Tag Archives: stay-at-home

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Keeping Watch on Earth News, Solano County CA, Stay-at-home

Solano COVID numbers shocking – County on lockdown – details…

By Roger Straw, December 16, 2020

A record 372 new positive cases in Solano County in just one day; ACTIVE cases over 2,000 for the first time; 2 new deaths; ICU beds at a dangerous level of only 13% available; and our positivity rate is at 18%.  The virus is spreading here among all age groups.  Solano has come under the Regional stay-at-home order as of tomorrow… See Solano County press release for details.

[Source: Solano County Coronavirus Dashboard (posted on the County website late today, around 8pm).  For a complete archive of County updates, see my Excel ARCHIVE.  ALSO see important daily updates from the state of California at COVID19.CA.GOV, embedded here on the BenIndy at Cases and Deaths AND Hospitalizations AND ICU Beds by REGION.]

Wednesday, December 16: a record of 372 new cases overnight, 2 new deaths.  Since Feb: 14,269 cases, more than 680 hospitalized, 93 deaths.Compare previous report, Tuesday, Dec. 15:Summary

    • Solano County reported a record of 372 (!!) new cases overnight.  As of today, Solano has seen an average increase of 228 (!) new cases per day over the last 14 days! (source: covid19.ca.gov)  Total of 14,269 cases since the outbreak started.
    • Deaths – 2 new deaths reported today, a total of 93 Solano deaths since the pandemic began.
    • Active cases – Solano reported a shocking increase of 222 additional active cases today, for a record total of 2,024 active cases.  COMPARE: average number of Active Cases during October was 284, average in November was 650 – and TODAY we are at 2,024!  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano has offered no reports on contact tracing.
    • Hospitalizations – CAUTION ON SOLANO HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTING: According to Solano Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas, the County “occasionally” updates Age Group hospitalizations retroactively, adding substantial numbers.  Thus, many hospitalizations are never reported as CURRENTLY hospitalized.  Today, the number of CURRENTLY hospitalized persons fell by 11, total of 107.  But it would seem that Solano County performed its “occasional” update today of those hospitalized among age groups, adding 80 newly reported hospitalizations, for a total of 686 persons hospitalized since the outbreak began.  [For the numbers used in my manual calculation of total hospitalizations, see age group stats below.  For COVID19-CA.GOV numbers, see BenIndy page, COVID-19 Hospitalizations Daily Update for Solano County.]
    • ICU Beds – Solano County reported only 13% of our ICU beds available today, up from 11% yesterday and still deep in the yellow danger zone.  COVID19-CA.GOV reported today that Solano hospitals had only 11 available ICU beds as of yesterday, December 15.  (For COVID19-CA.GOV info see BenIndy page, COVID-19 Hospitalizations Daily Update for Solano County, and for REGIONAL data see COVID-19 ICU Bed Availability by REGION.)
    • Testing – The County reports today that 1,483 residents were tested overnight, a total of 150,746 unduplicated residents have now been tested for COVID-19 since the outbreak began.  33.7% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.
Positive Test Rate – INCREDIBLY HIGH AT 18%

Solano County reported another dangerously high 7-day average positive test rate today of 18.0%, up a bit from yesterday’s 17.8%, far and away over the State’s purple tier threshold of 8%.  Average percent positive test rates are among the best metrics for measuring community spread of the virus.  The much lower and more stable California 7-day average test rate has also been on the rise lately, up today from 11.1 to 11.9%.  (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 therefore also lags behind due to unknown recent test results.) 

By Age Group – Surge in case numbers and hospitalizations!
  • Youth 17 and under – 48 new cases today, total of 1,601 cases, representing 11.2% of the 14,269 total cases.  3 new hospitalizations reported today among this age group, total of 17 since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deaths have ever been reported in Solano County in this age group.  But 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 plateaued at over 11% since September 30.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11.x% may seem low.  The significance is this: youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact at least 14 of our youth have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 192 (!) new cases today, total of 8,323 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents around 60% of the total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported 25 (!) new hospitalizations among persons in this age group today.  A total of 220 are reported to have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this young group today, total of 6 deaths.  Some in this group are surely at high risk, as many are providing essential services among us, and some may be ignoring public health orders.  I expect this group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 78 (!) new cases today, total of 2,835 cases.  This age group represents nearly 20% of the 14,269 total cases.  The County reported 21 (!) new hospitalizations among persons in this age group today.  A total of 184 are reported to have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 16 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 54 (!) new cases today, total of 1,502, representing 10.5% of Solano’s 14,269 total cases.  The County reported 31 (!) new hospitalizations among persons in this age group today.  A total of 265 have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.  2 new deaths were reported in this age group today.  A total of 71 of our elders have died of COVID, accounting for 76% of Solano’s 93 total deaths.
City Data
  • Benicia added 13 new cases today, total of 393 cases since the outbreak began. 
  • Dixon added 24 new cases today, total of 1000 cases.
  • Fairfield added 81 new cases today, total of 4,180 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 6 new cases today, total of 119 cases.
  • Suisun City added 27 (!) new cases today, total of 994 cases.
  • Vacaville added 71 new cases today, total of 3,108 cases.
  • Vallejo added 158 (!!) new cases today, total of 4,432 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 51 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 Latinx members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 10% of cases, 12% of hospitalizations, and 17% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 16% of hospitalizations, and 22% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 22% of cases, 25% of hospitalizations, and 17% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 27% of cases, 28% of hospitalizations and 33% of deaths.
More…

The County’s 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 significant portions.  For more, check out the Dashboard at https://doitgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=055f81e9fe154da5860257e3f2489d67.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, San Francisco Bay Area, Solano County CA, Stay-at-home

Solano County Public Health issues stay-at-home notice

Solano County Public Health, December 16, 2020
See Solano County press release for more details.
UPDATE (12/16/20):
Solano County Regional Stay at Home Order

The Governor has announced a Regional Stay at Home Order from the Bay Area Region starting Thursday, 12/17/2020 at 11:59 pm. The order will remain in effect for at least 3 weeks and, after that period, will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%. This will be assessed on a weekly basis after the initial 3-week period.

Getting out of this situation will depend on each and every individual to take serious actions to reduce the spread in our community – stay home as much as possible, leave only for essential activities, don’t gather outside of your household, use a face covering in public settings always, and maintain 6 feet physical distancing from others everywhere outside of your household. Help keep yourself and others safe.

See Solano County press release for more details.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Napa County CA, San Francisco Bay Area, San Mateo County CA, Solano County CA, Stay-at-home

Coronavirus live updates: All of Bay Area region now under stay-home order as ICU capacity drops to 12.9%

Hard-hit Solano County finally joins with all other Bay Area Counties – shutdown to begin at midnight Thurs Dec 17

San Francisco Chronicle LIVE UPDATES, by Aidin Vaziri , Vanessa Arredondo , Erin Allday and Rita Beamish, Dec. 16, 2020
Signs posted on the door of the Luscious Salon in Lodi (San Joaquin County) advise customers about the pandemic guidelines. ICU capacity has dropped to zero in the greater San Joaquin Valley region.
Signs posted on the door of the Luscious Salon in Lodi (San Joaquin County) advise customers about the pandemic guidelines. ICU capacity has dropped to zero in the greater San Joaquin Valley region. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

12:06 p.m. Bay Area falls into mandatory shutdown status: The Bay Area region’s intensive care capacity at its hospitals is down to 12.9% capacity. That means the region now must adhere to the state’s stay-home order restrictions as of midnight Thursday. Much of the Bay Area had already taken the step voluntarily. Read the story here.

12:27 p.m. California shutdown grows: Northern California is the state’s only region that now is not under the California mandatory stay-home order that kicks in when a region’s intensive care capacity falls below 15% availability. Aside from the Bay Area, which fell to 12.9% ICU capacity on Wednesday, state data showed other regions’ ICU available capacity at: Sacramento, 14.1%; San Joaquin Valley, 0%; and Southern California, 0.5%, with the Northern California region still having 29.1% ICU capacity. About 40 million people, 98% of the state population, are under the regional order’s restrictions. Statewide, available ICU capacity was 4.1 %.

1:03 p.m.  Solano , San Mateo, Napa counties now must go under stay home order: Only three Bay Area counties were not voluntarily adhering to the state’s recent stay-home restrictions. With Wednesday’s intensive care metrics in the region faltering, the order becomes mandatory, including for Solano, San Mateo and Napa Counties.

Latest updates from today:
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Stay-at-home

Solano Public Health defies 5 neighboring Bay Area health departments, does not join in early stay-at-home orders

5 Bay Area counties, Berkeley adopt stay-at-home order ahead of state’s timeline

SFGATE, by Amy Graff, Dec. 4, 2020

Mission Playground closed to the public on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
Mission Playground closed to the public on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Blair Heagerty / SFGate

Health officers from Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, San Francisco and the city of Berkeley announced in a joint press conference Friday they will enact a regional stay-at-home order more quickly than the state’s timeline presented by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday.

By taking the step, these six jurisdictions are calling on people to stay home and closing all sectors of business except retail and essential operations.

“We are entering an especially dangerous period of the epidemic,” said Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano, noting daily cases in his county. “I don’t think we can wait for the state’s restrictions to go in effect later this month. That’s why we’re making temporary steps now. We must act swiftly.”

“Until we get through this wave, you should not meet in person with anyone you do not live even in a small group and even outdoors with precaution,” said Dr. Lisa Hernandez, health officer for the city of Berkeley. “If you have a social bubble, it is now popped.”

The order will take effect in Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Francisco and the city of Berkeley at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6; in Alameda on Monday, Dec. 7; and in Marin on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

The following sectors are closing:

  • Indoor and outdoor playgrounds
  • Indoor recreational facilities
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Personal care services
  • Museums, zoos and aquariums
  • Movie theaters
  • Wineries
  • Bars, breweries and distilleries
  • Family entertainment centers
  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering
  • Limited services
  • Live audience sports
  • Amusement parks

Here’s what can remain open:

  • Schools: Those that currently have in-person learning can continue.
  • Outdoor recreational facilities: Only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Overnight stays at campgrounds not permitted.
  • Retail: Indoor operation allowed at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
  • Shopping centers: Indoor operation allowed at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
  • Hotels and lodging: Allowed to open for critical infrastructure support only.
  • Restaurants: Permitted only for takeout or pickup.
  • Offices: Remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.
  • Places of worship: Outdoor services only.
  • Entertainment production including professional sports: Permitted without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

Newsom announced a new regional stay-at-home order Thursday, designed to keep local health systems from collapsing under the weight of skyrocketing COVID-19 caseloads. Previous restrictions were based on infection rates in counties.

The new order divides the state into five broad regions and restricts those with intensive care unit bed capacity below 15%. On Thursday, Newsom said four regions — all but the San Francisco Bay Area — could meet that threshold “within a day or two.” But the state allows regions to implement the order more quickly and the Bay Area is taking that step.

California’s virus hospitalizations have nearly quadrupled since mid-October and now stand at 9,948, including 2,248 in intensive care units. The Department of Public Health reported 19,582 deaths since the start of the pandemic, including at least 220 health care workers.

Here’s a rundown of the five regions and counties that fall into each:

Northern California: Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity

Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma

Greater Sacramento: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba

San Joaquin Valley: Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne

Southern California: Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

The Associated Press contributed to this story.