Covid-19 update: May Day strikes to take on renewed meaning, some beaches close, Bay Area stays the course

The Bay Area has been in a state of lockdown for 44 days now. This is where we’re at as of Thursday.

U.S.

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,069,534
  • Deaths: 63,001

Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center COVID-19 global tracking tool as of Thursday at 6:52 p.m.

Labor rights advocates are calling on people around the globe to boycott businesses that fail to pay livable wages, provide worker protection and otherwise take advantage of the workforce that keeps profits churning. This year’s May Day takes on an especially heavy meaning with “essential workers” stationed at the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many calling for personal protective equipment, hazard pay, paid leave and health care.  

Corporations like Amazon, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, FedEx and Instacart are being targeted for large-scale strikes, walkouts, sickouts and boycotts Friday.

In a large pool of organizations planning action Friday is a group of University of California at Santa Cruz grad student workers planning a bike and vehicle caravan strike in solidarity with “workers and incarcerated and homeless people.”  

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California

  • Confirmed Cases: 50,130
  • Deaths: 2.031

Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center COVID-19 global tracking tool as of Thursday at 6:52 p.m.

Reeling from last weekend’s massive crowds at places like Newport Beach, Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday ordered Orange County state parks and beaches closed to the public beginning Friday and through May 31.

Wallpaper Flare Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order effective Friday, May 1, 2020 that mandates a “hard close” of Orange County state beaches and parks to avoid massive gatherings during Covid-19 shelter-in-place and physical distancing orders.

Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner pushed back against the governor’s order in a Wednesday statement that read:

“I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information.”

According to the John Hopkins Covid-19 tracking map as of Thursday, Orange County ranks fourth highest in the state for total number of confirmed cases. 

Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel issued a similar order without the governor’s direction. Activity will be banned on the region’s beaches between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day beginning this weekend.

Jesse Garnier/SFB SFBay Covid-19 dashboard as of Thursday, April 30, 2020.
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Alameda County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,603
  • Deaths: 60

Source: Alameda County Public Health Department as of Thursday with data reported through Wednesday.

Confirmed cases in Oakland and Hayward represent more than half of the total infections in Alameda County. The area’s Hispanic/Latino population, with 500 reported cases, has been by far the hardest hit community in terms of virus spread. The number of intensive care units in use are once again dropping to near April 16 levels.

Contra Costa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 891
  • Deaths: 27

Source: Contra Costa Health Services as of Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

County officials report that as of Tuesday, 91 patients required ICU beds. That number jumped substantially from 72 patients just one day prior.

Marin County

  • Confirmed Cases: 235
  • Deaths: 13

Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Wednesday.

The county reports Wednesday that 55 people from skilled nursing facilities in the area have been infected with Covid-19 since tracking began in March. 

Napa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 67
  • Deaths: 2

Source: Department of Health and Human Services as of Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

Health officials reported Thursday that 31 of the county’s total 67 patients have made a full recovery from the virus. Ninety-eight people who have been exposed to people with confirmed cases are currently being monitored for symptoms and 238 tests are pending results.

Ching Wong A woman wearing a mask waits outside a grocery store on Leavenworth Street amid the extension of coronavirus shelter orders in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)

San Francisco

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,499
  • Deaths: 25

Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health with data reported Wednesday.

The most recent data out of San Francisco reflects a fairly wide margin between genders in terms of positive cases. Females only make up 39 percent of total cases in the region. 

Meanwhile, the battle between the mayor and supervisors wages on in the pursuit of hotel rooms for homeless residents. Supervisors passed an emergency ordinance requiring The City to procure more than 8,000 hotel rooms. Mayor London Breed has so far glazed over that passed legislation by not funding the effort.

San Mateo County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,177
  • Deaths: 48

Source: San Mateo County Health Department with data reported Monday.

Police in Sausalito are closing off municipal parking lots and have warned they will cite vehicles unlawfully parked in closed lots. The move is meant to curb visitors from gathering as warm weather draws crowds to waterfront cities and recreational areas. Residents and people working in the area can temporarily park in metered street spaces without paying as long as parking permits are displayed.

Anyone else found parked in the municipal lots will be cited for violating orders prohibiting non-essential travel.

Of the more than 13,000 tests administered countywide, 9.1 percent have returned positive results. 

Santa Clara County*

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,163
  • Deaths: 111

Source: Santa Clara County Public Health Department as of Thursday. *The county data reflects at least two anomalies that require further research and could necessitate adjustment to daily totals. 

The county is experiencing a fairly steady decline in the number of daily cases. Of those who’ve died from illness related to Covid-19, 36 percent are 70 years old and younger. 

Solano County

  • Confirmed Cases: 263
  • Deaths: 5

Source: Solano Public Health as of Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

The number of confirmed cases in Vallejo has grown to 122. Fairfield has the second highest number of Covid-19 patients, with less than half of what’s being seen in Vallejo.

Sonoma County

  • Confirmed Cases: 232
  • Deaths: 2

Source: County of Sonoma with data as of Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. 

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Last modified April 30, 2020 8:50 pm

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