Coronavirus update, May 16: Stanislaus deaths at 24; Modesto gears for budget cuts
Here is the latest on the coronavirus pandemic as it relates to Stanislaus County:
Latest facts on COVID-10 testing in Modesto area
Stanislaus County announced its 24th death to the coronavirus Friday. No detail was provided other than that the person was 50 or older, as were the other 23.
Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center had no update Friday. A day earlier, it reported that resident deaths rose from 14 to 16.
A total of 544 people in the county have tested positive for the virus. Another 8,957 tested negative. The number of people hospitalized at some point is at 102, and 412 are presumed to be recovered.
The positivity rate is at 6.1%, down from 6.3% the day before.
Among the five county hospitals as of Friday, 51% of total beds are available, 42% of intensive care unit beds are available, and 79% of ventilators are available.
Of those who tested positive, 54% are female and 46% male. Seven percent are 20 or younger, 15% are 21 to 30, 14% are 31 to 40, 18% are 41 to 50, 16% are 51 to 60, 9% are 61 to 70, 8% are 71 to 80, 9% are 81 to 90, and 4% are older than 90.
Turlock has 168 positive cases, 138 are in Modesto, 68 are in Ceres, 45 are in Patterson, 14 are in Riverbank, 12 are in Newman, eight are in Waterford, seven are in Oakdale, and seven are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 28 are in supervisorial District 5, 20 in District 3, 20 in District 2, seven in District 1 and fewer than five in District 4.
- San Joaquin County has 31 COVID-19-related deaths among 659 cases.
- Merced County reported its fifth and sixth deaths Friday. One was a woman between 50 and 65 with no underlying health conditions. The other was a woman over 65 with an underlying condition. Positive tests reached 200.
- Tuolumne County has two cases and no deaths.
- Mariposa County reported its first death Friday, a resident who had been discharged from the Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center last month. Cases stand at 15.
As of Saturday morning, there were 76,942 confirmed cases in California and 3,153 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University. There were 1,444,870 U.S. cases and 87,568 deaths.
Here is the state tracker.
City of Modesto is looking at furloughs, layoffs
City officials in Modesto are considering not filling two dozen open public safety jobs as well as furloughs and layoffs citywide to balance a budget ravaged by the new coronavirus pandemic. Read Kevin Valine’s story.
Sorting out stay-home orders
Some residents in Stanislaus County have asked for clarification of coronavirus stay-at-home orders that are still in effect. Read Ken Carlson’s story.
Campus closures have one advantage
What learning will look like when Modesto City Schools starts its next academic year in August remains very much up in the air. One thing for sure, though, is how a good number of campuses will look when kids return: better. Read Deke Farrow’s story.
Another kind of sanctuary city
Atwater residents gave City Council a standing ovation and cheers Friday when they unanimously passed a resolution to make Atwater a sanctuary city for all businesses to open amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read the story.
An appeal to Bee readers
The Modesto Bee is seeking donations to help cover the cost of reporting on the coronavirus pandemic and the challenge ahead for the local economy. Read Editor Brian Clark’s message.
Around California, United States, world
In reporting a $1.08 billion loss Thursday for its first quarter, Sacramento-based Sutter Health laid out in striking detail the cost for health care providers as they confronted a disease of pandemic proportions. Read the story.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has fast-tracked a coronavirus vaccine being developed by biotech firm Moderna. Read the story.
