Tri-counties each have coronavirus cases as stocks continue slide
All three of the Tri-Counties now have confirmed cases of the coronavirus and the rapid spread of the disease prompted state and federal officials over the weekend to suggest banning gatherings of more than 50 people and closing bars, tap rooms and wineries.
In Ventura County, the first of the three counties to report an active case, four more people were presumed to be positive for coronavirus after initial testing came back positive March 13. Of those cases is in question, as the 8-year-old was later retested and found negative.
In Santa Barbara County, there is only one confirmed case so far: a resident in their 60s with no history of traveling in the past six weeks. Because of the lack of history, this case is also being considered the first cases of community transmission in the county.
In San Luis Obispo, two confirmed cases were announced over the weekend. San Luis Obispo County Health Officer Penny Borenstein said both cases are from community transmission.
Public health officials in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties said they are reaching out to people who may have come in contact with the confirmed cases, including friends, family members and health care professionals.
Those people will be monitored and tested for coronavirus, if needed.
To slow the spread of coronavirus through the country, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has recommended people limit gathering in groups of 50 or more for the next eight weeks.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 15 asked all Californians over the age of 65 to isolate themselves from others, and said all residents with underlying health issues — such as problems like blood disorders, recent pregnancies and compromised immune systems — should do the same.
Newsom also called for the closure of all bars, wineries, nightclubs and brewpubs. He didn’t put the same restrictions on restaurants, but said they could only serve half as many of their regular occupants.
More closures, restrictions and guidance are expected to come as city, county and state officials learn more about the spread of the disease.
Tri-County stocks continued their slide March 16, dipping another 4.5 percent as of 10:30 a.m., with Westlake Village-based PennyMac Financial Services leading the fall, down 22 percent.
Software firms The Trade Desk and AppFolio fell 17 percent and 15 percent respectively. Thousand Oaks drug development firm Arcutis Biotherapeutics fell 16.5 percent.
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust was not far behind, with a 16.2 percent drop, and LTC properties declined 14 percent.
Regional biotech giant Amgen fell 2.6 percent to $196.90, with declines for other regional biotech firms including Atara Biotherapeutics, MannKind and GT Biopharma.
Among high-end consumer goods manufacturers, Santa Barbara speaker maker Sonos fell 14 percent to $7.26 and Goleta footwear and apparel company Deckers fell 11.4 percent to $114.88.
Interlink Electronics continued to climb despite the market declines, gaining a penny to reach $4.26. Goleta-based Resonant had gained 8.7 percent, following earnings results that surpassed analyst estimates.
Community West Bancshares gained 5 percent to $8.13.
