Coronavirus update: MJC is moving to online classes. Other stories and numbers.
Here is the latest on the coronavirus outbreak in and throughout Stanislaus County.
11:20 a.m.: Modesto Junior College is going to online classes through the end of March to keep the virus from getting a foothold on campus. Classes will be suspended Monday and Tuesday for faculty training and students who may need help with technology. Classes through remote instruction are to begin Wednesday. Administrators will reevaluate the situation near the end of March before deciding the next steps.
7 a.m.: Two Downey High School students were exposed to the coronavirus, and two more people in San Joaquin County tested positive for COVID-19, it was announced Thursday night.
No new cases in the area have been immediately reported. Here is a map of the number of positive COVID -19 cases.
Love Modesto, Modesto Marathon, other events off
A number of events and venues are hitting the pause button, like all of the major sports in the United States (here’s a complete list), including The Masters, CNN reported this morning. Making announcements yesterday, and we imagine there will be more today:
- Love Modesto, the annual community volunteer event, postponed its April event until October.
- The Modesto Marathon, scheduled for later this month, was canceled.
- The Gallo Center of the Arts canceled shows through March.
- Stanislaus State and MJC spring sports were suspended. A ruling on high school sports could come early next week.
- Stanislaus State will suspend face-to-face classes next week.
- Local churches are weighing their options. Big Valley Christian will hold services online only.
- Several community events, including the annual Outstanding Women of Stanislaus County lunch, was postponed.
The K-8 Music Festival in Modesto City Schools is suspended. The festival had been scheduled for next week.
Around the State
Washington and Sacramento are providing different sets of numbers on the availability of coronavirus tests in California — and they don’t add up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday it had sent California 69 testing kits for COVID-19, enough to test tens of thousands of people for the coronavirus. But Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s health department said earlier on Thursday that kits had arrived to test only 8,227 residents.
The San Francisco Unified School District called off classes on Thursday. Though no such measures have been taken in Stanislaus County at this point, there are districts in states throughout the country that are shuttering schools.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will close Saturday morning through the end of the month in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health officials’ recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state, company officials said. It came at a time when bands representing many schools were scheduled to play.
Around the world
President Donald Trump has no plans to be tested for the coronavirus at this time, the White House said Thursday after a Brazilian official who was at Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for COVID-19.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will remain in isolation for 14 days after his wife tested positive for coronavirus. Trudeau himself is in good health and isn’t exhibiting any symptoms, his office said in a statement.
Numbers, tests of coronavirus cases
Here are the latest numbers from Stanislaus County as of 7 a.m.:
- Total tested: 32.
- Negative tests: 9
- Pending results: 21
- Positives cases: 2
- Click here to see a map of the number of positive cases in the Northern San Joaquin Region.
We will update this story throughout the day.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 7:09 AM.
