Coronavirus

Coronavirus update, Feb. 23: Stanislaus cases near 50,000. Hospital count up slightly

Hospital cases of COVID-19 rose in Stanislaus County for the first time in six days Monday but were still far below the worst of winter.

Five more residents have died from the virus, for a total of 931 since last spring, the county Health Services Agency said. February so far has brought 103 deaths, a pace short of the record 212 in January.

The county added 121 positive tests Monday, raising the total to 49,860. Stanislaus also has 440,292 negative test results and 47,676 people who are presumed recovered.

The single-day positivity rate was just 3.65%, versus 10.89% the previous day, according to state data. The seven-day rolling rate was 7.86%, down from 8.23%. The 14-day rate was 7.99%, down from 8.33%.

The county’s five hospitals reported 107 patients with confirmed coronavirus cases Monday, up from 103 on Sunday. The count was well over 300 at the worst of the winter surge in early January. The number of staffed adult ICU beds was unchanged at 13.

According to the Los Angeles Times COVID-19 tracker, Stanislaus County has the 18th highest rate of infection per 100,000 residents in the last week among the state’s 58 counties. Its rate of death if 13th highest. Since the pandemic’s start, its infection rate is 15th highest and death rate fourth highest.

A long-term projection of easing ICU capacity prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 25 to lift the stay-home order in the 12-county San Joaquin Valley Region. Stanislaus remains in the purple tier, the most restrictive for business and gatherings.

As of Monday, 77,310 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been allocated to Stanislaus County. This includes 36,135 doses to health care providers and 41,175 to public health.

Stanislaus will reopen public clinics for coronavirus vaccinations Tuesday after a one-day break due to a delayed shipment. More information is on the county dashboard at http://schsa.org/coronavirus/vaccine/.

California has administered 7,604,725 vaccines as of Monday, up from 7,453,468 on Sunday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracker. The state ranks 30th in the country, having administered 19,247 doses per 100,000 residents. Alaska ranks first, Alabama 50th among the states.

Here are the demographic breakdowns of the positive tests in Stanislaus County as of Monday:

  • 53.6% are female
  • 46.4% male
  • 8.2% are 14 years or younger
  • 16.4% are ages 15 to 24
  • 19.4% are 25 to 34
  • 17.2% are 35 to 44
  • 14.9% are 45 to 54
  • 12.1% are 55 to 64
  • 6.6% are 65 to 74
  • 3.4% are 75 to 84
  • 1.9% are 85 or older.
  • Though they make up 47 percent of the population, Latinos represented 63.7 percent of the positive cases.

Geographically:

  • Modesto has 18,349 positive cases
  • Turlock has 6,738
  • Ceres has 5,102
  • Patterson has 2,413
  • Riverbank has 2,308
  • Oakdale has 1,614
  • Newman has 1,121
  • Waterford has 598
  • Hughson has 550
  • Supervisorial District 3 has 2,580
  • District 5 has 2,385
  • District 2 has 2,083
  • District 1 has 1,165
  • District 4 has 378

Here’s a look at the numbers from nearby counties:

As of Tuesday morning, there were 3,536,946 confirmed cases in California and 49,541 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 28,191,227 U.S. cases and 500,433 deaths.

Modesto City Schools board OKs grades 7-12 reopening plan

At a special meeting Monday, the Modesto City Schools Board of Education approved a plan to open junior high and high schools on a hybrid learning schedule.

When will kids, teenagers get vaccinated for COVID-19?

Children and teenagers fare better with coronavirus than adults, so they’re last in line to get the COVID vaccines. Here’s when kids, teens get their shots.

Public vaccine clinics return after glitch

Stanislaus County will reopen public clinics for coronavirus vaccinations Tuesday after a one-day hiatus attributed to delayed shipment of vaccine.

‘Ghost kitchens’ help restaurants survive

Restaurant delivery is nothing new. But, thanks to the pandemic, these days the food you order in the Central Valley could be coming from a “ghost kitchen” instead of a regular restaurant.

Stanislaus County education officials upset

A state announcement Friday allowing more sports to resume while tougher COVID-19 restrictions still keep seventh- through 12th-grade schools largely shut has frustrated Stanislaus County health and education officials.

The latest on high school football

High school football took a huge step in returning to California on Friday as the state’s Department of Public Health released new guidelines. Unfortunately, Stanislaus County doesn’t meet this criteria.

What you need to know about vaccines, COVID-19

The Modesto Bee’s ChrisAnna Mink, our children’s health reporter who also is a doctor in Southern California, was the guest on a podcast hosted by Jeffrey Lewis, CEO of the Turlock-based Legacy Health Endowment. Mink shared great updated information on all things COVID-19. If you have a few minutes, it’s worth a listen. Click here.

Girl Scout cookies have landed. How they’ll be sold this year

Girl Scout cookie season could not escape the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the biggest impact was that cookie booths shut down a week earlier than scheduled. But for this year, Girl Scouts of the USA has adapted its sales methods to keep girls and their families and customers safe while still serving up their iconic snacks.

How you might be eligible for more stimulus money

Did your income drop in 2020? Have a baby? You could be eligible for more economic stimulus money from Washington – quickly.

How to get help for your small business in Stanislaus County

As business struggle to stay afloat, local groups like the Valley Sierra Small Business Development Center and Stanislaus County Workforce Development are helping guide small business owners through the variety of federal and state programs available at no cost.

From around the state, nation and world

A “glitch” in California’s COVID-19 vaccine registration website incorrectly allowed anyone in the state to register for shots in Kings County, a top public health official there said.

Teachers play an important role in the spread of COVID-19 at schools, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in Georgia.

This story was originally published February 23, 2021 at 6:56 AM.

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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