Tag Archives: Vacaville CA

Dr. Matyas to Solano Supes: the surge is real, and 95% of recent new cases directly linked to social gatherings

Vallejo surpasses Fairfield with most Solano Covid-19 cases

Fairfield Daily Republic, by Todd R. Hansen, July 29, 2020
Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Public Health Officer

FAIRFIELD — Vallejo has, once again, become the leader in Covid-19 cases in the county.

The city added 49 new confirmed cases to raise its count to 1,142, surpassing Fairfield with 1,124 cases, the Solano County Public Health Division reported Tuesday afternoon.

The total number of cases countywide jumped by 105 to 3,388. The county also reported that hospitalizations climbed back to 50, up from 45 in Monday’s report, and above Friday’s 49 cases. However, the seven-day positivity testing rate fell from 5.9% to 5.8%.

The numbers likely did nothing to turn down the heat on the debate of just how “sick” Solano County really is.

Even Dr. Bela Matyas, the county’s public health officer, has said the numbers offer a mixed message on Covid-19 in the county, but he has said the recent surge is very real and not just the result of big testing numbers.

He told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that because the county is on the state watch list, it will take a great deal of change in the numbers to be taken off that list.

That, in turn, will dictate when businesses can reopen and when students can return to the campus classrooms.

Matyas said there have been discussions about letting elementary school students back in the classrooms because they learn better in that environment, and because of socialization benefits. But trying to keep masks on children, and then have them keep proper distancing, is a nearly impossible task.

Matyas offered that if area residents conducted themselves the same at home or similar social gatherings as they do out in public and at work, with social distancing and other precautions, the problem would be lessened.

He said that 95% of the new cases during the recent surge, say over the past month or so, have been directly linked to social gatherings, and that the last eight residents who have died contracted the disease through family contact.

He did note that there have been some small outbreaks at local assisted-living facilities, as well as the two prisons in Vacaville. But county health surveillance of those facilities caught the presence of the novel coronavirus early and that has helped in controlling the spread.

Vacaville added 15 cases to increase its total to 578, while Suisun City now has 248 cases, up 10, and Dixon added seven cases to reach 179. Benicia’s count is at 80 after six new cases. Rio Vista, with 26 cases, and the unincorporated area of the county, with 11 cases, each added one case.

The number of completed tests is at 50,925, which is 886 more than reported Monday.  […continued…]

Solano COVID Report: 105 new cases overnight, major outbreak in Vallejo?

[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.]

Tuesday, July 28: 105 new cases in just one day, no new deaths.  Since the outbreak started: 3,388 cases, 36 deaths.

Compare previous report, Monday July 27:Summary

  • Solano County reported 105 new cases today, total of 3,388 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 7 days, Solano reported 531 new cases, an average of 76 per day.
  • Deaths – no new deaths today, total of 36.
  • Active cases – Solano reported 24 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 223.  Last week Solano hit a record high of 440 active cases.  Note that only 50 of these 223 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks 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”.)
  • Hospitalizations – 5 more currently hospitalized persons today, total of 50.  23 more in the total number hospitalized since the outbreak started, 163.  (The County no longer reports Total Hospitalized, but I have added the hospitalization numbers in the Age Group chart.)  For the 2nd day in a row, 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 when the County gathers data on Currently Hospitalized they could also easily collect the ICU bed and ventilator data.  Or… ??
  • Testing 886 residents were tested since yesterday, total of 50,925.  But we still have a long way to go: only 11.4% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Percent Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today’s 7-day percent positive test rate at 5.8%, down 0.1% since yesterday.  (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 7.5%.  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

  • Youth 17 and under – 13 new cases today, total of 345 cases, and no new hospitalizations, only 2 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  A week ago, there were 282 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 3,388 total confirmed cases.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 60 new cases today, total of 2,059 cases.  This age group represents 61% of the 3,388 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported 8 new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 45 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 3 deaths.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 23 new cases today, total of 647 cases.  This age group represents over 19% of the 3,388 total cases.  The County reported 8 new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 51 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 4 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 9 new cases today, total of 336 cases.  This age group represents just under 10% of the 3,388 total cases. 7 new hospitalizations, total of 64 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths, total of 29.  In this older age group, 19% 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 yesterday and again today, total of 80 cases.  Benicia was extremely stable with only 2 new cases in the month of June.  Now Benicia has seen 18 new cases in 7 days.
  • Dixon added 7 new cases today, total of 179 cases.
  • Fairfield added 16 new cases today, total of 1,124.
  • Rio Vista added 1 new case today, total of 26 cases.
  • Suisun City added 10 new cases today, total of 248 cases.
  • Vacaville added 15 new cases today, total of 578 cases.
  • Vallejo added 58 new cases yesterday and 49 more today, total of 1,142 cases.  A big jump in cases in Vallejo – major outbreak?  Vallejo replaced Fairfield today with more positive cases than anywhere in Solano County.
  • Unincorporated areas – Unincorporated areas added 1 case today, total of 11 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

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 23% of hospitalizations, and 31% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 29% of cases, 32% of hospitalizations, and 25% of deaths.
  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases and 12% 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.

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.

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.