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Sacramento’s Top Health Official To Resign Amid Record Breaking Coronavirus Case Surge

  •  Nick Miller 
  •  Scott Rodd 
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sacramento County Health Director Dr. Peter Beilenson addresses reporters about coronavirus at the Sacramento County administration building on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sacramento’s top health official is resigning as the COVID-19 pandemic’s grip on California tightens, with new cases reaching unprecedented numbers this week.

Dr. Peter Beilenson, who has helped lead Sacramento County’s coronavirus response, says his decision to resign has “nothing to do with the stress of the job.”

“We have two overlapping family emergencies that are hitting at the same time that require me to go back to Baltimore,” Beilenson told CapRadio. “I’ve been a public health official for 30 years. … I’ve had death threats multiple times, and you just let them go over your head.” 

Beilenson’s departure, which was first reported by The Sacramento Bee, comes amid a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases in Sacramento County. More than 1,000 new cases were reported on Tuesday, which was twice the number recorded the day before, and the positivity rate for individuals tested is approaching 10%, one of the highest rates in California.

A number of public health leaders have retired or resigned since the pandemic’s onset, due to a variety of factors, including stress and also possible disagreement with elected officials over policy. 

Beilenson’s announcement also comes after he faced criticism for referring to Asian people as “yellow folks” during a board of supervisors meeting last month, a term considered by many to be a racist slur.

He was also criticized for not urging county leadership to direct more federal coronavirus stimulus funding toward public health after it was revealed more than $100 million went to the sheriff’s department.

Last week, Beilenson had spoken out against Sheriff Scott Jones for accepting the federal aid but refusing to enforce state and local coronavirus restrictions. “It's really outrageous that they're not taking part in doing that and getting funded at the same time,” he told CapRadio.

Jones, who tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, defended his office’s approach.

“My position on enforcing Covid restrictions ... has remained one of education rather than enforcement,” Jones wrote in an emailed statement last week.

All this is during a moment of turmoil at the county, where its top executive, CEO Nav Gill, is being accused of sexism and bullying by former employees, including several other public health leaders. Gill is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into his alleged misconduct. 

This fall, Gill also oversaw a large, indoor county staff meeting, where an estimated 50 people attended and a majority did not wear masks. Beilenson was criticized for not urging stronger caution against such a gathering.

Beilenson says he has faith in the county’s public health leadership. “I’m leaving at a time when I have great trust and confidence in Dr. [Olivia] Kasirye, who is our public health director,” he said. 

His last day will be Dec. 22.


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    More about Coronavirus

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    Coronavirus In California: Latest Updates And Resources

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    Wednesday, November 18, 2020
    The vote comes a day after members of the public demanded Sacramento County CEO Nav Gill be fired during a board meeting. Last month two supervisors asked Gill to resign after he held an indoor meeting with county staff, many not wearing masks.
  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

    Sacramento’s Top Health Official Refers To Asian Americans As ‘Yellow Folks’

    Tuesday, November 17, 2020
    County Health Director Dr. Peter Beilenson says he made “a significant mistake” when he used the slur at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, when supporting a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis.

 Coronavirus

Nick Miller

Managing Editor, News and Information

Nick Miller is an award-winning editor with more than 15 years of newsroom experience. Previously he was editor-in-chief of the East Bay Express in Oakland, and worked as an editor for 12 years at the Sacramento News & Review.  Read Full Bio 

 @NickMiller510 Email Nick Miller

Scott Rodd

State Government Reporter

Scott Rodd previously covered government and legal affairs for the Sacramento Business Journal. Prior to the Business Journal, Scott worked as a freelance reporter in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.  Read Full Bio 

 @SRodd_CPR Email Scott Rodd

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