Coronavirus

Coronavirus update, Aug. 29: Stanislaus deaths at 253; hair salons can reopen indoors.

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Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area

Eight more Stanislaus County residents have died from the pandemic, bringing the total to 253, the Health Services Agency reported Friday.

Details were not released on the ages or genders of the eight, nor on whether they had underlying medical conditions.

Total positive cases stood at 14,257, up 156 from Thursday, the agency said in its online update. Another 71,728 people have tested negative, and 13,159 are presumed recovered.

Friday’s positive rate was just 11.1%, down from 21.1% the day before.

The rolling seven-day average was at 18.5% on Friday, compared with 18.6% the day before. The 14-day average dipped to 20.6% from 22.6%.

The overall infection rate since March was 16.6%, down from 16.7% on Thursday.

Hospitalizations continued their downward trend Friday. The county’s five main hospitals had 125 confirmed cases, compared with 136 on Thursday and 200-plus in mid-August.

That number does not include those who are in the Central Valley Specialty Hospital, which began being used in the last month to take the burden off the major facilities.

There were 11 intensive-care beds available for adults Friday, up from eight Thursday.

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.

Modesto has 5,130 positive cases, 1,817 are in Turlock, 1,727 are in Ceres, 689 are in Riverbank, 677 are in Patterson, 276 are in Oakdale, 273 are in Newman, 200 are in Waterford, and 124 are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 856 are in supervisorial District 5, 803 are in District 3, which includes Salida, 624 are in District 2, 286 are in District 1, and 91 are in District 4.

In other nearby counties:

As of Friday evening, there were 688,858 confirmed cases in California and 12,690 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 5,912,861 U.S. cases and 181,748 deaths.

Here is the state tracker.

Hair salons return under new order

Local hair salons can reopen for indoor service starting Monday under changes announced Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Modesto holds off on restaurant fines

Modesto expected Wednesday to start issuing daily fines against the two Velvet Grill & Creamery restaurants for continuing to serve customers indoors in violation of the state public health order to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. But the city did not after Mayor Ted Brandvold raised concerns about the fines.

Latest on Foster Farms plant in Livingston

The Foster Farms chicken plant in Livingston continues to operate, despite a Merced County Health Department order to shut down, according to a statement released by Foster Farms Friday morning.

In-person learning could happen for some

Under guidance from the California Department of Public Health issued this week, school districts in Stanislaus County are working toward providing in-person instruction and other services to small groups of children including at-risk students, those with disabilities and other special needs, and English language learners.

COVID-19: Riverbank cites businesses for violating orders

Riverbank has issued citations for businesses that violated COVID-19 public health orders. The city fined gyms, a gas station and a restaurant. Here is what their owners are saying about the fines.

COVID-19 claims longtime teacher, brothers, Turlock school district reports

A beloved longtime teacher at a Turlock CA elementary school died Saturday, reportedly from COVID-19 complications. Relatives, friends, colleagues, former students and their families are mourning Lilly Barron.

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.

From around the state, nation and world

Spoiler alert: State Sen. Brian Jones, R-Santee, tested positive for the coronavirus this week. His confirmed infection forced a temporary shutdown of the California State Senate on Wednesday. And then every Republican senator except one got temporarily banished from the Capitol to protect public health.

Top University of South Carolina researchers think the chemical in marijuana that induces a “high” may be effective in treating a potentially lethal coronavirus complication, according to three newly released studies

Online learning is in full swing as students across the U.S. return to class during the coronavirus pandemic. Navigating this new normal has come with challenges, however, amid reports of hackers hijacking virtual lessons to troll students with illicit images, messages and threats.

Follow More of Our Reporting on Coronavirus in California

John Holland
The Modesto Bee
John Holland covers agriculture, transportation and general assignment news. He has been with The Modesto Bee since 2000 and previously worked at newspapers in Sonora and Visalia. He was born and raised in San Francisco and has a journalism degree from UC Berkeley.
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