All Solano cities included in most severe COVID19 shutdown orders: Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun, Rio Vista, Dixon

State of California – COVID19.CA.gov, July 13, 2020

County data monitoring

California is monitoring COVID-19 closely in each local community and keeping the public informed. We’re teaming up with counties to fight it with every tool we have: current local data, testing, contact tracing, infection control, emergency supplies, containment measures, and more.

Counties should be ready to restore limitations if outbreaks increase. The State Public Health Officer may take action if needed.

Effective July 13, 2020,  ALL counties  must close indoor operations in these sectors:
    • Dine-in restaurants
    • Wineries and tasting rooms
    • Movie theaters
    • Family entertainment centers (for example: bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades)
    • Zoos and museums
    • Cardrooms

Additionally, bars, brewpubs, breweries, and pubs must close all operations both indoor and outdoor statewide, unless they are offering sit-down, outdoor dine-in meals. Alcohol can only be sold in the same transaction as a meal.

 Counties that have remained on the County Monitoring List  for 3 consecutive days will be required to shut down the following industries or activities unless they can be modified to operate outside or by pick-up.
    • Fitness centers
    • Worship services
    • Protests
    • Offices for non-essential sectors
    • Personal care services, like nail salons, body waxing and tattoo parlors
    • Hair salons and barbershops
    • Malls
The following counties have remained on the County Monitoring List for 3 consecutive days:
Affected counties as of 7/13/20
  • Colusa
  • Contra Costa
  • Fresno
  • Glenn
  • Imperial
  • Kings
  • Los Angeles
  • Madera
  • Marin
  • Merced
  • Monterey
  • Napa
  • Orange
  • Placer
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • San Benito
  • San Bernardino
  • San Diego
  • San Joaquin
  • Santa Barbara
  •  Solano 
  • Sonoma
  • Stanislaus
  • Sutter
  • Tulare
  • Yolo
  • Yuba
  • Ventura

The State Public Health Officer may take additional action if needed.

Track county data and monitoring status


What is allowed to open in my county?

Use the map above to see which category your county falls into. See guidance for each of the mentioned industries.

For counties on Monitoring List for 3 consecutive days  [includes Solano] 

The following industries must close indoor operations, but they may be modified to operate outside or by pick-up:

  • Dine-in restaurants
  • Wineries and tasting rooms
  • Movie theaters
  • Family entertainment centers (for example: bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades)
  • Zoos and museums
  • Cardrooms
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Personal care services, like nail salons, body waxing and tattoo parlors
  • Places of worship
  • Offices for non-essential sectors
  • Malls

NOTE: Imperial County is open to the essential workforce only (Stage One). Alameda and Santa Clara County do not have an attestation and can only open industries open statewide.

Solano County COVID-19 – Three deaths over the weekend, 144 new cases, new data on percent positive test rates


Monday, July 13: 144 new cases over the weekend, 3 new deaths.  Since the outbreak started: 2,219 cases, 31 deaths.

Compare previous report, Friday July 10:Summary

  • Solano County reported 144 new cases today, total of 2,219 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 7 days, Solano reported 479 new cases, an average of 68 per day.
  • 3 new deaths today, total of 31.
  • Hospitalizations – Solano is reporting 7 more currently hospitalized persons over the weekend, for a total of 47.  The County briefly posted the total number hospitalized since the outbreak started  at 118, up 3 since Friday, but a revised dashboard no longer displays this data.
  • Active cases Solano reported 134 fewer (!) ACTIVE cases today, total of 301.  This sudden drop is a turnaround.  The number of Active Cases has been climbing steadily: two weeks ago there were 70 active cases, increasing to a Friday’s record high of 435.  I’m curious how the County explains this drop by almost a third?  Note that only 47 of these 301 active cases are hospitalized; a whole lot of infected people are out among us, hopefully quarantined.  One wonders… is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?
  • ICU beds Available decreased by 6% to 33%.  Ventilators Available remained steady at 86%.
  • Testing – A huge number, 3,054 residents were tested over the weekend, total of 38,894.  But we still have a long way to go: only 8.6% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Percent Positive Test Rate

For the first time, Solano County is reporting our 7-day percent positive test rate, at 5.3%.  The dashboard also shows a line graph charting the positive test rate over time (above).  Increasingly, health officials and news reports are focusing on percent positive test rates.  Five Bay Area counties report daily on their seven-day average percent positive test rate, but Solano County has not until today.  This information is immediately important, as test positivity is one of the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  Positive test rates in California and other southwestern states have been on the rise.  LA Times: “California’s positivity rate  today is reported at 8.3%.”  SF Chronicle: “The rate of positive coronavirus tests statewide has increased to 7.4%, a 21% increase over the just past two weeks, Governor Gavin Newsom announced in a press conference Monday. For several months, the rate held steady around 4.9%, but has spiked in the past month.”

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 8 new cases today, total of 210 cases, and no new hospitalizations, total only 2 since the outbreak beganTwo weeks ago, there were only 88 cases among this age group – we’ve seen 122 new cases in just 14 days!  I continue to raise an alarm for Solano’s youth.  Cases among Solano youth have increased in recent weeks to over 9% of the 2,219 total confirmed cases.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 93 new cases today, total of 1,337 cases.  This age group represents 60% of the 2,219 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations and no new deaths among this age group today, total of 29 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and 2 deaths.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 27 new cases today, total of 429 cases.  This age group represents over 19% of the 2,219 total casesNo new hospitalizations today, total of 37 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths, total of 3 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 16 new cases today, total of 242 cases.  This age group represents 11% of the 2,219 total cases.
    3 new hospitalizations, total of 46 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  3 new deaths, total of 26 deaths.  In this older age group, 19% of cases required hospitalization at one time, a substantially higher percentage than in the lower age groups And this group accounts for 26 of the 31 deaths, or 84%.

Incidence Rate: Cases, Hospitalizations, Deaths

On the Age Group chart (and also on the Race/Ethnicity chart) there are “Rate” tabs.  Today’s report shows:

    • Solano County has 494 positive cases per population of 100,000, up from 462 on Friday (Compare this number with the City incidence rates, below.)
    • 25 Solano hospitalizations per population of 100,000, unchanged since last report.
    • 7 Solano deaths per population of 100,000, up from 6 on Friday.

City Data

  • Vallejo added 41 new cases today, total of 747.
  • Fairfield added 45 new cases today, total of 765.  Fairfield has seen 276 new cases over the last week, and now has more positive cases than anywhere in Solano County.
  • Vacaville added 34 new cases today, total of 354 cases.
  • Suisun City added 18 new cases today, total of 160 cases.
  • Benicia added 1 new case today, total of 41 cases.  Benicia was extremely stable with only 2 new cases for the entire month of June.  Now Benicia has seen 14 new cases in 14 days.  The numbers are small in comparison to other Solano cities, but something’s definitely going on in Benicia!
  • Dixon added 4 new cases today, total of 122 cases.  Dixon has also moved from stable to increasing over this last week.
  • Rio Vista added 1 new case today, total of 22 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas – Although the County still still shows Unincorporated at <10 (less than 10), a little math tells the story: Solano’s unincorporated areas remained steady at 8 cases, those unaccounted for in the other City totals.
  • A “Rate” column shows the rate of positive COVID-19 cases (per 100,000 population) for each city.  Benicia has the lowest rate, 145 cases per 100,000.  Compare Solano cities’ incidence rates in the chart, and note that the CDC reports today’s rate in California at 811 per 100,000 (climbing fast this past week, and up from 750 Friday).

Race / Ethnicity

The County report on race / ethnicity data includes case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths and Solano population statistics.  There are also tabs showing a calculated rate per 100,000 by race/ethnicity for each of these boxes.  This information is discouragingly similar to national reports that indicate worse outcomes among black and brown Americans.  As of today:

  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 22% of cases, 22% of hospitalizations and 21% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 13% of Solano’s population, and account for 13% of cases, but 27% of hospitalizations, and 32% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 35% of cases, 28% of hospitalizations, and 25% of deaths.
  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 10% of cases and 14% of hospitalizations, but 18% of deaths.

Much 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.

Newsom orders all California counties to close indoor restaurants, shut down bars

[BenIndy editor: See also video of Newsom’s press conference on ABC7.  – R.S.]
San Francisco Chronicle, by Dustin Gardiner, July 13, 2020
Gov. Gavin Newsom at a coronavirus-related briefing in Pittsburg on July 1.
Gov. Gavin Newsom at a coronavirus-related briefing in Pittsburg on July 1. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered every county in California to close indoor restaurants, movie theaters and wineries Monday as the state combats a surge in coronavirus cases.

He also ordered bars to cease all operations, indoor and outdoor, throughout the state.

Newsom had previously directed 30 counties on the state’s “watch list” due to surging outbreaks to close business operations in those sectors. But Newsom said the order will now extend to all 58 California counties.

Newsom’s statewide closure order applies to a host of other indoor spaces: zoos, museums, cardrooms and family entertainment centers. Those establishments are still allowed to operate outdoors in most counties, including restaurant patios.

In addition, Newsom ordered the 30 counties on the state watch list to close gyms, churches, offices for non-critical work sectors, shopping malls and barbershops and hair salons.

More than 80% percent of California’s population lives in those 30 counties. In the Bay Area, the list includes Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

The governor said the order comes as hospitalizations and new cases continue to surge, and some rural counties, such as Placer and Lake counties, are nearing bed capacity in hospital intensive care units.

“This virus is not going away any time soon,” he said. “It’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID -19 is not going away any time soon, until there is a vaccine and/or an effective therapy.”

How long will it take for Solano County to report COVID positive test rates?

UPDATE on Monday July 13 – Well, maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe this Alert worked!  As of this evening, the County is now – finally – reporting percent positive test rates on its daily COVID-19 dashboard.  See today’s BenIndy report for details. – Roger Straw

Percent Positive Test Rates – 17 days and counting

By Roger Straw, July 12, 2020

Increasingly, national, state and county news reports are focusing on percent positive test rates.  Five Bay Area counties report daily on their seven-day average percent positive test rate, but Solano County does not.

This information is immediately important, as positive test rates in California and other southwestern states are increasing.

Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Health Officer

I wrote to Solano County Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas on June 24 asking for information as to Solano County’s “percent positive test rate.”  He replied next day with thanks and wrote, “We are actively working to include these values on our County dashboard.  I hope we can begin to report on them sometime next week.”

That was 17 DAYS AGO.  I wrote again on June 29 thanking him and asking for the information as a “seven-day moving average.”  After two weeks had passed and hearing nothing, I wrote again on July 9 to remind him, with no response to date.

A reader wrote to me today, asking me to renew this request daily here on the Benicia Independent, as the information is so incredibly important, and the public needs to know.

I think that might be a good idea!

Dr. Matyas:    It has been 17 DAYS… and we are still waiting.  Hopefully tomorrow?

Dr. Matyas can be reached at the Solano County Public Health Administration
Solano Public Health Administration
275 Beck Avenue
Fairfield, CA 94533
Main Line: (707) 784-8600
Fax: (707) 421-6618
For Urgent Questions or Concerns
Solano Public Health Main Line
– Call the Solano Public Health Main Line at 707-784-8600 for questions or concerns about a public health-related issue.
Communicable Disease Main Line (24/7 Line) – For questions or concerns about communicable diseases, call (707) 784-8001.
Please use this phone number when reporting a health emergency to Solano Public Health.
On Facebook: facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH/

Solano County Supervisors:

District 1 covers, essentially, the part of Vallejo that lies between Georgia Street and the Napa County line. It also includes the Napa marshes to the west and Hiddenbrooke. Map.

Supervisor Erin Hannigan

Phone: (707) 553-5363
Fax: (707) 784-6665
ehannigan@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352

Michael Wilson
District Representative for Supervisor Hannigan

Phone: (707) 553-5363
Fax: (707) 784-6665
mlwilson@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352

Josette Lacey
District Representative for Supervisor Hannigan

Phone: (707) 553-5363
Fax: (707) 784-6665
jmlacey@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352

 


District 2 includes Benicia, approximately half of Vallejo (area south of Tennessee Street to Oakwood Street and south of Georgia Street as well as the waterfront including Mare Island), the Cordelia and Green Valley area of Fairfield, almost all of the Suisun Marsh and the unincorporated areas of Green Valley and Home Acres. Map.

Supervisor Monica Brown

Phone: (707) 784-3031
Fax: (707) 784-6665
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
MEBrown@solanocounty.com

Liat Meitzenheimer
District Representative 
for Supervisor Brown

Phone: (707) 784-3004
Fax: (707) 784-6665
lfmeitzenheimer@solanocounty.com 
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352

Stephen Hallett
District Representative for Supervisor Brown
Phone: (707) 784-2974
Fax: (707) 784-6665
SLHallett@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352


District 3 , area west of I-680 and Green Valley (not Old Town Cordelia which is in District 2), includes most of Fairfield, about half of Suisun City, all of Tolenas and Suisun Valley, and Travis Air Force Base south of Travis Avenue. I-80 and Air Base Parkway form the major divider through Fairfield, with the northeast part of Fairfield in District 5. Suisun City south of Prosperity Lane and east of Emperor Drive is in District 5. Map

Supervisor Jim Spering

Phone: (707) 784-6136
Fax: (707) 784-6665
jpspering@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352

Catherine M. Cook
District Representative 
for Supervisor Spering

Phone: (707) 784-6418
Fax: (707) 784-6665
cmcook@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342

Dee Dee Barrett
District Representative 
for Supervisor Spering

Phone: (707) 784-3006
Fax: (707) 784-6665
dmbarrett@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342


District 4 includes Vacaville west of Peabody Road up to Marshall Drive, north of Marshall Drive to Nut Tree Road and then west of Interstate 80 to the Yolo County line, Dixon and the unincorporated area north of Midway to the Yolo County line. Map.

Supervisor John Vasquez

Phone: (707) 784-6129
Fax: (707) 784-6665
jmvasquez@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342

Jennifer Hamilton
District Representative for Supervisor Vasquez
Phone: (707) 784-3034 and (707) 784-6128
jlhamilton@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342

Ryan Chalk
District Representative for Supervisor Vasquez
Phone: (707) 784-3034 and (707) 784-6128
rlchalk@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342



District 5 
, includes the eastern section of Suisun City, south of Prosperity Lane and east of Emperor Drive to Highway 12, including Pintail Drive; the eastern part of Vacaville, including most of the 95687 area east of Peabody Road, south of Marshall Drive and east of Nut Tree Road to Interstate 80; north of Air Base Parkway in Fairfield; and south of Midway Road to include Rio Vista and the Elmira area. Map.

Supervisor Skip Thomson
Phone: 
(707) 784-6130
Fax: (707) 784-6665
sthomson@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342

Alexandra Winston
District Representative 
for Supervisor Thomson
Phone: (707) 784-6131
Fax: (707) 784-6665
AWinston@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342

Judi Booe
District Representative 
for Supervisor Thomson
Phone: (707) 784-6131
Fax: (707) 784-6665
jsbooe@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342