Coronavirus

Coronavirus update, Nov. 15: Stanislaus rise in hospitalizations, cases mirrors nation

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Latest facts on COVID-19 testing in Modesto area

Mirroring numbers across the nation, Stanislaus County continued its spike of hospitalizations and positive coronavirus test results, according to data it released Saturday night.

The number of patients with confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county’s five hospitals grew to 88 on Saturday, a 44% increase since Wednesday’s total of 61.

Meanwhile, according to the most recent state data from Friday, the county’s seven-day infection rate grew to 9.25%, up from 8.11% the day before, and the 14-day rate stood at 7.34%, up from 6.91%. The state’s 14-day average is 4.2%.

In the most recent date released by the county, Saturday’s positive test results numbered an astounding 152, the largest single-day total since late August.

The uptick in cases and hospitalizations, which many health experts predicted would arrive as colder weather settles in, comes as the county attempts to avoid staying out of the state’s purple tier, the most business-restrictive category in the system used by the California Public Department of Health to rate the pandemic’s spread by county.

On a somewhat positive note, the county reported no new deaths, leaving the total at 411 since its first in April, and the number of available adult intensive care beds in the county’s five hospital grew by three to 16.

The Health Services Agency reports that 19,144 residents countywide have tested positive as of Saturday. Another 111,160 have tested negative, and 17,851 are presumed recovered.

covid map 1027
covid map 1027

Of the positive cases through Saturday:

  • 54% are female
  • 46% male
  • 8% are 14 years or younger
  • 16% are ages 15 to 24
  • 20% 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 7,090 positive cases
  • Turlock has 2,692
  • Ceres has 2,335
  • Patterson has 1,001
  • Riverbank has 944
  • Oakdale has 467
  • Newman has 385
  • Waterford has 288
  • Hughson has 198
  • Supervisorial District 5 has 1,216
  • District 3 has 1,076
  • District 2 has 898
  • District 1 has 422
  • District 4 has 150

ZIP Codes (highest per 10,000 residents):

  • 95351 (west/south Modesto)
  • 95307 (Ceres)

  • 95328 (Keyes).

  • 95358 (west Stanislaus County)
  • 95363 (Patterson)

In other nearby counties:

As of Sunday morning, there were 1,024,032 confirmed cases in California and 18,255 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 10,906,725 U.S. cases and 245,614 deaths.

The reasons behind Stanislaus County’s uptick

Coronavirus infections are increasing in Stanislaus County as local health officials await a state decision on a claim to keep sectors of the economy open.

How Modesto office space adapts to COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the nature of office work in Modesto and other cities in the Central Valley of California. How can businesses adapt?

Youngest Modesto students start to return

Back in August, Modesto City Schools students had their first day of instruction this academic year. Thursday, many of the youngest of them had their first day at school.

Experts discuss what’s safe for schoolkids

Local health care professionals, who are on the front lines during the pandemic, offered their opinions about choosing a child’s learning path during this uncertain time.

Turlock has $800,000 to aid businesses

Turlock businesses facing financial hardship because of COVID-19 can apply for grants this month through one of several city programs designed to provide relief to the community.

Pandemic challenges veteran groups

As veteran groups appeal to the state to loosen restrictions on posts and halls during the COVID-19 pandemic, some local chapters have been leaning heavily on takeout and limited-seating meals to stay afloat.

County disputes state on tier

Stanislaus County was among three counties in California that were reassigned Tuesday to the most restrictive tier of the state’s blueprint for slowing the coronavirus pandemic. But county officials say the purple tier designation was a mistake.

The latest on MCS junior high return

Seventh- and eighth-graders will return to Modesto City Schools classrooms starting Jan. 19 if Stanislaus County has been in the red tier on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list for two consecutive weeks.

Nonprofits must adapt to the times

Local nonprofits must innovate and collaborate to succeed during the coronavirus pandemic and maximize their reach across Stanislaus County, organization leaders said during a Friday webinar.

Program aids downtown businesses in Stanislaus

Turns out, there is such thing as half a free lunch. A massive injection of taxpayer-supported COVID-19 relief money is going into a program designed to help area restaurants and other retailers struggling during the pandemic.

From around the state, nation and world

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, it’s important to assess how risky it is to gather for the holidays, especially if celebrations involve visitors traveling from other states.

The governors of Oregon and New Mexico ordered near-lockdowns Friday in the most aggressive response yet to the latest wave of coronavirus infections shattering records across the U.S., even as many of their counterparts in other states show little appetite for reimposing the hard-line restrictions of last spring.

Limiting the number of people who are close together indoors for an extended period of time — such as in gyms, hotels, cafes, religious centers and restaurants — can reduce new coronavirus infections by about 80%, according to a new study from Stanford University.

This story was originally published November 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.

Follow More of Our Reporting on Coronavirus in California

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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