Coronavirus update, April 24: Outbreak at Turlock facility; Stanislaus fair cancels
Here is the latest on the coronavirus pandemic as it relates to Stanislaus County:
Latest facts on COVID-19 tests in Modesto area
Stanislaus County has five deaths among the 264 people who have tested positive for the virus as of Friday. Another 3,979 tested negative. Sixty people have been hospitalized, and 187 have recovered.
Of those who tested positive, 142 are male and 122 female. Thirteen are 17 or younger, 140 are between 18 and 49, 68 are between 50 and 64, and 43 are 65 or older.
Modesto has 93 of the positive cases, 48 are in unincorporated areas, 31 are in Ceres, 28 are in Patterson, 27 are in Turlock, 11 are in Riverbank, nine are in Newman, seven are in Waterford, five are in Oakdale, and five are in Hughson.
- San Joaquin County has 24 COVID-19-related deaths among 495 cases.
- Merced County is at 102 cases, with three deaths. Of those who tested positive, 56 are female and 46 male. Three are 17 or younger, 65 are between 18 and 49, 23 are between 50 and 64, and 11 are 65 or older. The cities where a breakdown was provided include Los Banos with 36 cases, Merced with 18, Delhi with 11 and Gustine and Atwater with seven.
- Tuolumne County has two cases and no deaths.
- Mariposa County has no cases.
As of Friday evening, there were 41,338 confirmed cases in California and 1,618 deaths, according to the Los Angeles Times. There were 902,582 U.S. cases and 46,254 deaths, according to the New York Times.
Here is the state tracker.
Employees, workeres test positive in Turlock
Several employees and residents at the Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the facility website and an employee. Read John Holland’s story.
Stanislaus County Fair won’t happen
The Stanislaus County Fair announced Friday that it will not happen this year, after holding out hope that it could beat the coronavirus. Read John Holland’s story.
Porchfest gets new format
While the annual Modesto Porchfest, originally set for May 17, has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the music will play on – inside homes instead of outside. Read Pat Clark’s story.
Harder boosts mask supply
U.S. Rep. Josh Harder donated 30,000 surgical masks and 2,000 face shields to the Stanislaus County and San Joaquin County Offices of Emergency Services on Friday. Read Julian A. Lopez’s story.
Another $0 bail suspect
A man who Modesto Police said was recently released from jail when his bail was dropped to $0 under a new statewide emergency rule was arrested again on Thursday when $13,000 in stolen tools and equipment was found at his home, authorities said. Read Erin Tracy’s story.
Time is now to rethink education
As a retired Modesto City Schools high school teacher, I wince when I read some of our leaders state or imply that our K-12 students will still get a high quality education online in the remaining few weeks. Read Dennis Flores’ guest opinion.
Around the San Joaquin Valley, California, U.S.
The first round of paper stimulus checks was mailed out Friday, but many Americans will wait months more for their money to arrive.
Could California soon be reaching a point where Gov. Gavin Newsom loosens the state stay-at-home order? The governor seemed to indicate so at the end of his Friday coronavirus emergency press conference.
The 2020 California State Fair was canceled Friday, the latest big event on Sacramento’s entertainment calendar to fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill Friday to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 Americans and devastated broad swaths of the economy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors against prescribing a malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus outside of hospitals or research settings.
