Coronavirus update, June 18: Stanislaus to mandate face coverings; checkpoint adapts
Here is the latest on the coronavirus outbreak from in and around Modesto and Stanislaus County.
Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area
Stanislaus County deaths to the coronavirus remained at 35 on Wednesday. Positive tests are at 1,322, according to the county Health Services Agency. Another 19,942 residents have tested negative. The positivity rate was 6.2%, unchanged from the day before.
The number of people hospitalized at some point is at 177, and 958 are presumed to be recovered. The daily hospitalized count of confirmed patients was 50, up from 43 the day before.
Among the five county hospitals, 48% of total beds are available, 48% of intensive care unit beds are available, and 85% of ventilators are available.
Of those who tested positive, 55% are female and 45% male. Thirteen percent are 20 or younger, 19% are 21 to 30, 19% are 31 to 40, 17% are 41 to 50, 13% are 51 to 60, 8% are 61 to 70, 5% are 71 to 80, 5% are 81 to 90, and 2% are older than 90.
Modesto has 443 positive cases, 234 are in Turlock, 174 are in Ceres, 72 are in Patterson, 65 are in Riverbank, 23 are in Oakdale, 18 are in Newman, 17 are in Waterford, and 11 are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 108 are in supervisorial District 5, 85 in District 3, 43 in District 2, 21 in District 1 and eight are in District 4.
- San Joaquin County has 46 COVID-19-related deaths among 1,888 cases.
- Merced County has eight deaths among 518 cases.
- Tuolumne County has nine positive cases and zero deaths.
- Mariposa County has 18 positive cases and one death.
As of Thursday morning, there were 162,798 confirmed cases in California and 5,271 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 2,163,290 U.S. cases and 117,717 deaths.
Here is the state tracker.
Keep face coverings handy
Stanislaus County officials are developing a coronavirus health order that will make face coverings mandatory for residents. Read the story by Ken Carlson and Erin Tracy.
DUI checkpoint adapts to times
Modesto Police Department will be conducting a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint that will look a bit different from pre-pandemic operations. Read Deke Farrow’s story.
Face coverings aren’t choice of everyone
Despite the uptick in COVID-19, not everyone wears face covering when out in public, which has caught the attention of public health officials at county and state levels. Read the story by Chrisanna Mink and Julian A. Lopez.
Fourth of July will be different
The new coronavirus pandemic has claimed another victim — Modesto’s annual Fourth of July Parade, which started in 1874, is among California’s oldest, and in recent years has drawn thousands upon thousands of spectators to downtown. Read Kevin Valine’s story.
State Theatre will reopen
The State Theatre reopens this weekend with three films on its schedule, one each for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Read Pat Clark’s story.
You can bowl once again, too
As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continue to be lifted, Stanislaus County is getting back to the business of having fun. Escape Modesto, McHenry Bowl and Funworks have reopened — the latter two only partially — and a few similar businesses are working to follow suit. Read Deke Farrow’s story.
Good2Go program readies businesses
As businesses and restaurants reopen and California begins to ease COVID-19 restrictions, owners are looking for a way to tell their customers they’re “good to go” and up to date on all the necessary safety protocols. Read Kristina Karisch’s story.
Around California, United States and world
A Democratic plan to give struggling California tenants 10 years to make up rent gone unpaid during the coronavirus is taking shape in the state Senate. Read the story.
Using hand sanitizer is recommend by health experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but you may not be applying it correctly. Read the story.
Early in the pandemic, many people joked that there would be a baby boom at the end of the year after months of quarantining, but a new report estimates there could be a substantial drop in births instead. Read the story.
