••• “There are now 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County. Of the 32 cases, 8 are in Santa Maria, 2 are in Santa Ynez Valley, 5 are in Orcutt, 1 is in Lompoc, 11 are in Santa Barbara, and 5 additional cases are listed as other in ‘South County.'” —KEYT UPDATE 3/28: As of Friday afternoon, the number had risen to 47.
••• Ventura County, meanwhile, has 61 cases. —KEYT
••• “Santa Barbara County expects at least a $3 million hit to its tax revenues this year, and additional financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of response costs and market impacts to the Santa Barbara County Employees’ Retirement System. Closures of hotels, restaurants and retail will affect sales tax and transient occupancy tax revenues, and the statewide executive order to stay at home will also have an effect on gas taxes.” And the $3 million number is expected to increase. —Noozhawk
••• “Sansum Clinic, one of Santa Barbara County’s largest health providers, is furloughing half of its non-physician employees, including support and administrative staff, due to a significant decrease in patient visits, and the cancellation of elective surgeries, CEO/President Dr. Kurt Ransohoff said Thursday. The decision will affect about 500 employees for eight weeks.” —Noozhawk
••• Dentists are struggling. —Noozhawk
••• “All marriage licenses and wedding ceremonies performed by the [Santa Barbara Count] Clerk-Recorder staff are canceled until further notice, and they aren’t accepting new marriage reservations.” —Noozhawk
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