Tag Archives: Solano County CA

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano COVID-19 on May 21: 1 new death and 14 new cases, including 3 youths

Thursday, May 21: 14 new positive cases, 1 new death. Total now 449 cases, 19 deaths.

Solano County Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Updates and Resources.  Check out basic information in this screenshot.  IMPORTANT: The County’s interactive page has more.  On the County website, you can hover your mouse over the charts at right for detailed information.

Previous report, Wednesday, May 20

Summary

  • Solano County reported 14 new positive cases today, total is now 449.
  • 1 new death today, total is 19.
  • We continue to see an upward trend in confirmed cases among young persons 18 and under, adding 3 more today.  The County reported 11 new cases among our youth in the last 8 days, having reported only 6 over the 5 weeks prior.  (See table below).

BY AGE GROUP

  • 3 new cases were reported today of young persons under 19 years of age, total of 17 cases, 3.8% of total confirmed cases.  (See table below.)
  • 10 new cases of persons 19-64 years of age, total of 317 cases, 71% of the total.   No new deaths in this age group, total of 4.  Note that only 39 of the 317 cases in this age group (12%) were hospitalized at one time.  (It is unclear whether the 4 deaths were ever hospitalized.)
  • 1 new case was of a person 65 or older, total of 115 cases, 26% of the total.  1 new death, total of 15.  Note that 30 of the 115 cases in this age group (26%) were hospitalized at one time, more than double the percentage in the mid-age group.  (It is unclear whether the 15 deaths in this age group were ever hospitalized.)
Recent surge in positive cases among youth 18 and under
Date New cases Total
Thursday, May 21, 2020 3 17
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 0 14
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 0 14
Monday, May 18, 2020 1 14
Friday, May 15, 2020 2 13
Thursday, May 14, 2020 3 11
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 1 8
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 1 7
Monday, May 11, 2020 0 6
Friday, May 8, 2020 0 6
Thursday, May 7, 2020 0 6
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 0 6
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 0 6
Monday, May 4, 2020 0 6

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added 4 of today’s new cases, total of  266.
  • Fairfield added 6 of today’s new cases, total of 80.
  • Vacaville added 4 of today’s new cases, total of 44.
  • Suisun City remains at 21.
  • Benicia remains at 21.
  • Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: today all remain at <10 (less than 10).  The total numbers for other cities add up to 432, leaving 17 cases somewhere among the locations in this “<10” category (same as last reported).  Residents and city officials have pressured County officials for city case counts.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 69 of Solano’s 449 cases resulted in hospitalizations, 2 more than yesterday.

ACTIVE CASES:  53 of the 449 cases are active, 10 more than yesterday.  Note that the county does not report WHERE the active cases are.  Below you will see that only 18 are currently hospitalized, which leaves 35 of these 53 active cases out in our communities somewhere, and hopefully quarantined.

HOSPITAL IMPACT: The County shows 18 of the 69 hospitalized cases are CURRENTLY hospitalized, same as yesterday.  The County’s count of ICU beds available and ventilator supply remains at “GOOD” at 31-100%. (No information is given on our supply of test kits, PPE and staff.)

TESTING

Good news!  The County reports that 8,973 residents have been tested as of today, an increase of 1,021 residents tested over yesterday Solano’s largest single day increase!  See Solano testing – by the numbers April 13 – present.
We still have a long way to go: only 1.9% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.
State run testing sites in Vallejo and Vacaville are open to anyone.

Solano’s steady upward curve – as of May 21

This chart shows the infection’s steady upward trajectory in Solano County.  Our “curve” continues to creep up.  Our nursing homes, long-term care facilities and jails bear watching!

Still incredibly important – everyone stay home if you don’t need to go out, wear masks when you do go out, wash hands, and be safe!

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Re-opening, Solano County CA

Solano County’s Reopening Approval Comes With Some Confusion

Unlike Napa, it appears almost none of the business owners had any idea exactly when they could start reopening their dining rooms.

NBC Bay Area News, By Jackie Ward, May 21, 2020
Interior of Kinsmoke barbecue restaurant in the Sonoma County wine country, Healdsburg, California, August 24, 2018. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Just one day after Napa County got the green light for dine-in restaurants to reopen, Solano County got approval to do the same.

The state told the county late last night that it had met the criteria to expand further into Phase 2 of reopening. But unlike Napa, it appears almost none of the business owners had any idea exactly when they could start reopening their dining rooms.

Restaurants in Solano County will finally be able to let people eat inside and outside of their establishments starting Friday at 6 a.m. Getting that sorted out was confusing though, since the state gave approval Wednesday.

“I don’t know anything about it. No emails, no nothing, nobody said anything,” said Piero Tropeano, the owner of Evelyn’s Big Italian Pizzeria.

Tropeano has owned his restaurant for 11 years and says his takeout-only business has been manageable, but keeping up with the forever-changing rules has not been.

“They tell you, they send you email, no salt and pepper shakers, you gotta have plastic, you gotta do this, you gotta do that,” he said.

Late Wednesday night, Solano County was approved by the State Health Department to allow its restaurants to enter into the next part of Phase 2. Resham Sangh, the manager at Saffon says, he has one problem. “It’s not really safe for me and my colleagues. And it’s also not safe for the people who come over here.”

Solano County explained the reason for the confusion in a statement, writing in part:

“Since we just received the green light from CDPH on the “at a station” request late last night, we are working quickly to amend the order and inform our business community of the reopening process.”

Tiffany Hachett of Fairfield says getting to do this again is, “Heaven. I always do it anyway.”

Even when restaurant owners get the official word from the county, Piero says it will take him up to three days to comply with the new regulations. He wonders if it’s even financially worth it. He said his takeout business without additional rules is, “a lot easier with no aggravation.”

Solano County officials said they planned to start extensively reaching out to businesses today in order to get everyone on the same page.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Economy, Re-opening, Solano County CA

Solano County approved for immediate opening of retail stores, shopping malls, swap meets, and restaurants

Solano County expands reopening: dine-in restaurants, shopping malls OK’d by state

San Francisco Chronicle, Matt Kawahara May 20, 2020
Dr. Bela Matyas, Publie Health Officer for Solano County Health and Social Services, answers a question during a press conference in Fairfield, Calif., on Thursday, February 27, 2020.
Dr. Bela Matyas, Publie Health Officer for Solano County Health and Social Services, answers a question during a press conference in Fairfield, Calif., on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Solano County has received state approval to move ahead with reopening, allowing dine-in restaurants, schools and other businesses to resume operations.

The California Department of Public Health endorsed Solano County’s variance report on Wednesday night, county officials said, making it the second Bay Area county allowed to advance further into stage two of the state’s plan to reopen from coronavirus restrictions. Napa County is the only other Bay Area county to also have this approval.

Retail stores, including shopping malls and swap meets, and restaurants will be able to open immediately with appropriate health guidelines in place, per the county’s attestation report. Schools “will open later in summer or fall once guidance is developed,” the report states.

Businesses such as salons, gyms, fitness studios and clubs remain prohibited in stage two of California’s plan.

Businesses that reopen must follow social distancing requirements in the county and state’s health orders and comply with sector-specific guidance, Solano County officials said.

Solano County submitted a revised report to the public health department on Wednesday outlining its readiness under state criteria for expanded reopening.

The county’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate, positive case rate, testing and hospital capacities meet state requirements, health officer Bela T. Matyas wrote in the report. The county will continue tracking epidemiological data and could retighten restrictions if its case rate increases sharply or infections in health care workers rise for an extended period, the report states.

“As we move to advance more quickly through Stage 2, we will continue to monitor the situation, and our top priority will always remain the health and safety of Solano County residents,” Matyas said in a statement earlier Wednesday after the report was submitted.

County officials said they still encourage residents to maintain distance of six feet from other people in public, wear a cloth face mask outside the home when unable to maintain distance and stay home if feeling unwell.

As of Wednesday, Solano County had confirmed 435 total cases of the coronavirus, including 43 active cases, and 18 deaths. Of the deaths, the county had reported 11 in the last 10 days.

State health officials have now received paperwork from 39 of 58 counties seeking approval to advance more quickly with reopening, according to the public health department website.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Economy, Re-opening, Solano County CA

Solano County asks for quicker reopening of stores, shopping malls, swapmeets, dine-in restaurants and schools

By Roger Straw, May 21, 2020
Potential future COVID-19 deaths if social distancing is relaxed too early [Michigan Medicine]
Solano County resubmitted it’s “Variance Attestation” yesterday, May 20, and State officials approved it on the same day.  Talk about quick!  Seems our County and State officials aren’t too worried about the inevitable new illnesses and deaths on the back half of our downward curve.

The variance attestation itself seems not to be available on the County’s website.  I will post it here if/when I can get it.

Below is the County’s press statement, released before the approval was granted.  For news on the State’s approval, see Solano County approved for immediate opening of retail stores, shopping malls, swap meets, and restaurants.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2020
News Contact: Matthew Davis, Senior Management Analyst and Public Communications Officer (707) 784-6111 MADavis@SolanoCounty.com

County resubmits COVID-19 attestation documentation to the State, looks to advance more quickly through Stage 2

SOLANO COUNTY – County officials are pleased to announce they have resubmitted COVID-19 County Variance Attestation paperwork to the California Department of Public Health, and are confident the County meets the criteria necessary for advancing more quickly through Stage 2 of the Governor’s order.

Counties with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) approved variance attestation plans for modification are permitted move more quickly through Stage 2 of the Governor’s Stay-at-Home public health order, including the safe reopening of destination retail stores like shopping malls and swap-meets, dine-in restaurants and schools – all with social distancing modifications.

“We believe that we are ready for this next step in the recovery process and look forward to expanding opportunities for our public and business communities,” says Erin Hannigan, District 1 Supervisor and Chairwoman of the Solano County Board of Supervisors. “Thank you to all of the County staff who worked on the attestation variance application process and for helping keep our community safe.”

To be approved to advance through Stage 2, either more quickly or in a different order, a county must attest they are ready to meet specific criteria, including stability of the disease rate in the community, protection of Stage 1 essential workers and vulnerable populations, have adequate testing, containment and hospital capacity and a COVID-19 containment plan.

“The state’s revised application for variance attestation was lengthy, and, based on their new criteria, we are confident we will be given CDPH approval,” says Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H, Solano County Public Health Officer. “As we move to advance more quickly through Stage 2 we will continue to monitor the situation, and our top priority will always remain the health and safety of Solano County residents.”

As Solano County moves to relax its Stay-at-Home health order, we encourage all residents to continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Public Health and Solano County Public Health social distancing best practices, including wearing a cloth face mask outside your home whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained, maintaining a physical distance of six-feet from others, practicing coughing and sneezing etiquette, using a hand sanitizer or washing your hands for at least 20-seconds and to stay at home if you’re not feeling well. Businesses that are permitted to reopen must abide by the social distancing requirements in the County’s and State’s Orders.

For more information about Solano County’s Roadmap to Recovery, social distancing protocol and frequently asked questions about the phased reopening, visit the Solano County website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19 and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH.