Coronavirus update, July 19: County single-day positivity rate stays above 25 percent
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
For the fourth straight day, at least 1 in 4 coronavirus test results in Stanislaus County came back positive as it was announced Saturday that 94 percent of the intensive care unit adult beds were in use.
Those were the latest figures released by the county, which ranks nearly last in the state in hospitalized and ICU patients per capita.
The county reported 143 new cases, bringing the 14-day rolling positivity rate to 21%, nearly three times that of the state’s 7.3% recorded on Saturday.
Its 208 hospitalized patients reported Saturday was the highest total to date, and puts Stanislaus behind only Imperial and Kings counties on that data point. Among ICU cases, Stanislaus County’s per capita total is only behind Imperial County.
Total positive tests after the announcement Saturday reached 6,220, with 3,130 presumed recovered. Another 41,977 people have tested negative.
Saturday’s positivity rate of 26.14% increased the infection rate since the county started documenting in March to 12.9%. The rolling seven-day rate of infection was 27.18% on Saturday, up from 25.30% on Friday.
The number of hospitalizations increased by eight on Saturday. Among the five county hospitals, 34% of total beds are available, as are 26% of intensive care unit beds (only 6% total for adults) and 63% 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 2,078 positive cases, 801 in Ceres, 736 in Turlock, 262 in Patterson, 260 are in Riverbank, 129 are in Oakdale, 101 are in Waterford, 81 are in Newman, and 58 are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 412 are in supervisorial District 5, 379 are in District 3, which includes Salida, 225 are in District 2, 111 are in District 1, and 37 are in District 4.
- San Joaquin County has 83 COVID-19-related deaths among 7,819 cases.
- Merced County has 15 deaths among 2,403 cases.
- Tuolumne County has 85 positive cases and zero deaths.
- Mariposa County has 36 positive cases and one death.
San Joaquin, Merced and Tuolumne counties did not update totals on Saturday.
As of Saturday morning, there were 381,012 confirmed cases in California and 7,702 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 3,712,491 U.S. cases and 140,120 deaths.
Here is the state tracker.
More enforcement needed from Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County supervisors must reverse their misguided May 12 coronavirus directive absolving businesses of responsibility for following COVID rules. See the Opinion piece.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Cederlind, ex-Turlock player, tests positive
Former Turlock High pitcher Blake Cederlind was among two Pittsburgh Pirates to test positive for COVID-19, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. See the story here.
Stanislaus County unemployment rate drops
State restrictions set by Newsom may cause unemployment rates to rise again in July, as businesses and restaurants shut down again amid worsening COVID-19 infection rates across California, Stanislaus County. Read Kristina Karisch’s story.
Newsom tightens Stanislaus school order
All public and private schools in the more than 30 counties – including Stanislaus – currently on the state’s COVID-19 watch list won’t be able to physically reopen their doors this fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday. The schools cannot reopen until the county is off the list for 14 days. Read Erin Tracy’s story.
Modesto-area hospitals getting fewer N95 masks for nurses
Hospitals in Stanislaus County are treating a growing number of patients for COVID-19 illness during a shortage of protective equipment for frontline staff, which was largely created by the pandemic. See Ken Carlson’s story.
Live forum features four Bee reporters
Four reporters for The Modesto Bee will take part in a live forum on health, business and education issues surrounding the pandemic. Read Brian Clark’s story.
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.
Around California, United States and world
With no confirmed case of the coronavirus, Yosemite National Park appeared to be a safe haven from the pandemic. But tests of the park’s raw sewage have confirmed the presence of the virus, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday, and dozens of people are believed to have been infected. See the story.
A bus driver in Lubbock, Texas, was left beaten and bloodied Thursday when a passenger attacked her with a 2x4 piece of wood after she asked him to wear a mask, according to police. See the story.
A customer angry about wearing a mask drove over a police officer’s foot before leading cops on a chase in Michigan, authorities say. Read the story.
This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 6:48 AM.
