There were 398 confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus cases and seven resulting deaths when shelter-in-place orders took effect across six of nine Bay Area counties March 17. Friday, one month later, 6,006 cases had been confirmed and nearly 200 people had since died as a result. When compared to initial projections, the growth rate is considered a relative ‘success’ story.
Today’s news and updates are fairly limited due to the weekend, but here are some basics from Saturday around the Bay Area.
Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center COVID-19 tracking tool as of Thursday at 7:25 p.m.
The number of confirmed cases in New York is quickly nearing the quarter-million mark, with a breathtaking 17,627 related deaths to date.
The state of New York, the nation’s outbreak epicenter, quickly stepped up their testing capacity and protocol as a necessity, and the data produced provides insight for the rest of the country. Though widely acknowledged that additional tests are needed, even in New York, the available data suggests Covid-19 has the potential for a 7.2 percent death rate.
Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center COVID-19 tracking tool as of Tuesday at 7:27 p.m.
Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke Saturday at a Motel 6 in Campbell to announce a partnership with the motel chain in an effort to shelter some of the state’s homeless population through the Covid-19 pandemic. Motel 6 has agreed to provide more than 5,000 rooms across 19 counties.
The additional 5,025 units brings the state’s accumulated “Project Roomkey” total to more than 16,000 hotel rooms, where 4,211 people have so far been checked in since the program’s launch in the beginning of April.
At the same press briefing, Newsom reiterated that the state will make strategic moves toward reopening based on consistent, not episodic, declines in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. He said the state appears to have flattened the curve but he’s still concerned the rising number of daily deaths.
Source: The Alameda County Public Health Department with data reported through Friday and including Berkeley.
Source: Contra Costa Health Services as of Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
The pastor of All Nations Church of God in Christ in unincorporated North Richmond is pushing back against a deputy’s account of an Easter Sunday gathering. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to an apparent unlawful Easter gathering and a deputy responded to check on the situation.
The deputy reported seeing attendees who were not wearing masks and situated less than 6 feet apart from each other. According to the report, the deputy attempted to speak to Pastor Wyndford Williams last Sunday, but Williams refused.
The deputy returned the day after to issue a misdemeanor citation as a result.
Williams has since responded to the accusations in a statement that contradicts the deputy’s findings, saying:
“A small service was held with approximately 40 people in attendance. Masks were worn. Hand sanitizer was provided.”
The pastor added:
“Families that live together, sat together. Otherwise, social distancing was observed.”
Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Saturday.
A virtual community conversation focused on what comes next in the fight against and recovery from Covid-19 will be held Monday. The talk will feature Matt Willis, the county’s public health officer, and Deputy Public Health Officer Lisa Santora. According to a statement released Monday, the talk will attempt to answer questions about when the area can expect lockdown orders to be lifted, whether masks help and what the next steps are.
People can submit questions and find additional information about how to access the meeting’s live stream by visiting the county’s website.
Source: Department of Health and Human Services as of Friday.
Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health with data through Friday.
Source: San Mateo County Health Department with data reported through Friday.
*Santa Clara County did not provide data Saturday due to an update issue with the Reportable Disease Information Exchange, according to county officials.
Source: Santa Clara County Public Health Department as of Friday.
Officials announced Saturday that all homeless individuals who have tested positive or are suspected of having contracted Covid-19 have been housed in hotel rooms, temporary housing or alternative shelter spaces.
Source: Solano Public Health as of Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Source: County of Sonoma with data as of Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Open SFBay Worldwide coronavirus tracker.Bay City News contributed to this report.
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