Batson. While county officials said there are zero confirmed cases, they said county officials were notified of 43 individuals who traveled from China. All but three have cleared so far and officials expect the other three to be cleared as well.” —KEYT
••• “Santa Barbara County is close to launching, perhaps early next week, a new website dedicated to public information on coronavirus. Anyone seeking information about the novel coronavirus can call the information line at 805.681.4373 to hear a recorded message about the status of the outbreak and more.” —Noozhawk
••• “Smart shoppers are avoiding the massive crowds and wiped out shelves at the biggest stores in their cities, and stopping in to the neighborhood markets to find what they need during the current wave of virus concerns. Foodland on Santa Barbara’s Westside has seen brisk sales but has many of the products other stores can’t get this week. That includes hand wipes, toilet paper, bottled water, and soap products.” —KEYT
••• “A giraffe and leopard will be leaving the Santa Barbara Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan.” But “the Santa Barbara Zoo is also expecting the birth of two giraffe calves” and the leopard “will be paired with a different female leopard in Indiana and the Santa Barbara Zoo will welcome a new male leopard from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.” —KEYT
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