Covid-19 update: Officials prepare for Memorial Day weekend crowds

The three-day Memorial Day weekend is here, but that does not mean the public should relax as Covid-19 is still prevalent in the Bay Area and throughout the nation.

Parks will not allow any type or use of barbecue pits in the Bay Area during the three-day weekend, but that doesn’t mean the public cannot go out to parks.

Crews with the San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks have drawn circles at Dolores Park in the Mission, Washington Square Park in North Beach and others for people to socially distance themselves from others and encourage people to stay in their circles. 

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Friday:

“San Francisco is doing well and the last thing we want to do is get too comfortable and all of a sudden go backwards.”

U.S.

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,622,605
  • Deaths: 97,087

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

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California

  • Confirmed Cases: 92,381
  • Deaths: 3,727

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

Gov. Gavin Newsom Friday highlighted efforts to protect veterans against Covid-19, many of who are in the at-risk vulnerable population. 

The state has eight veteran homes providing housing for 2,400 veterans. Three residents have tested positive so far for the virus but there are currently zero active cases, according to the Governor’s Office.

Fourteen staff have tested positive for Covid-19 and all but two staff members have fully recovered and returned to work.

The California Department of Veterans already began carrying out a 38-point plan to prepare for the arrival of virus and to prevent the virus from spreading inside verteran residencies.

At each residency, staff are given temperature checks every morning and wear face masks. Rigorous testing is occurring with one in three residents and staff being tested since the start of the pandemic.

Newsom also advised the public during the Memorial Day weekend to to stay close to home and attend any large gatherings.

Orange County 

  • Confirmed Cases: 5,157
  • Deaths: 130

Source: Orange County Health Care Agency as of Saturday, 23 days after the May 1 Huntington Beach protest.

The state has given Orange County approval to move further into the state’s Phase 2 reopening guidelines, county officials said Saturday.

The following business will be allowed to reopen with limitations: in-person dining reservations, retail shopping with social distancing and curbside pickup, manufacturing, offices if telework is not possible and outdoor museums.

Businesses can visit the county’s website at https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/ on what they will need to do in order to reopen. 

Sacramento County 

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,289
  • Deaths: 56

Source: Sacramento County Public Health as of Friday, 22 days after the May 1 State Capitol protest.

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Alameda County

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,767
  • Deaths: 92

Source: Alameda County Public Health Department as of Saturday with data reported through Friday.

Some court functions in Alameda County Superior Court will reopen starting on June 1.

The court will resume hearing small claim trials that are calendared in Oakland in Department 106 of the Wiley Manuel Courthouse and in Hayward in Department 519 of the Hayward Hall of Justice. Trials will be conducted remotely using the court’s BlueJeans platform.

Additionally, the court is expanding hearing opportunities for hearings on civil harassment, elder abuse, gun violence, and domestic violence restraining orders calendared at both WWM and HHJ. All hearings will also be done remotely through videoconferencing. 

Contra Costa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,296
  • Deaths: 36

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

The county so far has conducted a total of 28,782 tests and currently reports of nine people hospitalized with Covid-19. No new deaths have been reported since May 20.

Marin County

  • Confirmed Cases: 388
  • Deaths:

Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Friday.

Marin officials warned that while the county has relaxed parking restrictions near parks and trails, the public still needs to follow health orders over the Memorial Day weekend.

Dr. Matt Willis, the county’s public health officer, said in a statement Friday:

“Now that we’re loosening these restrictions, our concern is people may interpret these decisions as a sign that it’s totally safe and that the virus is gone.”

Health officials Marin County residents are still subject to the state’s and local stay-at-home orders.

Residents heading to parks and trials can expect to see sheriffs enforcing social distancing.

Napa County

  • Confirmed Cases: 101
  • Deaths: 3

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

San Francisco

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,350
  • Deaths: 40

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

Mayor London Breed and District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton were in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood to encourage residents to get tested for Covid-19.

The mayor recently announced new testing sites in underserved neighborhoods where testing is not readily available. 

Residents of The City can find more information about Covid-19 testing sites by visiting http://sf.gov/GetTestedSF or by calling 311.

San Mateo County

  • Confirmed Cases: 1,833
  • Deaths: 76

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

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder of San Mateo County Mark Church announced Friday that wedding ceremonies and the issuance of marriage licenses will resume through video conferencing.

The allowance to resume wedding ceremonies is an accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to allow counties to conduct ceremonies via online. 

Church said in a statement:

“Doing so was well worth the effort given the need and the public’s positive response to online wedding services during the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Orders.”

Virtual wedding ceremony appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. More information can be found  at https://www.smcacre.org/Marriages.

Santa Clara County

  • Confirmed Cases: 2,571
  • Deaths: 139

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

Mountain View officials announced a new mobile testing site that will open on Monday.

The popup testing site will be at Rengstorff Park Aquatic Center at 201 S. Rengstorff Ave. in Mountain View. The hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Testing is free to everyone and insurance is not required.

The site is accepting people who drive-thru, bike and walk up to the site.

As more businesses are allowed to reopen, Santa Clara County health officials are encouraging people to get tested, especially persons over the age of 60 with existing health conditions and persons who have been in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

County residents can visit http://sccfreetest.org/ to find testing locations throughout the county.

Solano County

  • Confirmed Cases: 455
  • Deaths: 20

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

Sonoma County

  • Confirmed Cases: 567
  • Deaths: 4

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

Global

  • Confirmed Cases: 5,309,142
  • Deaths: 342,078

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

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Last modified May 23, 2020 9:14 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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