San Benito County Supervisor shares letter to Governor requesting different treatment for rural counties

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION) San Benito County Supervisor Jim Gillio shared a letter on social media directed to Gov. Newsom requesting that rural counties get different treatment in terms of COVID-19 response.

Gillio pointed out in the letter that San Benito County's healthcare system has not been overwhelmed, and he said that in the last 14 days, there have been either 0 or 1 new cases. Right now, there is nobody hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment in the county, according to Gillio.

"COVID-19's impact on our state should not be minimized or ignored and are requesting the ability for individualized local inputs, especially in rural areas. It is important that we let the facts lead our decision making. California is too big for a 'one size fits all' approach and Rural California is much different than Urban California," Gillio wrote.

One of the concerns Gillio shared is the spike in unemployment claims in the county and the stressors it has caused.

Read the letter Gillio shared below.

Modoc County, a rural county in Northern California, reopened Friday, despite Newsom's Stay at Home order.