Bay Area

Surge in Virus Deaths Reinforces Need for Recovery Treatment

“The takeaway message to stay vigilant on booster shots and stay focused on our community’s recovery from the pandemic,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, the County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. “Many adults have been in isolation, which can be mentally and physically devastating. Check on your neighbors and relatives, help them see their doctor, catch up on deferred medical care, or find the treatment assistance they need. These factors can be hidden behind closed doors but can be a recipe for severe illness when co-mingled with Omicron or future variants.”

Published

4 years ago

March 6, 2022

Oakland Post

Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. Courtesy of Marin County.

Boosters, seeking primary and preventive care or treatment a must

A new analysis of recent local COVID-19 deaths reinforces the need for renewed attention to medical care and recovery treatment, and broader adoption of COVID booster shots.

On Feb. 25, Marin County Public Health’s weekly COVID-19 death report revealed 15 additional deaths, resulting in a total of 24 residents that have died from COVID-19 complications between January and Feb. 12 of this year. While the Omicron variant caused less severe disease than earlier variants, its higher rate of infectivity drove up hospitalization and death rates in Marin. Hospitalization rates were highest among unvaccinated and unboosted residents but were also high for older adults with underlying medical conditions and persons with lifestyle habits that put them at higher risk of adverse outcomes, including death.

“It’s not uncommon to see an increase in deaths linked to a surge,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, the County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. “We generally see a time lag in hospitalization and death rates after a spike in COVID-19 cases. What is different this time around is that the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant raised the death toll higher than past waves. Fortunately, high vaccination and booster rates protected our community from greater losses.”

Of the deaths included in the report, the majority were adults, ages 75 or older, with severe comorbidities or “end of life” from a clinical perspective, meaning they had been on hospice or comfort care over the last three to five months. Deaths are to be expected among this group due to elderly adults having higher risk factors when at the end of their lives. On average, Marin County sees about five “end of life” deaths every day. However, in this situation, the Omicron variant has accelerated the death rate for these vulnerable adults.

Three of the newly reported deaths were among residents under the age of 70 years old who did not have full vaccine protection or had known risk factors. Research has shown that poor COVID outcomes, including hospitalizations and deaths, are linked to lifestyle diseases including obesity, diabetes, smoking, and substance use disorders. Prolonged exposure to modifiable lifestyle behaviors, including smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use damages the immune system and weakens a body’s immune response to infection.

“The takeaway message to stay vigilant on booster shots and stay focused on our community’s recovery from the pandemic,” Santora said. “Many adults have been in isolation, which can be mentally and physically devastating. Check on your neighbors and relatives, help them see their doctor, catch up on deferred medical care, or find the treatment assistance they need. These factors can be hidden behind closed doors but can be a recipe for severe illness when co-mingled with Omicron or future variants.”

Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness due to COVID-19. Over the course of the Omicron surge, COVID-19 case rate among unvaccinated individuals was nearly 4.5 times higher than those who were up to date (boosted). Unvaccinated people were 17 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 and eight times more likely to die of a COVID-related illness. Notably, those who were boosted were nearly 50% less likely to be infected than those who were fully vaccinated.

As of Feb. 25, only 73% of booster-eligible Marin residents have received a booster. Boosters are a critical tool to blunt the force of potential future COVID-19 waves.

Marin County Public Health releases updated COVID-19 death data each Friday and has a two-week lag to account for processing time. Recent deaths and hospitalizations are reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19, with incidental cases removed. View Marin HHS’s COVID-19 Case Disposition dashboard on its COVID-19 surveillance and data webpage.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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5 days ago

March 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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2 weeks ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

3 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.