Coronavirus update, Aug. 30: As summer surge continues, hospital bed use declines

Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area

In the last 37 days, Stanislaus County has recorded 7,000 new COVID-19 cases after announcing Saturday that 225 more residents had become infected.

It took 136 days – and with a greater number test results – to eclipse that mark since its first positive case in March, illustrating the rapid spread during this summer’s surge.

On July 23, Stanislaus County announced 417 new infections to reach 7,401 positive results. On Saturday, the total number of infections stood at 14,482 cases.

The first 7,401 infections came from 54,147 results for a positivity rate of 13.7%. The last 7,081 positive cases came from 32,797 tests for an infection rate of 21.6%.

In addition, two more deaths were announced Saturday as the county surpassed 150 fatalities for August.

Nevertheless, there was a downward trend in the 14-day infection rate, from 20.61% to 19.02%. Hospitalizations also dropped to 124, the lowest total in several weeks.

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.

Of the 86,944 residents tested since the start of the pandemic nearly six months ago, 16.7%, up from 16.6% a day before, have tested positive. More than 72,000 have tested negative and 13,379 are presumed recovered.

The 225 new cases Saturday came out of 959 test results for a single-day positivity rate of 23.46, more than double from the day before. The seven-day rate of 19.56% was up from 18.53%, according to statistics on the county dashboard.

Of those who have tested positive, 45% are ages 34 and under. Of those who have died, 77% are ages 65 and above, ahead of the state’s 74.3%.

There were eight intensive care unit beds available for adults Saturday, down from 11 on Friday.

Statistics on gender, age and ethnicity percentage, along with total cases by city, did not appear to be updated Saturday.

In other nearby counties:

• San Joaquin County has 307 COVID-19-related deaths among 16,913 cases.
  
  
• Merced County has 115 deaths among 7,890 cases.
  
  
• Tuolumne County has 181 cases and two deaths.
  
  
• Mariposa County has 71 cases and two deaths.

None of the data from those counties were updated Saturday.

As of Sunday morning, there were 702,531 confirmed cases in California and 12,912 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 5,961,885 U.S. cases and 182,785 deaths.

Here is the state tracker.

City issues new order Friday for Velvet Grill

Modesto will fine the two Velvet Grill & Creamery restaurants $1,000 each per day if they keep serving diners indoors, violating a public health order. But the mayor asks whether enforcement is the city’s job.

Most Modesto, Mother Lode celebrations change

Most of the community events in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions during September will be altered by the coronavirus pandemic. Some events, like the popular Edible Extravaganza, will go virtual.

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.

From around the state, nation and world

India registered 78,761 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the biggest single-day spike in the world since the pandemic began, just as the government began easing restrictions to help the battered economy.

Momentum is growing to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic in Sacramento and around the state, but in a limited way that Gov. Gavin Newsom and health officials say will be safe and controllable.

Normally Teresa Stanfield spends her days in prisons talking with inmates about how she changed the course of her troubled life, and how they can do the same. But the coronavirus has locked her on the outside.