Coronavirus

Coronavirus update, Oct. 11: Stanislaus County surpasses 17,000 positive test results

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Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area

More than 17,000 Stanislaus County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to new data released Saturday.

The county Health Services Agency reported 52 new cases of coronavirus, bringing to 17,002 the number of countywide positive cases since March.

It took 26 days to add 1,000 new cases to get to 17,000, more than doubling the time it took to add the previous 1,000 cases. However, the county’s release of testing results has slowed in that period.

The 198 reported cases over the past three days is the highest total for three consecutive days since mid-September.

Spikes in numbers could have impact on the county’s ability to move into or, once there, maintain a place in the red tier in the state’s four-stage reopening plan.

The state Tuesday will release its new findings, which could allow Stanislaus County businesses, including restaurants, to loosen its restrictions if red tier standards are met for a second straight week.

Here is the California coronavirus reopening tier map through Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Stanislaus County is in the purple tier, surrounded by counties in the higher red, orange and yellow tiers.
Here is the California coronavirus reopening tier map through Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Stanislaus County is in the purple tier, surrounded by counties in the higher red, orange and yellow tiers.

Saturday’s infection rate was 9.72% on Saturday based on 535 tests, down from 10% the previous day. The rolling 14-day positivity rate was 7.86%, just above the 7.45% rate from the previous 14 days.

The one announced death was the 26th straight day the county has announced at least one fatality. The county has reported 384 death since its first in April.

There have been 93,290 negative tests and 16,365 who are presumed recovered.

According to the county, presumed recovered cases are those who have been hospitalized and discharged; or cases that develop symptoms and 14 days have passed following symptom onset; or cases that never developed symptoms and 14 days have passed following specimen collection of their COVID-10 positive test. All other cases that are not presumed recovered are presumed active.

The county’s five hospitals had 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday, down from 42 on Friday. The number of available intensive-care beds for adults was not immediately available.

Of those who tested positive:

  • 54% are female
  • 46% male
  • 7% are 14 years or younger
  • 16% are ages 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,
  • 2% are 85 or older.
  • Though they make up 47 percent of the population, Latinos represented 64 percent of the positive cases.

Geographically:

  • Modesto has 6,461 positive cases
  • Turlock has 2,322
  • Ceres has 2,160
  • Riverbank has 863
  • Patterson has 857
  • Oakdale has 398
  • Newman has 348
  • Waterford has 265
  • Hughson has 169
  • Supervisorial District 5 has 1,101
  • District 3 has 977
  • District 2 has 760
  • District 1 has 374
  • District 4 has 124

In other nearby counties:

None of those counties updated their sites on Saturday. The Stanislaus County demographic and geographic data also was not updated.

As of Sunday morning, there were 852,732 confirmed cases in California and 16,572 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 7,719,600 U.S. cases and 214,379 deaths.

There has been some movement on the reopening of schools in previous weeks, with some having applied for waivers through the Stanislaus County Office of Education. Here also is the state list, which includes Stanislaus private schools seeking waiver approvals.

County could move to COVID-19 red tier this week

If its coronavirus outbreak numbers hold, Stanislaus County could go to the lower restriction red tier. Restaurants, gyms, churches could reopen inside service.

Update on elementary schools

More school districts in Stanislaus County are submitting waivers to reopen TK-6 in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, among the latest being Turlock and Salida, whose boards approved plans Tuesday.

Kids’ pumpkin stand aids first responders

“The real sheriff?” 8-year-old George Bogetti exclaimed Wednesday morning when he learned Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse would be visiting the pumpkin stand he and his family put together to help first responders.

Nurses picket San Joaquin General

Registered nurses picketed San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp on Thursday amid a five-day strike, saying county leaders are not addressing their concerns over patient care, staffing, and protections against the new coronavirus.

Stanislaus could qualify for red coronavirus status

Stanislaus County has finally met both criteria for leaving the most restrictive tier of California coronavirus reopening program.

COVID-19 financial woes hit national chains

Some well known brands in Modesto are in trouble as the coronavirus pandemic wears on.

Experts offer ideas for post-pandemic local economy

To succeed in a post-pandemic world, Stanislaus County needs to focus on the quality of life it can offer to current and prospective residents as movement out of more expensive regions accelerates, local experts said last week.

Mayor wants Modesto to stop enforcing COVID rules

Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold wants the city to stop enforcing the COVID-19 rules so more of the economy and everyday life can return to normal.

Amid pandemic, postponed Love Modesto brings out thousands

The Love Modesto community service event brings out thousands. Citywide cleaning event with 50 projects goes on despite pandemic, with a virtual rally instead.

From around the state, nation and world

A California evangelical college has told its entire student body of more than 1,600 people to quarantine after 137 coronavirus cases were reported at the school.

If the turkey you serve at Thanksgiving is smaller than usual this year, blame the pandemic. Some grocery stores are ordering smaller birds as they anticipate more intimate family meals, multiple news outlets reported this week.

As the pandemic rages on, research on different types of coronavirus tests continues in an effort to increase testing capacity and minimize contact with others.

This story was originally published October 11, 2020 at 6:11 AM.

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Brian Clark
The Modesto Bee
Editor Brian Clark has worked at The Modesto Bee since 1990. He’s worked in various departments, including sports, news and on the digital side for a decade before being promoted to editor in 2018. He’s a native of Berkeley and a graduate of San Diego State University. Prior to The Bee, Brian worked at the Turlock Journal and Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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