Category Archives: Benicia CA

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.

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano County Library launches survey seeking info on online services during coronavirus

[NOTE: The Benicia Library is independent, not part of the Solano County Library system.  See Benicia Library Director David Dodd’s April 1 Pandemic Update.   – R.S.]

By VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD, April 8, 2020

Solano County LibraryThe Solano County Library wants to know what type of online programming that is responsive and reflective of the community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and has launched a survey, seeking community input.

“We’d love your input and suggestions on the types of topics and programs that resonate with you most during this period of physical distancing,” library officials said in a press release.

The survey can be accessed at surveymonkey.com/r/digitalscl

For more information, call 1-866-57-ASKUS or visit solanolibrary.com.

Benicia CA, Benicia City Manager, Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Solano County Health Department

Clarification: Solano County COVID-19 curve rising? Or flattening?

By Roger Straw, April 9, 2020

I’m confused.

The Solano County Health department reports out daily Mon-Fri with an excellent accounting of COVID-19 updates.  Here’s a screenshot of their most recent report:

In my daily coverage, I’ve highlighted the daily increase in Total Confirmed Cases (112 above).  I’ve also paid a lot of attention to the dramatic rise in the yellow curve shown in the graph at bottom, center, “Cumulative number of cases on the date reported to Solano Public Health”.

My daily observation has been, “Our coronavirus curve is on a steep uphill climb!  Everyone stay home and be safe!”

Here’s the problem: Yesterday our Benicia City Manager, Lorie Tinfow, echoed the Solano County Public Health Officer, Dr. Bela Matyas, beginning her otherwise excellent press release with these words: “As we see the curve of new COVID-19 cases begin to flatten,…”

Stop.  What?  The curve is flattening?  I have been critical of our County Health department, but I trust our Benicia City Manager.  What does she know that I don’t know?

I wrote to Ms. Tinfow pointing out the apparent contradiction, and copied my email to Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, another public official whom I trust.  The Mayor was quick to reply, writing, “I think they might be referring to “active” cases.  The number of cases is increasing for the most part because of delayed test results (up to 12 days).  We have 35 active cases and the hospitalization and ICU rates are not increasing rapidly.  Overall, there is a less than 4% increase in active [cases], hospitalization and ICU.  So the message, I think, is sheltering at home is working and don’t blow its by mingling for Easter and Passover.”

This MIGHT make sense.  I wanted to see for myself, so I created the following chart.  You will notice the red columns track the DAILY CHANGES.There are indeed differences in the daily change rates shown in the columns above.  While total confirmed cases and new cases have been increasing, the change in the daily number of active cases has remained relatively stable.  Similarly, the change in hospitalizations doesn’t vary much from day to day.

So… to clarify, I guess…  Solano County is continuing to see daily increases in the disease among us, but it may not be rising as fast as the little yellow line in the graph would suggest.

The data is still pretty young.  That is, the sample in my chart above only covers a period of just over 2 weeks.  If the experts say the curve is flattening here in Solano County, well, ok.

There are two extremely important take-aways, though:

    1. We have a long way to go – social distancing is incredibly important.  Stay at home!
    2. When any community hits the curve’s apex, it’s far from over.  As one tv doctor put it, the day after the apex is still the second worst day of the crisis!  Be prepared for more cases, and possibly more deaths here in Solano County.