Coronavirus Update, Aug. 21: Stanislaus County death toll in August reaches 119
Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area
The coronavirus death toll continued to climb in Stanislaus County, which announced Thursday 11 more deaths, the second-highest single-day total since the start of the pandemic.
Since the start of August, the county has reported 119 deaths, more than twice the overall total of 223.
There was no information released on the latest victims by the county. More than 80 percent of the victims are 61 years old or older, 44 percent of the overall total are Latino and 41 percent white, according to county data.
The county announced that 149 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for an overall total of 13,084.
The single-day positivity rate Thursday was 19.7%, down from 45.02 the day before, although that number was based a low number of test results.
In all, 11,825 people have recovered. Nearly 80,000 tests have been performed.
The seven-day positivity rate stood at 26.67% based on 1,402 positive results and the 14-day rate was 21.76% based on 3,677 positive cases, according to the county dashboard.
The 14-day rate is more than three times that of the state’s 16.6%, which has been trending upward this month. Stanislaus County’s overall positivity rate in August is 22.15% in data the county releases to the public.
The county’s overall infection rate since March is 16.5%.
There were 177 people with confirmed cases in the five Stanislaus County hospitals. That is the lowest figure this month, although there is unannounced number of patients at Central Valley Specialty Hospital, which the county started using to take some of the weight off the other facilities in Modesto, Turlock and Oakdale.
There were eight available adult intensive care unit beds available in the five hospitals.
Of those who tested positive, 54% are female and 46% male. Seven percent are 14 or younger, 17% are 15 to 24, 21% are 25 to 34, 18% are 35 to 44, 15% are 45 to 54, 12% are 55 to 64, 6% are 65 to 74, 3% are 75 to 84, and 2% are 85 or older.
Though they make up 47 percent of the population, Latinos represented 61 percent of the positive cases.
Those numbers on the county dashboard remained unchanged from a day ago.
Modesto has 4,720 positive cases, 1,655 are in Turlock, 1,606 are in Ceres, 619 are in Patterson, 616 are in Riverbank, 247 are in both Newman and Oakdale, 192 in Waterford, and 112 are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 789 are in supervisorial District 5, 750 are in District 3, which includes Salida, 580 are in District 2, 254 are in District 1, and 80 are in District 4
In other nearby counties:
- San Joaquin County has 288 COVID-19-related deaths among 15,492 cases.
- Merced County has 99 deaths among 7,334 cases.
- Tuolumne County has 170 cases and two deaths.
- Mariposa County has 69 cases and two deaths
As of Friday morning, there were 653,511 confirmed cases in California and 11,836 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 5,576,089 U.S. cases and 174,290 deaths.
Here is the state tracker.
Modesto parents share questions, concerns with district
In a Modesto City Schools online forum Wednesday, families shared a range of questions. They wanted to know, among other things, how long it will take to reopen schools once state and county officials deem it safe.
An inside look at a Modesto intensive care unit
Hospitals in Modesto in the Central Valley of California are dealing with a relentless outbreak of the coronavirus, even as the spike of cases has flattened out. ICUs held 62 critically ill COVID-19 patients.
County, Modesto school say ‘camp’ not in-person learning
The sign outside Big Valley Christian School on Tully Road in Modesto reads, “Now meeting in-person & online.” It doesn’t say “In-person instruction,” and that is key when it comes to the “distance-learning camp” offered.
Modesto schools review first week
With its biggest tech fires put out by the third day of school last week, Modesto City Schools leaders said Monday that teachers now can really get down to the business of education.
Turlock distance learning camp runs while schools closed
A Turlock distance learning camp guides students through remote school and in-person recreational activities while following coronavirus safety guidelines. Staff say it may help working parents.
Stanislaus County nursing homes report coronavirus cases
Stanislaus County ranks ninth in the state for COVID-19 cases reported by skilled nursing facilities. Coronavirus outbreaks at Modesto-area nursing homes include Brandel Manor in Turlock.
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.
From around the state, nation and world
People no longer need to hide their smiles during the coronavirus pandemic after the Food and Drug Administration cleared a fully transparent mask for the first time, according to KRQE.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought an onslaught of challenges for college students: virtual learning, financial responsibilities in the face of unemployment and an unwavering worry over possible infection. Now, a new report on thousands of university students across nine public research institutions in the U.S. shows how those challenges manifest internally,
A group of eye care professionals is warning parents about potential eye strain for children as many return to online school this fall.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 4:52 AM.
