Tag Archives: Benicia CA

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

JULY 28 UPDATE of JULY 27 REPORT – Solano County reports another COVID death, 154 new cases

[NOTE: Solano County publishes a DAILY update, and displays past weeks and months in epidemic curve charts.  However, the curve charts do not display an accurate number of cases for the most recent days, as there is a lag time in receiving test results.  This methodology is accurate in a way, but it misleads the public by consistently displaying a recent downward curve which is corrected upward on a later date.  For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE – R.S.]

Monday, July 27: 154 new cases today,
1 new death.  Since the outbreak started: 3,283 cases, 36 deaths.

ABOVE: Portion of today’s Solano County COVID-19 Dashboard, 7/27/20 (Intentionally omitting potentially misleading epidemic curve charts.

Compare previous report, Friday July 24:Summary

  • Solano County reported 154 new cases today, total of 3,283 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 7 days, Solano reported 524 new cases, an average of 75 per day.
  • Deaths – 1 new death today, total of 36.
  • Hospitalizations – (Incomplete data as of 7:30pm on 7/27 – see below for update as of 7/28 9:30am.)
  • Active cases – Solano reported 90 fewer ACTIVE cases today, total of 199.  Last week Solano hit a record high of 440 active cases.  Note that many of these infected people are not hospitalized, but out among us, hopefully quarantined.  One wonders… is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  (See SF Chronicle report on contact tracing in Bay Area – “Solano County did not respond”.)
  • ICU beds Available and Ventilators Available – (Incomplete data as of 7:30pm on 7/27 – check back later.)
  • Testing – 1,871 residents were tested since Friday, total of 50,039.  But we still have a long way to go: only 11% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Hospital Impact – (State data not available)

Hospitalizations – 4 fewer currently hospitalized persons today, total of 45.  7 more in the total number hospitalized since the outbreak started, 139, suggesting that more of us were discharged than admitted.  Today for the first time, the County offers no information about ICU beds and ventilators.  Apparently, the County does not collect or receive this data from our hospitals, but relies on data collected by the State.  You would think that the gathering of data on Currently Hospitalized could also easily collect the other data.  Or… maybe the County receives Current Hospitalized info from the State as well?  (The County no longer reports Total Hospitalized, but I have added the hospitalization numbers in the Age Group chart.)

Percent Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today’s 7-day percent positive test rate at 5.9%, down 0.6% since Friday.  (This number may be misleading – see NOTE at top of this page.)  The County posted a record high of 9.3% last week – so if today’s number can be believed, and sustained, it is very good news!  CONTEXT: California’s 7-day positivity rate is reported today at 7.9%.  Increasingly, health officials and news reports are focusing on percent positive test rates.  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.

By Age Group

(Incomplete data at 7:30pm on 7/27.  UPDATED here at 10am on 7/28.)

  • Youth 17 and under – 10 new cases today, total of 332 cases, and no new hospitalizations, only 2 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  A week ago, there were 269 cases among this age group – we’ve seen 63 new cases in just 7 days!  I continue to raise an alarm for Solano’s youth.  Cases among Solano youth have increased in recent weeks to over 10% of the 3,283 total confirmed cases.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 98 new cases today, total of 1,999 cases.  This age group represents 61% of the 3,283 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported 4 new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 37 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 3 deaths.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 26 new cases today, total of 624 cases.  This age group represents over 19% of the 3,283 total cases.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 43 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 4 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 20 new cases today, total of 327 cases.  This age group represents just under 10% of the 3,283 total cases. 3 new hospitalizations, total of 57 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  1 new death, total of 29.  In this older age group, over 17% of cases required hospitalization at one time, a substantially higher percentage than in the lower age groups.  This group accounts for 29 of the 36 deaths, or 80%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 6 new cases today, total of 74 cases.  Benicia was extremely stable with only 2 new cases for the entire month of June.  Now Benicia has seen 17 new cases in 7 days.
  • Dixon added 11 new cases today, total of 172 cases.
  • Fairfield added 46 new cases today, total of 1,108.  Fairfield has more positive cases than anywhere in Solano County.
  • Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 25 cases.
  • Suisun City added 6 new cases today, total of 238 cases.
  • Vacaville added 27 new cases today, total of 563 cases.
  • Vallejo added 58 new cases today, total of 1,093 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas – Unincorporated areas remained steady, total of 10 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

(Incomplete data at 7:30pm on 7/27.  UPDATED here at 10am on 7/28.)

The County report on race / ethnicity 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 21% of cases, 25% of hospitalizations and 25% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 13% of cases, but 25% of hospitalizations, and 31% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 30% of cases, 28% of hospitalizations, and 25% of deaths.
  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases and 13% of hospitalizations, but 16% 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.

#Masks4All, #wearamask, Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Face coverings, Re-opening, Social Distancing, Solano County CA, Vacaville CA, Vallejo CA

State agents issue misdemeanor citations to Benicia, Vacaville, Vallejo businesses for coronavirus violations

Coronavirus: State cites several Solano eateries for violating state guidelines

Vallejo Times-Herald, by Kim Fu, July 25, 2020

Agents with the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted compliance sweeps throughout Northern California earlier this month and found several eateries, including in Solano County, in violation of coronavirus guidelines.

John Carr, an ABC spokesman, said agents issued misdemeanor citations for violating state emergency health orders. A district attorney, he said, will determine whether to prosecute.

Meanwhile, ABC has not taken any action against licenses where the violations occurred, Carr said, as the violations remain under review. Should disciplinary action be pursued, business owners may request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Penalties can range from a fine to a suspension to a revocation.

Businesses cited between July 3-5 include:

  • Muay Thai Cuisine, Vacaville, for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
  • Kazan Japanese Cuisine, Vacaville, for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
  • El Patron Mexican Food, Vacaville, for employees not wearing masks.
  • Back Door Bistro, Vacaville, for employees not wearing masks.
  • Koreana BBQ, Fairfield, for indoor consumption.
  • Cullens Tannery Pub,  Benicia , for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.

Businesses cited between July 6-16 include:

  • Gentlemen Jims, Vallejo, for indoor consumption and employees not wearing masks.
  • The Loft,  Benicia , for employees not social distancing.
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Benicia Independent publishes ARCHIVE of Solano County’s daily COVID report

Daily COVID archive – April 20 to July 24

By Roger Straw, July 25, 2020

Solano County Public Health publishes a daily report beautifully displaying each day’s  Coronavirus data.  But there is no easily available record to show detailed increases in infections, deaths and other data OVER TIME.

I have kept these records since April 20, and will make them available here today.

Note that the PDFs are formatted to fit on a single legal sheet, and are therefore a little hard to read.  They are also not kept current.  If you are familiar with Excel, you would do well to view the spreadsheet, which is updated daily.  (Note that the spreadsheet has 3 tabs: Summary and Cities, 4 Age Groups, and 3 Age Groups.)

Excel spreadsheet
PDF format
>> For daily COVID reports here on the Benicia Independent, see my Coronavirus page.  I have reported daily Monday-Friday around 6pm after Solano County posts its daily Dashboard update.
#Masks4All, #wearamask, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Face coverings, Solano County CA, Vallejo CA

Solano County officials not even discussing fines for face mask violations

Will Solano County start citing mask rebels?

Napa, Marin counties enact policy

Vallejo Times Herald, by Richard Freedman, July 24, 2020
People walk along the waterfront in Vallejo, some choosing not to wear face coverings. Solano County will not follow the lead of counties like Marin and Napa that could possibly cite those who are not in compliance with mask regulations. (Chris Riley—Times-Herald)

Solano County will not take Napa and Marin county leads and levy fines against those who refuse to wear face coverings during COVID-19.

Erin Hannigan, Solano County Board of Supervisors, District 1, said no similar policy is in discussion.

“We are not contemplating one at this time,” Hannigan said Friday, adding that “Cities are on the front lines of enforcement of the shelter-in-home orders.”

Napa and Marin counties approved fines up to $500 for violators ignoring state and local health orders after California surpassed New York on Wednesday with the highest COVID-19 case count. On Thursday, the state reported a record seven-day average for deaths.

Marin County can fine anti-maskers $25 to $500 and businesses can be fined between $250 and $10,000 for compliance failure.

Napa County passed its emergency ordinance July 14. People who hold gatherings or walk outside without a face covering risk fines mirroring Marin’s. Businesses could pay up to $5,000 for failing to enforce mask and social distancing rules.

It will not rely on sheriff’s deputies or city police officers. Instead, the county will use staffers in its code enforcement office. The ordinance leaves the level of that enforcement to a city’s discretion.

“I’m interested in seeing if the policies are effective,” Hannigan said.

In Vallejo, economic development director Annette Taylor communicates with any business that has been reported as violating “must-wear-mask” edict and will do spot checks, said Mayor Bob Sampayan.

A second complaint against the business garners a letter from the city attorney’s office.

So far, Sampayan said, “we haven’t needed to take it to the point of issuing a citation.”

Hannigan said enforcement would be difficult with an already-stretched thin police departments “and a very stretched Solano County Public Health office. It would be easier to enforce face coverings in businesses because the businesses are licensed through city’s and they can self regulate customers in their business. Individual face covering enforcement is harder.”

Solano County is following the COVID-19 guidelines from the California Dept. of Public Health which mandates wearing face coverings.

“We have to be reasonable and use common sense,” Sampayan said. “There are times you can’t wear a mask. Say you’re sitting outdoors at a restaurant for dinner. Are you going to be wearing a mask between bites and sips of a drink? That doesn’t make sense. But if you’re standing in a lobby of that restaurant, you should be wearing a mask and do the social distancing.”

Sampayan acknowledged that an elected official can influence adherence to public policy.

“I was chatting with a person on the waterfront the other day with several people around,” Sampayan said. “I had my mask on and one of them looked at me and said, ‘Sorry,’ and put their mask on.”

“For the most part, the majority of the public respects the need and the reasoning behind having to wear a mask,” Sampayan said. “I’m thankful for that. As (Dr. Anthony) Fauci said, “If we were to wear masks we can stop the spread within several months. This is not going to away on its own.”

Sampayan has been confronted by several who believe it’s their right as an American to not wear a face covering in public.

“I’m not going to debate with people. If you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear a mask,” Sampayan said. “However, think about the people around you. How many have we seen nationwide adamant that it’s their right to not wear a mask … and the next thing you know, they’ve come down with COVID-19 and they die.”

“We have had more residents speak at our Board meetings who are against wearing face masks,” Hanigan said. “I’m all for making sure everyone has a face covering and leading by example.”

Several sidewalk diners in front of Good Day Cafe in downtown Vallejo offered feedback Friday afternoon on the mask debate. To fine or not to fine?

“I think it depends on the situation,” said Tanya Hill of American Canyon. “I’m sitting here ready to eat, drinking a beverage. Clearly, I can’t wear a mask. Again, it depends on the situation. To just walk up to someone, ‘I’m going to ticket you,’ I don’t think that’s the best use of police.”

Requiring a merchant’s employees to wear masks “I think is a good way to go,” added Hill. “I think as a community we should all be invested to make sure everybody stays safe. One of the things I remember learning in high school civics: My rights end where your rights begin. You have as much right to be free from infection as I do. If I choose not to wear a mask, that hinders your rights. ”

Another diner, “Joe,” said a fine policy for not wearing masks “is good if you can’t social distance.”

Tyler Mitchell, however, disagreed.

“I think it should be left open to the individuals. I think that if you feel like you need masks for your own personal health you should wear one,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think it should be imposed on anyone else.”

Raymond Prather, owner of The Victory Stores downtown, believes that if there is an ordinance in place for individuals, “people should at least get a warning first.”

However, he added, “I don’t think people should be fined.  I think people should just have the sense to wear them.”