Category Archives: Benicia CA

#wearamask, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Face coverings, Omicron variant, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine, Vaccine mandate

Solano County’s final MWF COVID report: 136 new infections, 98 previously undisclosed hospitalizations

NOTE: The information below is not the latest.  TAP HERE for today’s latest information.

By Roger Straw, Friday, March 11, 2022
[Note: The information below is from Solano County Public Health’s final Mon-Wed-Fri update.  Starting next week, Solano will update it’s COVID-19 Dashboard only on Mondays and Thursdays.  Barring a new surge, I will follow on that same schedule.  – R.S.]

Solano County reported 136 new COVID infections today and 98 new hospitalizations.

Solano Public Health COVID dashboard, Friday, March 11, 2022:

NOTICE: Solano County Public Health will update its COVID Dashboard ONLY ON MONDAYS & THURSDAYS starting next week, Mon 3/14.

DEATHS:  Solano reported no new deaths in today’s report.  Fifteen new deaths were reported in February, ALL over 65 years of age.  So far in March, 10 County residents were reported to have died with COVID.  A total of 406 Solano residents have now died of COVID or COVID-related causes over the course of the pandemic.

Dr. Matyas explains huge increase in COVID cases

TRANSMISSION RATE: With last Monday’s huge increase in case numbers, Solano moved back into the HIGH transmission rate and remains there today, with a total of 4,323 new cases over the last 7 days. But the County has explained that many of Monday’s new cases are based on a ‘different testing procedure’ and predate our last 7 days, so we may not know Solano’s true 7-day case count until next Monday, 3/14. (See also Solano Public Health Director explains…)  CDC FORMULA: Based on Solano County’s population, 450 or more cases in 7 days places Solano in the CDC’s population-based definition of a HIGH transmission rate.  We would need to drop below 225 cases in 7 days to rate as having only MODERATE community transmission.

>ACTIVE CASES: Solano reported 425 ACTIVE cases today, down from 429 at last report, but still far above the County’s 329 active cases on December 1.

CASES BY CITY – Friday, March 11, 2022:

  • BENICIA added 6 new cases today, a total of 3,104 cases since the outbreak began.  TRANSMISSION RATE: The County’s extraordinary update on Monday pushed Benicia’s 7-day case count well into the HIGH range and continues HIGH today at 80 CASES.  But the County has explained that many of these new cases are based on a ‘different testing procedure’ and predate our last 7 days, so we may not know Benicia’s true 7-day case count until next Monday, 3/14.  For a city with Benicia’s population, anything over 27 cases in 7 days is considered HIGH TRANSMISSION. (See chart below.)

  • Dixon added 8 more cases today, total of 4,317 cases.
  • Fairfield added 41 new cases today, total of 22,487 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 1 new case today, total of 1,185 cases.
  • Suisun City added 15 new cases today, total of 5,883 cases.
  • Vacaville added 34 new cases today, a total of 21,501 cases.
  • Vallejo added 31 new cases today, a total of 25,325 cases.
  • Unincorporated added 0 new cases today, a total of 199 cases.

TEST RATE:  Solano County’s 7-Day Percent Positive Test Rate has fallen dramatically in March, down today to 6% today. Even at this lower rate, SOLANO DOES NOT COMPARE FAVORABLY: The CALIFORNIA 7-day % positive rate was steady today at only 1.6%.  [Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracking Center]

HOSPITALIZATIONS:

CURRENT The number of those currently hospitalized with COVID in Solano County fell today from 29 to 25 persons.  Current hospitalizations don’t tell the whole story, as it reflects both admissions and discharges.  Only from the increase in total hospitalizations can we know how many new admissions have come into our hospitals as of this date.

TOTAL hospitalizations over the course of the pandemic: Solano Public Health played catch-up today, updating its Age Group and Race/Ethnic charts today, adding 98 previously undisclosed hospitalizations, for a pandemic total of 3,765. (The County’s hospitalization numbers for Race/Ethnicity is less accurate, but presented here to show relative percentages.)

ICU Bed Availability in Solano County fell today from 49% to 45%, in the County’s GREEN safe zone .

Ventilator Availability  rose today from 64% to 68% available, but still in the GREEN safe zone. 

HOW DOES TODAY’S REPORT COMPARE?  See recent reports and others going back to April 20, 2020 in my ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).

Click green text above or on the image.

>The data on this page is from the Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and (as of 3/14/2022) is updated Monday and Thursday between 4 and 6pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for “Summary, Demographics” and “Vaccines.”  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

See also my BENINDY ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).  I have also archived the hundreds of full CORONAVIRUS REPORTS posted here almost daily on the Benicia Independent since April 2020.

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Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Hospitalizations, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Solano County Health Officer Bela Matyas

Solano Public Health Director explains this week’s huge increase in COVID cases

By Roger Straw, Friday, March 11, 2022

Dr. Bela Matyas, Public Health Director with the Solano Public Health Department (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

In the March 6 Fairfield Daily Republic, reporter Todd Hansen wrote about his phone interview with Solano Public Health Director Bela Matyas: “Solano County expects to receive a significant report of previously unreported cases that were identified through a different testing procedure.”

Sure enough, in the County’s March 7 COVID Dashboard update, Public Health reported a whopping 4,115 previously unreported cases in Solano County, and 71 previously unreported cases in Benicia, unprecedented increases and huge numbers by any measure.

I wrote to Public Health Director Dr. Bela Matyas asking for clarification:

Dr. Matyas –

Please explain the meaning of reporter Hansen’s “different testing procedure.”  What accounts for these dramatic increases?

I agree that the numbers show cases declining. But what these revelations clearly do show is that previous updates were vastly under-reported. Are you going back and updating the dates where these new cases were discovered, showing a higher curve?

How is the public to understand in detail what WAS our experience with COVID over the period when these cases were not being uncovered and reported?

Dr. Matyas gave me permission to share his email explanation:

Hi Roger,

The State’s COVID-19 database, CalREDIE, collects several types of laboratory data for COVID-19, including pcr results, rapid antigen test results and serology results.

According to the State, only the pcr results are counted as confirmed cases, and the State’s total of cases for each county represents these confirmed (i.e. pcr-posititve) cases.

For most of the duration of the pandemic, we have noted that the State’s reported case count for Solano is different from our own count.

In continuing to investigate the reason(s) for this, we recently learned that

      • the State’s count of confirmed cases for Solano included several hundred persons whose only laboratory evidence of disease was a serology for COVID-19 (serology is not approved by the FDA for diagnosis, except for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children [MIS-C]),
      • and it included several hundred persons whose laboratory result was a positive rapid antigen test.

Among those with serology results only were 33 residents who had been hospitalized in out-of-county hospitals (e.g. John Muir), and the diagnoses based only on serology were nearly all from mid-2020 through 2021.

As for the cases with positive rapid antigen tests only, it is difficult to discern a pattern to identify which of these were counted as confirmed cases and which were counted as probable cases (and not, therefore, included in the case count for the county). It is noteworthy, however, that over the last several months, use of rapid antigen tests to diagnose COVID-19 cases rather than use of pcr tests has become increasingly prevalent; in fact, in a growing number of circumstances, the rapid antigen test has become the preferred test for diagnosis and is the test recommended by the State.

Based on this, we decided to remove from our county case count those persons whose diagnosis was based on a serology test only, and this included 33 hospitalized individuals.

By contrast, we decided to include in our county case count those residents whose diagnosis was based on a rapid antigen test only.

The resulting math was to:

      1.  Delete 409 serology-only cases (including 33 hospitalized);
      2.  Add 4410 rapid antigen-only cases; and
      3.  Add 114 cases diagnosed over the prior three days (including 3 hospitalized).

The net result, therefore, was an increase of 4115 cases and a decrease of 30 hospitalizations.

With respect to your specific questions below, yes, the previous updates were significantly under-reported (particularly for January and early February). We do go back and update each of the line curves with date-appropriate data every time we post a new update to the dashboard.

I think it’s difficult for the public to understand in detail what we are experiencing when there are significant issues with data accuracy; we still have significant under-reporting of positive rapid antigen tests from long-term care facilities, from home testing and from pharmacy testing.

I hope to publish a local reflection on Dr. Matyas’ rather complicated explanation.  Stay tuned.  – R. S.

>Reference the Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard where you can hover a mouse or click on an item for additional information.  Note the tabs at top for “Summary, Demographics” and “Vaccines.”  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

See also my BENINDY ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).  I have also archived the hundreds of full CORONAVIRUS REPORTS posted here almost daily on the Benicia Independent since April 2020.

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#wearamask, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Face coverings, Omicron variant, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine, Vaccine mandate

Solano County reports 4 more COVID deaths and 72 new cases today

NOTE: The information below is not the latest.  TAP HERE for today’s latest information.

By Roger Straw, Wednesday, March 9, 2022
[Note: I requested and received an email clarification from Solano County Public Health Officer Bela Matyas regarding Monday’s huge increase in our County’s COVID cases.  Dr. Matyas explained in rather technical terms the ‘different testing procedure’ that led to Monday’s sudden reporting of 4,115 previously undisclosed cases and the strange drop in the number of known hospitalizations.  I’m working on a post to share the new methodology – hopefully tomorrow, stay tuned….  – R.S.]

Solano County reported 72 new COVID infections today, 4 new deaths.

Solano Public Health COVID dashboard, Wednesday, March 9, 2022:

NOTICE: Solano County Public Health will update its COVID Dashboard ONLY ON MONDAYS & THURSDAYS as of March 14, 2022

DEATHS:  Solano reported four new deaths in today’s report, one relatively young person aged 18-49 and three age 65+.  Trending: Fifteen new deaths were reported in February, ALL over 65 years of age.  So far in March, 10 more County residents were reported to have died with COVID.  A total of 406 Solano residents have now died of COVID or COVID-related causes over the course of the pandemic.

TRANSMISSION RATE: With Monday’s huge corrections, Solano moved back into the HIGH transmission rate and remains there today, with a total of 4,325 new cases over the last 7 days. But the County has explained that many of Monday’s new cases are based on a ‘different testing procedure’ and predate our last 7 days, so we may not know Solano’s true 7-day case count until another week goes by.  CDC FORMULA: Based on Solano County’s population, 450 or more cases in 7 days places Solano in the CDC’s population-based definition of a HIGH transmission rate.  We would need to drop below 225 cases in 7 days to rate as having only MODERATE community transmission.

ACTIVE CASES: Solano reported 429 ACTIVE cases today, down from 456 at last report, but still far above the County’s 329 active cases on December 1.

CASES BY CITY – Wednesday, March 9, 2022:

  • BENICIA added 3 new cases today, a total of 3,098 cases since the outbreak began.  TRANSMISSION RATE: The County’s extraordinary update on Monday pushed Benicia’s 7-day case count well into the HIGH range and continues HIGH today at 80 CASES.  But the County has explained that many of these new cases are based on a ‘different testing procedure’ and predate our last 7 days, so we may not know Benicia’s true 7-day case count until another week goes by.  For a city with Benicia’s population, anything over 27 cases in 7 days is considered HIGH TRANSMISSION. (See chart below.)

  • Dixon reportedly (!?) had 2 fewer cases today, total of 4,309 cases.
  • Fairfield added 14 new cases today, total of 22,446 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 3 new cases today, total of 1,184 cases.
  • Suisun City added 5 new cases today, total of 5,868 cases.
  • Vacaville added 25 new cases today, a total of 21,467 cases.
  • Vallejo added 23 new cases today, a total of 25,294 cases.
  • Unincorporated added 1 new case today, a total of 199 cases.

TEST RATE:  Solano County’s 7-Day Percent Positive Test Rate shot up after Christmas and continued through February at 13%, but fell dramatically in March and remains at 7% today. Even at this lower rate, SOLANO DOES NOT COMPARE FAVORABLY: The CALIFORNIA 7-day % positive rate fell today from 1.8% to only 1.6%.  [Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracking Center]  AND the U.S. 7-day % positive rate fell today from 3.2% to only 2.9%. [Source: CDC COVID Data Tracker.] 

HOSPITALIZATIONS:

CURRENT The number of those currently hospitalized with COVID in Solano County fell today from 31 to 29 persons.  Current hospitalizations don’t tell the whole story, as it reflects both admissions and discharges.  Only from the increase in total hospitalizations can we know how many new admissions have come into our hospitals as of this date.

TOTAL hospitalizations over the course of the pandemic: Solano Public Health updated its Age Group chart today, adding 3 new hospitalizations, for a pandemic total of 3,667.  One of the three was age 18-49 and two were age 65+.

ICU Bed Availability in Solano County rose today from 43% to 49%, in the County’s GREEN safe zone .

Ventilator Availability  fell today from 72% to 64% available, but still in the GREEN safe zone. 

HOW DOES TODAY’S REPORT COMPARE?  See recent reports and others going back to April 20, 2020 in my ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).

Click green text above or on the image.

>The data on this page is from the Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 4 and 6pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for “Summary, Demographics” and “Vaccines.”  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

See also my BENINDY ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).  I have also archived the hundreds of full CORONAVIRUS REPORTS posted here almost daily on the Benicia Independent since April 2020.

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#wearamask, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Face coverings, Omicron variant, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department, Vaccine, Vaccine mandate

Solano Public Health corrects COVID numbers with huge increase, but offers no explanation for ‘different testing procedure’

By Roger Straw, Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Solano Public Health shared information with the reporter from the Fairfield Daily Republic that sheds some light on the huge increases in COVID cases reported yesterday.

Unfortunately we still have no idea why this information came to light so belatedly.

Below is the story from the Daily Republic, including details gathered from Public Health Officer Bela Matyas and his usual comforting spin – that these “corrections” aren’t so bad because more recent numbers are actually down.  >>Who is to say that today’s numbers won’t get a similar big boost later?!

Solano Covid numbers undergo big correction, but trend is down

Fairfield Daily Republic, By , March 8, 2022

FAIRFIELD — Monday was a massive correction day for Covid-related information in Solano County.

The country reported 4,115 new coronavirus cases – 114 since Friday’s report – and four additional deaths of Solano residents who died in out-of-county hospitals, one dating to December 2020, Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a phone interview Monday.

Most of the cases came from January and February.

The new cases took the total for the pandemic to 83,793, but the daily average since the last report dropped to 38 over the three-day period, which is lower than the rate prior to the latest surge.

The 10-day daily average, based on active cases of 456, was at 45.6, down from Friday’s report of 56.7, the county reported.

There were 31 residents in local hospitals, with only six in intensive care units, the county reported. That was down from 37 and 10, respectively.

The deaths include a woman, between 50 and 65 years old, who died in December 2020. There were no vaccinations available to the public at that time. The other three – two men older than 65 who died in August and December; and a woman between 50 and 65 who died in October – were unvaccinated.

The number of Covid-related deaths in the county stood Monday at 402.  […continued]

 

HOW DOES TODAY’S REPORT COMPARE?  See recent reports and others going back to April 20, 2020 in my ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).

Click green text above or on the image.

>The data on this page is from the Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Dashboard is full of much more information and updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 4 and 6pm.  On the County’s dashboard, you can hover a mouse or click on an item for more information.  Note the tabs at top for “Summary, Demographics” and “Vaccines.”  Click here to go to today’s Solano County Dashboard.

See also my BENINDY ARCHIVE of daily Solano COVID updates (an excel spreadsheet).  I have also archived the hundreds of full CORONAVIRUS REPORTS posted here almost daily on the Benicia Independent since April 2020.

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