The U.S. Department of State issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory that requires U.S. residents traveling abroad to immediately return unless they are “prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.” Borders between the U.S. and Canada to the north and Mexico to the south are being closed to all but essential travel, which does allow for essential commerce and trade.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said:
“Tonight, at midnight, we will execute the CDC order by immediately returning individuals arriving without documentation to Canada, Mexico, as well as a number of other countries, without delay.”
Confirmed Cases: 1,144
Deaths: 19
Recoveries: 0
Confirmed Cases: 18,563
Deaths: 227
Recoveries: 121
Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center COVID-19 tracking tool as of Friday at 3:45 p.m.
BART announced the agency is cutting train service off at 9 p.m. as of Saturday for weekend service and Monday for weekday service. Ridership had declined 89 percent as of Thursday, compared to an average Thursday in February. Details about adjusted schedules and alternate transit options are available online.
Confirmed Cases: 45
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 0
Source: The Alameda County Public Health Department as of Friday at 3:48 p.m.
Mayor Libby Schaaf Friday announced Oakland COVID-19 Relief Fund for first responders, vulnerable residents, small businesses and organizations as the city navigates growing coronavirus infection rates.
The city of Hayward launched a telephone hotline to provide current information to members of the community about the coronavirus. People can call the hotline at (510) 583-4949 for multilingual information and assistance. The hotline is meant to reduce the load on 911 dispatch call centers.
Confirmed Cases: 46
Deaths: 1
Recoveries:
Source: Contra Costa Health Services as of Friday at 1:07 p.m.
Officials announced Friday the death of a coronavirus patient in their 70s. The unnamed victim died in a hospital Thursday and is said to have had a pre-existing condition that put them at a higher risk of health complications due to the virus.
Three John Muir Health urgent care centers will be closed so the healthcare provider can concentrate resources in preparation for an influx of patients. The four remaining care centers have separate respiratory treatment areas and all patients admitted will be given a mask. The San Ramon, Orinda and Concord centers will be closed. Centers in Berkeley, Pleasanton, Brentwood and Walnut Creek will remain open.
The county issued clarified guidance Thursday on farmers’ markets, swap meets and mobile produce trucks, defining them as “essential” services but established restrictions to protect the community from COVID-19 spread.
Merchants selling groceries, prepared foods and household consumer products are permitted to sell, but food preparation booths have been eliminated. Social distancing will be required of all merchants and patrons. Vendors are expected to thoroughly evaluate their own health and not if they are feeling ill or live with anyone who has exhibited acute respiratory illness symptoms.
Confirmed Cases: 25
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 0
Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Friday at 2:46 p.m.
Marin County saw its largest spike in confirmed cases Thursday, with an additional 10 people testing positive for COVID-19. Matthew Willis, the county’s health officer, said the drive-through testing facility has averaged a 10 percent positive confirmation rate.
Confirmed Cases: 0
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 0
Source: Department of Health and Human Services as of Friday at 4:03 p.m.
The county’s shelter-in-place order took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday and follows the same restrictive structure as ordered in all other Bay Area counties.
Confirmed Cases: 76
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 0
Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health as of Friday at 9 a.m.
Mayor London Breed said Thursday that the Emergency Operations Center, which is normally housed at the Department of Emergency Management at 1011 Turk St., has been moved to Moscone Center South.
Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of the DEM, said the move decided on to ensure city employees have enough space to practice social distancing.
Carroll added that The City’s Emergency Operations Center has been working at the highest level possible since the center was activated back in late February.
The Department of Public Health’s Director Dr. Grant Colfax said his department has already hired 70 nurses since Breed announced the fast tracking hiring policy related to healthcare professionals.
Department of Human Services Agency Executive Director Trent Rhorer said his department has been seeking hotels rooms for The City’s vulnerable residents who cannot shelter-in-place, including homeless individuals living shelters or on the streets and those living in single-occupancy rooms.
Rhorer said officials moved the first few homeless individuals into vacant hotel rooms with a recently secured lease. The individuals were tested at the hospital, but did not require further hospital care. He did not say if they had tested positive for the virus.
Rohorer added that his department has identified 500 hotel rooms so far and the Hotel Council of San Francisco have expressed interest in providing as many as 2,000 rooms at various hotels.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said they will begin temporarily adjust parking meter rates citywide. By March 24, all parking meters will be rated at $0.50 per hour for vehicles and $0.10 per hour for motorcycles.
Confirmed Cases: 100
Deaths: 1
Recoveries: 0
Source: San Mateo County Health Department as of Thursday at 10:24 a.m.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state will lease the Seton Medical Center in Daly City. The hospital was doomed to close after the owners, Verity Health, filed bankruptcy. The 375-bed facility will be used to accommodate a surge in coronavirus patients.
Confirmed Cases: 196
Deaths: 8
Recoveries: 0
Source: Santa Clara County DepartmentPublic Health as of Friday at 5 p.m.
Santa Clara County announced two additional coronavirus-related deaths Friday. One victim was a man in his 80s who had been hospitalized since March 3 and reportedly died Tuesday. The other victim was a male in 70s — the county did not disclose what day he died.
A San Jose reserve police officer tested positive for COVID-19, the San Jose Police Department said Wednesday.
Confirmed Cases: 10
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 0
Source: Solano Public Health as of Thursday at 2 p.m.
Confirmed Cases: 21
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 0
Source: County of Sonoma as of Friday at 6:22 p.m.
CORRECTION: This story was originally published with a headline that read “nearly 80 percent” The headline has since been corrected to reflect the nearly 90 percent BART ridership decline.
Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.
The latest developments around the Bay Area related to the novel coronavirus as of Saturday morning.
A Singapore-based shipping company was fined $1.65 million in federal court in Oakland this week for dumping oily bilge...
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Walnut Creek, is now in critical condition as of Saturday following his hospitalization last week.
