Coronavirus update, July 16: Stanislaus deaths hit 61. Single-day infection rate 47%
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 announced four more deaths to the virus on Wednesday, bringing its total to 61. Ten deaths have been announced over the past two days by the county Health Services Agency.
The 61 residents who have died include 34 men and 27 women. Fifty-three were 65 or older, four were 50 to 64, and four were 18 to 49.
Total positive tests rose to 5,517 as of Wednesday, with 2,884 presumed recovered. Another 40,154 people have tested negative.
Wednesday’s positivity rate of 47.21% far exceeded the previous record of 27.76% on Sunday. But it was a much smaller sample than has been the norm this month. Wednesday’s rate was based on 161 out of 349 people testing positive. The total daily tests were at least 624 earlier in July, and they topped 1,000 a few times.
The infection rate since the county started documenting data was 12.1% on Wednesday, up from 11.8% on Tuesday.
The rolling 14-day rate of infection stood at 17.30% on Wednesday, compared with 14.33% the day before. The rolling seven-day rate of infection was 23.49% on Wednesday, up from 17.98% on Tuesday.
The number of hospitalizations rose to 192 on Wednesday from 182 on Tuesday. Among the five county hospitals, 37% of total beds are available, as are 29% of intensive care unit beds and 67% of ventilators.
Of those who tested positive, 55% are female and 45% male. Fourteen percent are 20 or younger, 20% are 21 to 30, 19% are 31 to 40, 17% are 41 to 50, 14% are 51 to 60, 7% are 61 to 70, 4% are 71 to 80, 4% are 81 to 90, and 2% are older than 90.
Though they make up 47 percent of the population, Latinos represented 73 percent of the positive cases.
Modesto has 1,900 positive cases, 759 are in Turlock, 744 are in Ceres, 248 are in Riverbank, 241 are in Patterson, 116 are in Waterford, 107 are in Oakdale, 74 are in Newman, and 50 are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 385 are in supervisorial District 5, 354 are in District 3, which includes Salida, 209 are in District 2, 103 are in District 1, and 36 are in District 4.
- San Joaquin County has 73 COVID-19-related deaths among 7,428 cases.
- Merced County has 15 deaths among 2,260 cases.
- Tuolumne County has 80 positive cases and zero deaths.
- Mariposa County has 35 positive cases and one death.
As of Wednesday evening, there were 347,634 confirmed cases in California and 7,227 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 3,495,536 U.S. cases and 137,358 deaths.
Here is the state tracker.
Six Stanislaus, Merced restaurants violated orders
Six restaurants may face fines after being found in violation of inside dining closure orders over the 4th of July weekend in Stanislaus & Merced counties. California is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases. Read Marijke Rowland’s story.
Where to worship in Modesto region
It’s back to online and outdoor worship services for Modesto area religious organizations. Read Pat Clark’s story.
Symphony goes virtual, too
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra will present its first virtual recital in what’s planned as a monthly event. Read Pat Clark’s story.
Scenic hospital may return to duty
While Modesto-area hospitals grapple with the explosion of coronavirus cases, Stanislaus County is creating a roster of medical volunteers to staff a potential alternative care site. Read Kristin Lam’s story.
Message to board: ‘Start leading’
As a coronavirus outbreak continued to burn through the community and fill hospitals with COVID-19 patients, Stanislaus County supervisors didn’t take any new steps Tuesday aimed at slowing the spread of the outbreak. Read Ken Carlson’s story.
Modesto college-bound students weigh options
As coronavirus cases continue to rise in California and universities across the US close in-person instruction, many Stanislaus County college-bound students are left with uncertainty about what awaits them. Read Katherine Swartz’s story.
Another pause for Stanislaus schools
Stanislaus County schoolchildren will not return to in-person learning during the first two weeks of August, as districts have been working toward. Read Deke Farrow’s story.
Step backward for worship, salons and more
Numerous shopping malls, gyms, indoor worship and salons will shut down again in Stanislaus and various other counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday. Read the story.
Editorial: Thank adults in the room
Monday’s far-reaching actions closing many businesses and our schools in Stanislaus County were drastic, predictable and necessary. Read the Bee editorial.
Around California, United States and world
The Trump administration is hoping that a sophisticated new drug treatment to prevent people from getting severely ill from COVID-19 will be available to the public by this fall. Read the story.
The White House said Wednesday that it has “zero concerns” that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt — who announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus — interacted with President Donald Trump at a June campaign rally. Read the story.
Scientists say your compliance — or not — with social distancing orders during the coronavirus pandemic has a lot to do with how well your short-term, or working memory, can retain information. Read the story.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 4:46 AM.
