Covid-19 Update: Global cases pass 4 million, Tesla sues Alameda county

The number of Covid-19 cases topped over 4 million cases worldwide Saturday, according to John Hopkins Medical University.

There are 279,007 deaths now reported worldwide with the U.S. having the most deaths with more than 78,000.

U.S.

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,309,159
  • Deaths: 78,792

Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center Covid-19 tracking tool as of Saturday at 6:32 p.m.

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California

  • Confirmed Cases: 66,558
  • Deaths: 2,687

Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center Covid-19 tracking tool as of Saturday at 6:32 p.m.

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Alameda County

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,023
  • Deaths: 71

Source: The Alameda County Public Health Department with data reported through Saturday and including Berkeley.

Three cruise ships without any passengers will idle at the Port of Oakland starting this weekend while the U.S. embargoes cruise operations. The port said it is making berth space available because about 100 cruise line ships worldwide are seeking safe harbor during the coronavirus pandemic.

Union City on Monday will partially reopen city administration offices that have closed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The offices will open to process building permits, development applications, permit payments and business licenses, according to city officials. These limited services will be offered Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All customers visiting the offices will be required to wear a face covering and will be required to follow safety protocols that will be on display.

City staff will utilize online payment systems and engage with customers by phone in an attempt to limit exposure to the public.

This is in alignment with Alameda County’s Public Health Emergency Order, officials said.

Some available financial services include licenses for businesses and animals, alarm permits, payments for building permits, fire, zoning apps, encroachment permits and parking permits and miscellaneous services including updating and closing accounts.

For more information on the services available or to make an appointment, please call (510) 675-5313 or visit building@unioncity.org.

Automaker Tesla CEO Elon Musk Saturday threatened Alameda County that he would move his Fremont factory plant out of the county due to county health officials not allowing the factory to open during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Musk wrote in a series of tweets in reply to the Twitter account @thirdrowtesla that the company will file a lawsuit against the Alameda County and criticized the county’s Interim Public Health Officer Erica Tan.

In another tweet, Musk said he will move the company’s headquarters and any future activity to Texas and Nevada.

In a statement from the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency and the Public Health Department, they said the county has in direct communications and on the ground with the Tesla team in Fremont:

“This has been a collaborative, good faith effort to develop and implement a safety plan that allows for reopening while protecting the health and well-being of the thousands of employees who travel to and from work at Tesla’s factory.”

The statement went on to say:

“The team at Tesla has been responsive to our guidance and recommendations, and we look forward to coming to an agreement on an appropriate safety plan very soon.”

Contra Costa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,036
  • Deaths: 32

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

Contra Costa County officials announced this week that the county is offering free Covid-19 testing by appointment to any resident who might think they need one regardless of insurance, ability to pay, or whether they have symptoms or not.

The county is operating five drive-thru sites, and the state is operating three sites in the county.

Residents can call (844) 421-0804 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily for an appointment at any Contra Costa site.

Marin County

  • Confirmed Cases: 259
  • Deaths: 14

Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Saturday.

Napa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 79
  • Deaths: 2

Source: Department of Health and Human Services as of Saturday.

Napa County health officials Friday modified its shelter-in-place order to require residents and workers to wear face coverings when entering businesses and workplaces when it is not possible to six feet apart.

Napa County’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Karen Relucio, said in a statement:

“The intent of today’s order is to ensure that our residents continue to shelter in their places of residence and continue to slow the spread of Covid-19.”

San Francisco

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,891
  • Deaths: 33

Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health with data through Saturday.

While Gov. Newsom announced this week that every registered voter in the state for the November 2020 election, San Francisco already had plans in the works to do just that.

Martin Eckert/Flickr A boarded-up Patrick & Co. stationery store on Market Street in San Francisco, Calif. is seen on Friday, May 8, 2020.

The Board of Supervisors’ Government Audit and Oversight Committee Thursday moved forward legislation to the full board of Supervisors on May 19 to issue a vote-by-mail ballot to every registered voter in The City.

Introduced by Supervisor Hillary Ronen, the cost of issuing a ballot is $1.5 million, according to a report by the Budget and Legislative Analyst.

The Department of Elections would also be required to issue a report to the board by June 30 on plans for the November election.

Starting on May 18, San Francisco retailers such as bookstores; florists; music stores; hobby, toy and game stores; home furnishing and home good stores; cosmetics and beauty supply stores; musical instrument and supply stores; and sewing and fabric stores can reopen for storefront pickup.

San Mateo County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,425
  • Deaths: 56

Source: San Mateo County Health with data reported through Friday.

Santa Clara County

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,307
  • Deaths: 128

Source: Santa Clara County Public Health as of Saturday.

The county reported Saturday of 19 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 while reporting no new deaths from the virus.

The Latinx/Hispanic community in the county make up 38 percent of Covid-19 cases, followed by the Asian/Pacific Islander community with 22 percent of cases reported.

Solano County

  • Confirmed Cases: 351
  • Deaths: 7

Source: Solano Public Health as of Friday at 4:30 p.m. The county does not post data on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sonoma County

  • Confirmed Cases: 309
  • Deaths: 3

Source: County of Sonoma as of Saturday at 7 p.m.

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Bay City News contributed information to this report.

Last modified May 9, 2020 8:41 pm

Jerold Chinn

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.

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