COVID-19 infections persist in Stanislaus County as the Labor Day weekend approaches

The COVID-19 virus is spreading in Stanislaus County and could be an unwanted guest in households Labor Day weekend.

A small surge of COVID-19 cases began in August and has gained some steam.

Kamlesh Kaur, a spokeswoman for the county Public Health division, said test positivity in the county was 12.7% as of Aug. 22. It was 10.1% the previous week.

Health agencies are collecting less data today compared to when the pandemic was raging and local hospitals were packed with patients.

Kaur said the positivity rate is based on COVID tests done at physician offices and hospitals. Many people with symptoms don’t get tested or use an at-home kit, she said.

Modesto is part of a program that monitors wastewater for evidence of COVID-19 transmission. Modesto’s average wastewater detection level for all variants quadrupled from Aug. 9 to Aug. 24, according to the Healthy Central Valley Together Program. Turlock’s reading tripled during that same period.

A state dashboard said hospitals in Stanislaus County had 43 new patient admissions for COVID-19. Hospitals in California were caring for 1,438 total patients with COVID-19 as of Aug. 19, according to the most recent state data, an increase of about 200 patients from the previous week.

County health officials are asking residents to gather safely over the weekend in well-ventilated areas, as a precaution to protect people who are more vulnerable to a serious case of COVID-19.

Those coming down with symptoms should be tested and should stay away from others, Kaur said. Those testing positive should isolate themselves for five days.

This story was originally published August 30, 2023 at 10:37 AM.

Ken Carlson

The Modesto Bee

209-578-2321

Ken Carlson covers county government and health care for The Modesto Bee. His coverage of public health, medicine, consumer health issues and the business of health care has appeared in The Bee for 15 years.