Covid-19 update: Bay Area death toll holds for four days, several counties set to reopen retail, Newsom lays out Stage 3 criteria

Monday marks the fourth day in a row with no new deaths reported in throughout the nine-county Bay Area region. However, the national death toll surpassed 90,000.

Seven counties and Berkeley either started or will soon start Stage 2 of the reopening process with retail curbside pickup and delivery. Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out a new set of goals to get the state into Stage 3, giving hope that sporting events without fans, restricted dining, reopening of gyms and hair salons could be a reality within “weeks, not months.”

We’ve unpacked some of the important Monday updates from around the Bay Area and beyond.   

U.S.

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,508,291
  • Deaths: 90,340

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

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that hospitalization rates for 18 to 64-year-old adults with Covid-19 are higher than what’s been seen over the past five flu seasons. 

Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he’s been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure should he contract Covid-19. About his use of the controversial anti-malaria drug said to increase cardiac health risks, Trump said:

“I’ve taken it for about a week and a half and I’m still here.” 

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John Hopkins University Fatality rates across the U.S. as of Sunday, May 17, 2020.

California

  • Confirmed Cases: 81,456
  • Deaths: 3,279

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

The state began accepting applications Monday for the Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants Project, which will provide $500 to about 150,000 qualifying individuals, up to $1,000 per household. The $75 million fund was first announced April 15 and will serve residents who were not eligible for the federal CARES Act stimulus or extended unemployment benefits due to their status.

Undocumented Bay Area residents can apply online according to their county of residence:

Betty Rose Livingston/S A woman and child sit together at a Playdate Protest held Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. The action, part of the Month of Momentum, took place in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in San Francisco, Calif. and was in opposition to child immigrant detention and separations.

Newsom outlined criteria counties will be expected to meet if seeking a variance to move faster into the next phase of reopening. In a press briefing Monday from Mustards Grill in Napa County, the governor said an estimated 53 counties could be eligible to move into Stage 3, making it possible for additional businesses like gyms and hair salons to reopen. The counties will have to apply and “self-attest” they meet revised markers defined as:

  • No greater than 5 percent hospitalization increase on average over the last seven days
  • Less than 25 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the last 14 days or less than 8 percent test positivity rate
  • No more than 20 Covid-19 patients hospitalized countywide
  • Ability to administer 1.5 tests per 1,000 residents
  • Maintenance of hospital surge capacity
  • Adequate personal protective equipment for essential workers
  • Working closely with county’s skilled nursing facilities
  • Fifteen contact tracers per 100,000 residents
  • Ability to reinstitute shelter orders if necessary

Counties will be able to apply for variances this week and Newsom believes several counties will be able to move into the next reopening stage, at their own pace, within a few weeks.

Newsom said:

 “We’re going to see a lot more activity — let’s just make sure we do it thoughtfully.” 

The governor said 11 million masks were delivered just Friday, with 56.1 million masks currently in state inventory. 

Orange County

  • Confirmed Cases: 4,434
  • Deaths: 88

Source: Orange County Health Care Agency as of Monday, 18 days after the May 1 Huntington Beach protest.  

An additional four Covid-19 deaths were reported over the weekend. According to county health officials, 78 patients were being treated in intensive care units as of Saturday.

Orange County Health Care Agency Orange County, Calif. Covid-19 hospitalizations by day through Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Sacramento County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,257
  • Deaths: 56

Source: Sacramento County Public Health as of Monday, 18 days after the May 1 State Capitol protest.

Alameda County

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,387
  • Deaths: 82

Source: Alameda County Public Health Department as of Monday with data reported through Sunday.

Alameda County joined five other Bay Area counties and Berkeley in relaxing Covid-19 shelter-in-place orders for some business operations this week. A statement issued by Neetu Balram, the county’s health department public information officer, said:

“While the data is moving in the right direction, we are monitoring the five indicators with vigilance and caution.”

The five indicators are as follows:  

  • Flat or decreasing total number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations
  • Sufficient hospital capacity
  • Sufficient daily test capacity
  • Sufficient contact tracing, investigation and isolation/quarantine capacity
  • At least 30-day supply of personal protective equipment for all healthcare workers
Jesse Garnier SFBay Covid-19 dashboard highlighting cumulative cases in Alameda and Santa Clara counties as of Monday, May 18, 2020.

County officials also issued an order allowing for highly regulated in-vehicle gatherings, much like what was announced in Contra Costa County last week. Up to 200 cars can gather in outdoor areas for up to three hours at a time without passengers exiting enclosed vehicles.

People together in vehicles must be from the same household and must wear masks if windows are rolled down.

As of Monday, the total cumulative case count in Alameda County was just about 100 patients shy of Santa Clara County reporting.   

Contra Costa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,155
  • Deaths: 33

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

Dr. Chris Fanitano, the county’s health officer, clarified the revised health order that allows most retail stores to reopen for limited service starting Tuesday. The order also permits warehouse and manufacturing operations under strict regulations. The county press release specified:

“Stores may not display merchandise for sale on tables or otherwise outside the stores. Customers may not enter the store or interior of any indoor shopping mall. Stores must also employ reasonable measures to require customers to comply with social distancing requirements at the pickup areas, including marking locations at six-foot intervals for customers to stand while waiting in line.”

Nik Wojcik/SFBay Numbered parking stalls where customers wait for Joann’s Fabric staff to bring their orders out in the Park n Shop plaza in Concord, Calif.

Farnitano said the county has performed well over the past two weeks in achieving goals defined by five indicators, including stabilizing new case and hospitalization rates.

Marin County

  • Confirmed Cases: 329
  • Deaths: 14

Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Monday.

County officials reported Monday that two patients and five staff members from the area’s skilled nursing facilities are currently in the recovery phase from Covid-19. A total of 69 patients and staff from five SNFs have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic’s regional onset. 

Napa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 92
  • Deaths: 3

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

Forty-three of the county’s total confirmed Covid-19 patients have fully recovered from the virus. 

San Francisco

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,131
  • Deaths: 36

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

Mayor London Breed announced Monday that an additional three Covid-19 test sites are being established in order to serve underserved communities. One will be located in the Tenderloin neighborhood, another at City College of San Francisco’s main campus and a third will be a mobile facility that will first attend to the 94112 zip code region.

Jesse Garnier SFBay Covid-19 dashboard highlighting San Francisco cases by day as of Monday, May 18, 2020.

San Mateo County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,671
  • Deaths: 66

Source: San Mateo County Health Department with data reported through Sunday.

The county’s hospitalization rates are fairly stable over the past few days, though not low enough to be eligible for the variance Newsom introduced Monday. As of last reporting on Saturday, 54 Covid-19 patients were receiving hospital treatment, with 14 in intensive care units.  

Santa Clara County

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,470
  • Deaths: 135

Source: Santa Clara County Public Health Department as of Monday. 

Santa Clara County has steadily been the Bay Area’s ground zero for Covid-19 cases, though Alameda County is quickly nearing the same number of total cases.

County officials revised the health order effective this Friday, joining other Bay Area counties by allowing retail curbside pickup and delivery service as well as limited manufacturing and warehouse operations. In a statement issued by Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s health officer, attributed the ability to relax orders to “the steadfast commitment of our residents to stay home, practice social distancing, and follow public health guidance.”  

Solano County

  • Confirmed Cases: 424
  • Deaths: 16

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

Health officials reported Friday that 17 Covid-19 patients are currently hospitalized countywide, with ICU beds and ventilators in “good” supply.   

Sonoma County

  • Confirmed Cases: 391
  • Deaths: 4

Source: County of Sonoma with data as of Monday at 9:40 p.m. 

Global

  • Confirmed Cases: 4,801,282
  • Deaths: 318,465

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

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Last modified May 18, 2020 10:19 pm

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