Spike of COVID deaths in Solano Care facilities continues – 2 more deaths reported today


[For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE.]

Wednesday, September 30: 26 new cases overnight, 3 hospitalizations, 2 deaths.  Since the outbreak began: 6,445 cases, 395 hospitalized, 71 deaths.Compare previous report, Tuesday, Sept 29:Summary

  • Solano County reported 26 new cases today, total of 6,445 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 2 weeks, Solano reported 438 new cases, average of over 31 per day.
  • Deaths – RECENT SPIKE: 16 deaths reported in the last 8 days including 2 new deaths reported today, total of 71 Solano deaths.
    Deaths reported Sept 22 – 30:
    – 1 very young person 18-49 years;
    – 2 middle agers 50-64 years;
    – 13 of our elders aged 65+

    For details on yesterday’s report of 4 deaths, 3 of which were in Solano care facilities, see the Daily Republic report: Recent Covid-related deaths at Fairfield, Vallejo care centers climb to 9
  • Active cases – Solano reported 5 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 225.  Note that only 14 of these 225 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has offered no reports on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – the number of currently hospitalized persons fell by 2 today, total of only 14.  The total number hospitalized since the outbreak started increased by 3 today, total of 395. (See age group hospitalization stats below).
  • ICU BedsThe County reported a big reduction in the percentage of ICU beds available, down from 55% to 40%.  (After 8 weeks, still no information about availability of ventilators.)
  • Testing – The County reports today that 1,001 residents were tested overnight, new total of 89,725.  Solano has a long way to go, even as we celebrate achieving 20% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate fell a bit today from 4.8% to 4.7%.
For the record, Solano’s test rate crested the week of July 15-22, when it peaked at 9.3%.  The County has hit 7% (or more) three times since, on August 21, September 1 and September 2.  In the 4 weeks since then, our test rate has run as high as 6.5% and as low as 2.7% (on Sept 11), averaging 4.1%.
The County’s line graph for positive test rate looks like a flat line and tells us little or nothing, not worth posting here.
Percent positive test rates are among the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much more stable California
7-day test rate remained fell today, from 2.9% to 2.8%
(Note that Solano County displays past weeks and months in a 7-day test positivity line graph which also shows daily results.  However, the chart does not display an accurate number of cases for the most recent days, as there is a lag time in receiving test results.  The 7-day curve also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 6 new cases today, total of 721 cases, representing 11.2% of the 6,445 total cases.  No new hospitalizations among this age group today, a total of 6 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deathsIn recent weeks it seems too many youth are ignoring public health orders.  Cases among Solano youth rose steadily over the summer, from 5.6% of total cases on June 8 to 11% on August 31 and has remained around 11% since then.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 6 youth have now been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 13 new cases today, total of 3,860 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents 60% of the total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 129 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this young age group today, total of 5 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect this group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 4 new cases today, total of 1,226 cases.  This age group represents 19% of the 6,445 total cases.
    No new hospitalizations today, total of 105 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 13 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – Today the County reported 3 new cases, total of 637.  3 new hospitalizations, total of 155.  2 new deaths, total of 53 of our elders who died of COVID.  Much of the recent spike in this age group is related to outbreaks at Fairfield and Vallejo care facilities.  (For details on yesterday’s report of 4 deaths, 3 of which were in Solano care facilities, see the Daily Republic report: Recent Covid-related deaths at Fairfield, Vallejo care centers climb to 9.)  This age group’s 637 cases represent 9.9% of the 6,445 total cases.  In this older age group, 24.3% of cases required hospitalization at one time.  This group accounts for 53 of the 71 deaths, or 75%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 3 new cases today, total of 172 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 1 new case today, total of 419 cases.
  • Fairfield added 6 new cases today, total of 2,088 cases.
  • Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 52 cases.
  • Suisun City added 3 new cases today, total of 471 cases.
  • Vacaville added 3 new cases today, total of 1,083 cases.
  • Vallejo added 10 new cases today, total of 2,140 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 20 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

The County report on race / ethnicity includes case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths and Solano population statistics.  This information is discouragingly similar to national reports that indicate significantly worse outcomes among black and brown Americans.  Note that all of this data surely undercounts Latinx Americans, as there is a large group of “Multirace / Others” which likely is composed mostly of Latinex members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases, 11% of hospitalizations, and 18% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 24% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 30% of cases, 29% of hospitalizations, and 18% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 21% of cases, 27% of hospitalizations and as of today 31% of deathsNOTE: A week ago, the percentage of deaths of White Americans began to rise sharply. After hovering at 20-21% for months, White American deaths rose suddenly on Thursday Sept. 24 to 25%.  Then on Monday Sept. 28 to 26%, on Tuesday Sept. 29 to 28% and in today’s report to a high of 31%.  It seems likely this increase corresponds to the recent spike of cases and deaths in Solano care facilities.

More…

The County’s new and improved Coronavirus Dashboard is full of much more information, too extensive to cover here on a daily basis.  The Benicia Independent will continue to summarize daily and highlight a report or two.  Check out the Dashboard at https://doitgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=055f81e9fe154da5860257e3f2489d67.

BREAKING: Non-delivery of California Voter Information Guide

“…everyone is very jumpy about this election and not to have information in a timely manner is problematic.”  – Constance Beutel

By Roger Straw, September 30, 2020
Click the image to download the online version of the official Voter Guide.

People are voting already, but many are doing so without the aid of the official California Voter Information Guide that details state races and propositions.  The guide is mailed to voters before every election, and reportedly went out in “early September.”

Constance Beutel alerted me this afternoon.  She had been watching for her Voter Guide, checked around, and found others here in Benicia in the same situation.

Beutel phoned the offices of our County Supervisor Monica Brown, State Senator Dodd, and State Assembly Representative Tim Grayson and found out that some if not all staff there had also not received their Voter Guide!  All said they would look into it.

Stay tuned…

With permission, here is Beutel’s letter to Tim Grayson staffer Jana Modena:

From: CONSTANCE BEUTEL
Sent: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, 01:56:16 PM PDT
Subject: No Official Voter Information Guide

I’ve just spoken with Tom Bartee letting him know that I have not received the official California Voter Information Guide. I am not the only one in Benicia in this situation. I do have my official ballot.

I called my County Supervisor’s office and learned that the Sec of State sends this guide out so I then called the Sec of State’s office and waited about 20 minutes to speak to the elections division. I was then told that the guides were mailed in early September and a guide would be mailed to me within the next 5 to 10 days. I asked if this would also apply to all of Benicia. The woman who was answering the phone said, “no.”

Mr. Bartee indicated that he had not received his guide either.

As we all know, everyone is very jumpy about this election and not to have information in a timely manner is problematic!

Please let the Assemblyman know of this problem and expedite a solution.

I await your reply.

thank you

Constance

Solano reports 4 more COVID deaths, 14 in the last week: 1 youth, 2 middle-agers, 11 elders


[For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE.]

[NOTE: It is not clear if today’s report of 4 deaths actually represents NEW deaths.  Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano public health officer, said last week that some recent death reports were updating discrepancies in reporting from last summer.  But Matyas indicated last Friday that he believed the county records had been fully brought up to date.  >> Whether the recent newly reported deaths are newly deceased or from last summer, it is sad and newsworthy that Solano COVID deaths have increased by 14 in the last 7 days.  – R.S.]

Tuesday, September 29: 19 new cases overnight, 3 hospitalizations, 4 deaths.  Since the outbreak began: 6,419 cases, 392 hospitalized, 69 deaths.Compare previous report, Monday, Sept 28:Summary

  • Solano County reported 19 new cases today, total of 6,419 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last week, Solano reported 225 new cases, average of 32 per day.
  • Deaths – RECENT SPIKE: 14 deaths reported in the last week including 4 new deaths reported today, total of 69 Solano deaths.  Deaths reported Sept 22 – 29:
    – 1 very young person 18-49 years;
    – 2 middle agers 50-64 years;
    – 11 of our elders aged 65+
  • Active cases – Solano reported 23 fewer ACTIVE cases today, total of 220.  Note that only 16 of these 220 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has offered no reports on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – the number of currently hospitalized persons remained the same today, total of only 16.  The total number hospitalized since the outbreak started increased by 3 today, total of 392. (See age group hospitalization stats below).
  • ICU BedsThe County reported 55% of ICU beds available, same as yesterday.  (After 8 weeks, still no information about availability of ventilators.)
  • Testing – The County reports today that 522 residents were tested overnight, new total of 88,724.  Solano has a long way to go: only 19.8% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate fell today from 5.3% to 4.8%.
For the record, Solano’s test rate crested the week of July 15-22, when it peaked at 9.3%.  The County has hit 7% or more three times since, on August 21 and September 1 and 2.  In the 4 weeks since then, our test rate has run as high as 6.5% and as low as 2.7% (on Sept 11), averaging 4.1%.
The County’s line graph for positive test rate looks like a flat line and tells us little or nothing, not worth posting here.
Percent positive test rates are among the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much more stable California
7-day test rate remained steady today, at 2.9%
(Note that Solano County displays past weeks and months in a 7-day test positivity line graph which also shows daily results.  However, the chart does not display an accurate number of cases for the most recent days, as there is a lag time in receiving test results.  The 7-day curve also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 1 new case today, total of 715 cases, representing 11.1% of the 6,419 total cases.  No new hospitalizations among this age group today, a total of 6 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deathsIn recent weeks it seems too many youth are ignoring public health orders.  Cases among Solano youth rose steadily over the summer, from 5.6% of total cases on June 8 to 11% on August 31 and has remained around 11% since then.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 6 youth have now been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 11 new cases today, total of 3,847 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents 60% of the total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 129 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this young age group today, total of 5 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect his group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 6 new cases today, total of 1,222 cases.  This age group represents 19% of the 6,419 total cases.
    1 new hospitalization today, total of 105 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 13 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – Today the County reported 1 new case, total of 634.  2 new hospitalizations, total of 152.  4 new deaths, total of 51 of our elders who died of COVID.  Much of the recent spike in this age group may be related to an outbreak at the Parkrose Gardens Alzheimer’s and Dementia care facility in Fairfield, where 31 patients and 8 staff were reported on September 15 to have tested positive.  This age group’s 634 cases represent 9.9% of the 6,419 total cases.  In this older age group, 24% of cases required hospitalization at one time.  This group accounts for 51 of the 69 deaths, or 74%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 2 new cases today, total of 169 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 1 new case today, total of 418 cases.
  • Fairfield added 3 new cases today, total of 2,082 cases.
  • Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 52 cases.
  • Suisun City remained steady today, total of 468 cases.
  • Vacaville added 6 new cases today, total of 1,080 cases.
  • Vallejo added 7 new cases today, total of 2,130 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 20 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

The County report on race / ethnicity includes case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths and Solano population statistics.  This information is discouragingly similar to national reports that indicate significantly worse outcomes among black and brown Americans.  Note that all of this data surely undercounts Latinx Americans, as there is a large group of “Multirace / Others” which likely is composed mostly of Latinex members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases, 11% of hospitalizations, and 19% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 25% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 30% of cases, 29% of hospitalizations, and 19% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 21% of cases, 26% of hospitalizations and 28% of deaths.

More…

The County’s new and improved Coronavirus Dashboard is full of much more information, too extensive to cover here on a daily basis.  The Benicia Independent will continue to summarize daily and highlight a report or two.  Check out the Dashboard at https://doitgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=055f81e9fe154da5860257e3f2489d67.

Solano COVID update: 2 more deaths, test rate rises again


[For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE – R.S.]

Monday, September 28: 91 new cases over the weekend, no new hospitalizations, 2 deaths.  Since the outbreak began: 6,400 cases, 389 hospitalized, 65 deaths.Compare previous report, Friday, Sept 25:Summary

  • Solano County reported 91 new cases today, total of 6,400 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 2 weeks, Solano reported 463 new cases, average of 33 per day.
  • Deaths – RECENT SPIKE: 8 new deaths reported last week and 2 new deaths today, total of 65 Solano deaths.  Both new deaths were persons 65 years or older.
  • Active cases – Solano reported 26 fewer ACTIVE cases today, total of 243.  Note that only 16 of these 243 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has offered no reports on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – the number of currently hospitalized persons dropped by 5 today, total of only 16.  The total number hospitalized since the outbreak started remained steady today, total of 389. (See age group hospitalization stats below).
  • ICU BedsThe County reported 55% of ICU beds available, up 5% today.  (After 8 weeks, still no information about availability of ventilators.)
  • Testing – The County reports today that 1,413 residents were tested over the weekend, new total of 88,202.  Solano has a long way to go: only 19.7% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate rose dramatically today from 3.9% to 5.3%.  Our supposedly smooth 7-day moving average has jumped all over the place recently (see note about delayed adjustments below).  For the record, just three weeks ago we saw Solano rates above 7% for the first time since we peaked at 9.3% on July 22.  Then two weeks ago we bottomed out at 2.7%.  The County’s line graph for positive test rate looks like a flat line and tells us absolutely nothing, not worth posting here.  Health officials and news reports focus on percent positive test rates as one of the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much lower and more stable California
7-day test rate rose slightly today, from 2.8% to 2.9%
(Note that Solano County displays past weeks and months in a 7-day test positivity line graph which also shows daily results.  However, the chart does not display an accurate number of cases for the most recent days, as there is a lag time in receiving test results.  The 7-day curve also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 13 new cases over the weekend, total of 714 cases, representing 11.2% of the 6,400 total cases.  No new hospitalizations among this age group today, a total of 6 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deathsIn recent weeks it seems too many youth are ignoring public health orders.  Cases among Solano youth rose steadily over the summer, from 5.6% of total cases on June 8 to 11% on August 31 and has remained around 11% since then.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers have increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 6 youth have now been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 53 new cases over the weekend, total of 3,836 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents 60% of the total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 129 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this young age group today, total of 5 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect his group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 19 new cases over the weekend, total of 1,216 cases.  This age group represents 19% of the 6,400 total cases.  No new hospitalizations today, total of 104 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 13 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – Today the County reported 6 new cases, total of 633.  No new hospitalizations, total of 150.  2 new deaths, total of 47 of our elders who died of COVID.  Much of the recent spike in this age group may be related to an outbreak at the Parkrose Gardens Alzheimer’s and Dementia care facility in Fairfield, where 31 patients and 8 staff were reported on September 15 to have tested positive.  This age group’s 633 cases represent 9.9% of the 6,400 total cases.  In this older age group, 23.7% of cases required hospitalization at one time.  This group accounts for 47 of the 65 deaths, or 72%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 2 new cases today, total of 167 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 4 new cases today, total of 417 cases.
  • Fairfield added 23 new cases today, total of 2,079 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 4 new cases today, total of 52 cases.
  • Suisun City added 7 new cases today, total of 468 cases.
  • Vacaville added 18 new cases today, total of 1,074 cases.
  • Vallejo added 33 new cases today, total of 2,123 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 20 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

The County report on race / ethnicity includes case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths and Solano population statistics.  This information is discouragingly similar to national reports that indicate significantly worse outcomes among black and brown Americans.  Note that all of this data surely undercounts Latinx Americans, as there is a large group of “Multirace / Others” which likely is composed mostly of Latinex members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases, 11% of hospitalizations, and 20% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 23% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 30% of cases, 30% of hospitalizations, and 20% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 21% of cases, 26% of hospitalizations and 26% of deaths.

More…

The County’s new and improved Coronavirus Dashboard is full of much more information, too extensive to cover here on a daily basis.  The Benicia Independent will continue to summarize daily and highlight a report or two.  Check out the Dashboard at https://doitgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=055f81e9fe154da5860257e3f2489d67.