Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County reports new case, businesses told to comply
Stanislaus County reported another confirmed case of coronavirus infection.
According to a county public health notification Wednesday, a woman tested positive for the coronavirus, pushing the total to 12 cases in the county.
Merced County reported a new case and now has two.
The total number of confirmed infections is a sign the coronavirus is spreading. In response to public calls for broader testing, Stanislaus County health officials have said test supplies are limited and the priority for testing are hospitalized patients and people in nursing homes. The test results help doctors know how to treat patients in the hospital and whether nurses need to wear protective equipment around them.
Testing also determines if a nursing home resident should be isolated so that others are not infected in the facility, said county spokesman Royjindar Singh.
In addition, the 20 percent hospitalization rate for COVID-19 can be used as a baseline for estimating the spread of coronavirus in the community.
Enforcement against nonessential businesses
In a Facebook update Tuesday, Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse asked residents to report nonessential businesses that remain open and serve customers in disregard of a statewide order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many industries in sectors like communications, finance, government services, energy, construction, water and food and agriculture are exempt from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state-at-home order issued last week.
But local authorities hear complaints that some “nonessential” businesses are still operating. The county has played an educational role in advising those businesses to close temporarily, switch to curbside service or have employees work at home.
“We’re moving more into an enforcement role,” Dirkse said during Tuesday’s update on the Stanemergency.org Facebook. Top county officials had previously said Newsom’s stay-home order was too ambiguous to enforce.
Dirkse said enforcement action will begin with a call to the business, followed by additional steps if there’s no compliance. The email address for reporting apparent violations is: HSA-COVID-19info@schsa.org.
Dirkse said more than 50 reports have been received since the address was posted. The reports are forwarded to state regulatory agencies, the county or the appropriate city.
Social distancing
In other updates:
-- People should be more conscious of social distancing at parks that are still in use. Walking the dog is OK. But groups playing basketball or other games create an opportunity for spreading the mild to severe respiratory illness.
-- Local agencies are planning for additional medical treatment facilities for “our at risk” communities if needed. There is no current need for additional facilities, but officials are planning for the contingency.
Singh said the former county hospital facilities on Scenic Drive in Modesto possibly could be revamped for coronavirus patients if regular hospitals are overwhelmed.
The county is also exploring whether hotel facilities could be used for isolating homeless people who are sick with COVID-19 symptoms. The state is making funding available.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County reports new case, businesses told to comply."
