Coronavirus update, Aug. 17: County reports no deaths for the first time in August
Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area
The coronavirus death toll in Stanislaus County stood at 198 on Sunday, the first time in August the agency reported zero deaths in its daily update.
Nevertheless, the one-day positivity rate of 28.57%, due to 162 infections out of 567 test results Sunday, kept the 14-day rate – and August’s rate – at more than three times the state’s 14-day rate of 6.4%.
The 3,320 positive results over the last 14 days kept that case rate per 100,00 residents at 594, nearly three times the 200 the state wants to see before considering giving school districts a waiver for on-campus learning.
The seven-day positivity rate of 25.99% was above Saturday’s, and the 14-day rate of 21.8% equaled that of the day before, according to county data.
The county’s overall infection rate since March is 16.4%, up from the 16.3% on Saturday.
Of the 76,456 tests, 63,915 have been negative. Of the 12,541 positive cases, 11,161 of those infected have recovered.
In terms of intensive care unit adult beds, the county reported only six – less than 6% of its total – remained available among the five county hospitals, according to data as of 5 p.m. Sunday. The total number of hospitalized confirmed patients was 200, down from 202 the day before.
Most of the county’s detailed dashboard tied to state data remained offline, meaning no updates on age ranges and hometowns for the positive cases.
In other nearby counties:
- San Joaquin County has 261 COVID-19-related deaths among 14,651 cases.
- Merced County has 89 deaths among 6,777 cases.
- Tuolumne County has 160 cases and two deaths.
- Mariposa County has 64 cases and two deaths
San Joaquin, Merced and Tuolumne counties did not update their information on Sunday.
As of Sunday evening, there were 623,873 confirmed cases in California and 11,243 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 5,405,115 U.S. cases and 170,052 deaths.
Here is the state tracker.
Putting a human face on Stanislaus COVID tragedy
Charlie Brown of Ceres led a long and full life that was ended by COVID-19 in a Turlock rest home. Lockdown rules prevented any of his 61 descendants from being with him when he died.
Stanislaus County health officer remains calm amid COVID-19
Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, public health officer for Stanislaus County, trained for years to deal with the science of a viral pandemic. But, she said wasn’t prepared for the “lack of civility” from some residents.
Modesto uses bolts, boards to stop basketball
Modesto has bolted boards to the basketball rims in its parks to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that has surged in Stanislaus County.
Stanislaus officials seek faster testing
Stanislaus County’s health officer says it should not take 15-plus days to find out if a person has the coronavirus. And the slow testing process is hindering public health efforts to bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control.
Pandemic can’t stop new craft brewery
Cold, fresh, craft beer straight from the source is on the menu as the new 18Seventy Brewing Co. opens in downtown Modesto.
Eateries get help in downtown Modesto
The Downtown Modesto Partnership is behind two new projects aimed at helping restaurants, particularly, make it through the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and associated shutdowns.
Modesto takes action against businesses over coronavirus
Modesto issued cease-and-desist orders Tuesday to two restaurants, a spa, and a nail salon suspected of not complying with California’s public health order to stop the spread of the new coronavirus
Farmworkers fear retaliation for airing COVID-19 concerns
Some Stanislaus County farmworkers avoid requesting safety measures, reporting COVID-19 issues and even getting tested for fear of retaliation and job loss, according to a study examining agricultural labor issues in California.
Rent help on the way for Stanislaus County residents
A Modesto nonprofit that helps low-income families pay their rent says the number of phone calls from tenants has remained steady during the pandemic, but what really has gone up is how far behind the callers are in their rent.
From around the state, nation and world
A high school student knowingly positive for COVID-19 attended the first day of school in Oklahoma on Thursday, district officials say.
When a 13-year-old girl signed on for her online math class Friday, the high school freshman immediately noticed something strange about her teacher, KGO reported. “I realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt,” the girl said, according to the station. “And that was kind of awkward, made me feel uncomfortable.”
Lebanon is facing a surge in coronavirus cases after a devastating blast at the Beirut port earlier this month killed scores and wounded thousands, prompting medical officials to urge Monday for a two-week lockdown to try to contain the pandemic.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 4:53 AM.
