Following passage of a resolution by the Placer County Board of Supervisors declaring an end of the local health emergency associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, County Public Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson has decided to resign.
"(The) action by the Placer County Board of Supervisors made it clear that I can no longer effectively serve in my role as Placer County Health Officer and Public Health Director," Sisson said in her letter of resignation.
She'll remain on the job until September 25th to ensure a smooth transition for her successor.
"Over the past seven months with Dr. Sisson's leadership, Placer County has succeeded in limiting the spread of COVID-19, leaving us well positioned to continue safely reopening our economy while still taking necessary precautions," said Placer County Executive Officer Todd Leopold. "We wish her the best in her future endeavors."
The County's resolution acknowledges that California's state of emergency and Department of Public Health orders, directives, and guidance remain in full effect in Placer County, but the supervisors are using it to publicly express concern that the state is mischaracterizing the impact of the virus specifically in Placer County. They claim the state's framework for measuring COVID-19 harms the County's economic, health, mental, and social well-being.
"We cannot continue to keep our community shut down for some unknown amount of time as determined by the ever-changing metrics according to the governor," said Board Chair and District 1 Supervisor Bonnie Gore. "Health emergency declarations are obligated to be terminated at the earliest possible date that the conditions warrant and, based on the number of COVID-19 cases in our county, there is no longer a health emergency with regards to COVID-19 in Placer County."
County officials are urging residents to continue practicing safety measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and to remember that the state emergency and orders are still in effect.
"If we look at this based on facts, we currently do not have a health emergency in Placer County," said District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. "I agree with ending the emergency based on the statistics that we have in front of us."
Gustafson said there's been a lot of the politicization of the virus. She added that there's still a need to protect the most vulnerable in Placer County.