Category Archives: Benicia CA

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Testing

Solano County now offering COVID-19 testing for older adults and others who show symptoms of the virus

City of Benicia announcement, following the Solano County announcement, April 15, 2020

Solano County COVID-19 Testing

The Solano County drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at the Solano County Fairgrounds is offering testing for older adults (age 65+), individuals with chronic diseases, healthcare workers, first responders, and essential employees who are currently ill and whose symptoms are consistent with COVID-19 (including fever, cough, chills, and body aches). Individuals must also live and/or work in Solano County. Testing is not available for those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms at this time.

Appointments:

Monday -Thursday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Examples of chronic diseases include, but are not limited to:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes

Essential employees include, but are not limited to, employees in the following settings:

• Grocery stores, food banks, restaurants, and food delivery
• Gas stations and auto-repair facilities
• Transportation providers
• Childcare facilities
• Water, sewer, solid waste, gas, and electrical operations
• Mailing and shipping services
• Banks
• Hardware stores, warehouses, and distribution centers
• Construction
• Laundry service
• Telecommunications, internet, and media services

Testing is by appointment only and a valid ID or verification of ID is needed. You can call (707) 784-8655 to make an appointment, please do not leave a message. The phone line is open from 9am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, or until all appointment slots are filled. There is no cost for this testing. Testing consists of a self-administered nasal swab, and results can be expected in 1-3 days.

Please call the Solano Public Health COVID-19 warm line at (707) 784-8988 or email COVID19@SolanoCounty.com with any questions.

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Coronavirus in Solano County – 13 new cases, Benicia now reporting 11 cases as of April 17

Friday, April 17: thirteen new cases, no new deaths, total now 169 cases, 2 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 click on “Number of cases” and then hover over the charts for detailed information.

Last report (Thursday, April 16):

Summary:

Solano County reported 13 NEW POSITIVE CASES today – total is now 169.  No new deaths in Solano County – still 2.  As of today:

    • No additional positive cases of young persons under 19 years of age, total of 2.
    • 12 of today’s 13 new cases were persons 19-64 years of age, total of 139 cases, 82%, of total confirmed cases. (No new deaths, total of 1).
    • 1 additional case was a person 65 or older, total of 28 cases, 17% of the 156 total (No new deaths, total of 1).

ACTIVE CASES:  33 of the 156 are active cases. This is 4 fewer than reported yesterday.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 41 of Solano’s 169 cases resulted in hospitalizations (up 2 over yesterday).  The County’s “Hospital Impact” graph (below) shows that only 12 are currently hospitalized, but this is 3 more than yesterday.  The County continues to estimate that our supply of ICU beds and ventilators is GOOD.  (No information is given on our supply of test kits, PPE and staff.)

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added 5 new cases, total of 67
  • Fairfield added 5 new cases, total of 43
  • Vacaville remains at 24 cases;
  • Suisun City remains at 11 cases.
  • Benicia graduated today from the vague <10 category: Benicia is now showing 11 confirmed cases, indicating an increase of at least 2 today, possibly 3.
  • Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: all show <10 (less than 10).  Residents and city officials have been pressuring County officials for city case counts for many weeks.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

TESTING

The Number of residents tested panel reports that 2,324 residents have been tested as of today.  This is an increase of only 155 tested over yesterday’s total of 2,169, almost exactly the same daily increase as was reported yesterday (154).  (I have no information as to the reason for the slow pace of testing here – inadequate supply of kits, perhaps?)  Only 5 tenths of 1% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Solano’s upward curve in cumulative cases – as of April 17

The chart above gives a clear picture of the infection’s trajectory in Solano County.  Our COVID-19 curve continues it’s upward climb!

EVERYONE – it remains incredibly important that we all stay home and be safe!

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Suisun City CA

Coronavirus in Benicia, CA: Solano County COVID-19 report (April 15)

Wednesday, April 15: only one new case! No new deaths, total now 141 cases, 2 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 click on “Number of cases” and then hover over the charts for detailed information.

Last report (Tuesday, April 14):

Summary:

Solano County reported ONLY 1 NEW POSITIVE CASE today – total is now 141.  No new deaths in Solano County – still 2.

As of today:

    • No additional positive cases of young persons under 19 years of age, total of 2.
    • Today’s new case was a person 19-64 years of age, total of 112 cases, 79%, of the 141 total (no new deaths, total of 1).
    • No additional cases were persons 65 or older, total of 27 cases, 19% of the 140 total (including 1 death)

ACTIVE CASES:  Only 24 of the 141 are active cases. This is 5 less than previously reported yesterday – good news!

HOSPITALIZATIONS: The County’s “Hospital Impact” graph (below) is significant. While 39 of the 141 cases resulted in hospitalizations, only 16 are currently hospitalized – but this is 2 more than yesterday.  Good news: the County continues to estimate that our supply of ICU beds and ventilators is GOOD.  (No information is given on our supply of PPE and staff.)

CITY DATA: Vallejo remains at 53 cases; Fairfield added 1 new case, total of 35; and Vacaville remains at 24 cases.  One of our smaller cities graduated from the vague <10 category: Suisun City is now showing 10 confirmed cases.  Benicia, Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: all show <10 (less than 10).  Residents and city officials have been pressuring County officials for city case counts for many weeks.  Today’s data is welcome, but incomplete.

The Number of residents tested panel reports that 2,015 residents have been tested as of today.  This is an increase of only 93 over yesterday’s total of 1,922.  Approximately 4 tenths of 1% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

The blue bars in the chart, “Daily number of cases on the date that specimens were collected” shows why the County is interpreting a flattening of the curve.  Note that the daily date in that chart refers to the date a sample was drawn and so reflects the lag time in testing.

Solano’s slowing upward curve in cumulative cases – as of April 15

The chart above gives a clear picture of the infection’s trajectory in Solano County.  Our COVID-19 curve continues may be slowing!

But it remains incredibly important that everyone – please! – stay home and be safe!

Benicia CA, California, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Stay-at-home

False reports that Gov. Newsom extended stay-at-home order through May 15

By Roger Straw, April 12, 2020

A number of news outlets are reporting that California Governor Gavin Newsom extended the coronavirus stay-at-home order through May 15.

But as of today, nothing on the Governor’s coronavirus page confirms the extension.  Nor do any reliable news sources confirm the extension.

The story seems to have arisen in connection with actions taken by several southern California jurisdictions which extended the order through May 15, including Los Angeles County and the City of Santa Clarita.

California’s statewide stay-at-home order, issued on March 19, remains in effect “until further notice.”

Here in Benicia, we are also under Solano County orders to stay at home.  Solano County’s current extension order was issued on March 30, and continues through April 30.  The City of Benicia declared an emergency on March 15, and has repeatedly issued guidelines supporting the County’s order.