Category Archives: Coronavirus

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano County COVID cases pass 6,000 – good news: over 82,000 residents tested

[For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE – R.S.]

Wednesday, September 16: 20 new cases overnight, no new deaths.  Since the outbreak started: 6,007 cases, 52 deaths.Compare previous report, Tuesday, Sept 15:Summary

  • Solano County reported 20 new cases today, total of 6,007 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last week, Solano reported 229 new cases, an average of 33 per day.
  • Deaths – no new deaths today, total of 52 Solano deaths.
  • Active cases – Solano reported 4 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 216.  Note that only 29 of these 216 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has no reporting on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – the number of currently hospitalized persons included 3 fewer individuals today, total of 29.  This despite the increase in total number hospitalized since the outbreak started, plus 3 today, total of 301.  Evidently more released than admitted (see age group hospitalization stats below).
  • ICU Beds –The County reported 43% of ICU beds available, down from 50% available yesterday and 56% on Monday.  (After 7 weeks, still no information about availability of ventilators.)
  • Testing – The County reports today that only 249 residents were tested since yesterday (fewest single-day increase since August 5), new total of 82,257.  Solano has a long way to go: only 18.4% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate remained at 3.1%.  I was skeptical about the remarkably low rate last week: our supposedly smooth 7-day moving average has been jumping all over the place lately (see note about delayed adjustments below).  For the record, two weeks ago we saw Solano rates above 7% for the first time since we peaked at 9.3% on July 22.  Last week we bottomed out at 2.7%.  The County’s line graph looks like a flat line and tells us absolutely nothing, not worth posting here.  Health officials and news reports focus on percent positive test rates as one of the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much more stable California 7-day test rate rose today from 3.3% to 3.6%.  (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 also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – only 1 new case today, total of 657 cases, representing 10.9% of the 6,007 total cases.  No new hospitalizations among this age group, a total of 5 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deaths.  In recent weeks it seems too many youth are ignoring public health orders.  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 remained around 11% since then.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers have increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 5 youth have been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 11 new cases today, total of 3,607 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents 60% of the 6,007 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 94 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths among this age group today, total of 4 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect his group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 4 new cases today, total of 1,150 cases.  This age group represents 19% of the 6,007 total cases.
    2 new hospitalizations today, total of 82 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 8 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – On Monday, I reported Solano’s LARGEST SINGLE WEEKEND INCREASE in this age group since I began keeping records on April 20: 31 new cases, 3 new hospitalizations and 2 deaths.  The County reported 4 new cases today, and 1 new hospitalization, (no new deaths).  I believe recent increases are related to news of an outbreak at the Parkrose Gardens Alzheimer’s and Dementia care facility in Fairfield, where 31 patients and 8 staff have tested positive.  This age group’s 592 cases represent 9.9% of the 6,007 total cases.  Total hospitalizations since the pandemic began number 120 today, and deaths total 40 in this age group.  In this older age group, 20.3% of cases required hospitalization at one time.  This group accounts for 40 of the 52 deaths, or 77%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 2 new cases today, total of 155 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added no new cases today, total of 399 cases.
  • Fairfield added 6 new cases today, total of 1,961.
  • Rio Vista added no new cases today, total of 40 cases.
  • Suisun City added 1 new case today, total of 434 cases.
  • Vacaville added 5 new cases today, total of 998 cases.
  • Vallejo added 6 new cases today, total of 2,001 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas added no new cases today, total of 19 cases.

Cases, Hospitalizations & Deaths by 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 Latinex members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases, 12% of hospitalizations, and 19% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 23% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 31% of cases, 32% of hospitalizations, and 27% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 21% of cases, 22% of hospitalizations and 21% of deaths.

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.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Fairfield CA, Senior care, Solano County CA

Fairfield COVID outbreak adds to Solano daily update: 4 hospitalized, 2 new deaths

[For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE – R.S.]

Tuesday, September 15: 50 new cases overnight, 2 new deaths.  Since the outbreak started: 5,987 cases, 52 deaths.Compare previous report, Monday, Sept 14:Summary

  • Solano County reported 50 new cases today, total of 5,987 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last week, Solano reported 225 new cases, an average of 32 per day.
  • Deaths – 2 new deaths today, total of 52 Solano deaths.
  • Active cases – Solano reported 4 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 212.  Note that only 32 of these 212 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has no reporting on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – the number of currently hospitalized persons included 1 fewer individuals today, total of 32.  This despite the increase in total number hospitalized since the outbreak started, plus 4 today, total of 298.  Evidently more released than admitted (see age group hospitalization stats below).
  • ICU Beds –The County reported 50% of ICU beds available, down from 56% available yesterday.  (After 7 weeks, still no information about availability of ventilators.)
  • Testing – The County reports today that 649 more residents were tested since yesterday, new total of 82,008.  Solano has a long way to go: only 18.3% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Positive Test Rate: TOPSY TURVY … DOWN AGAIN

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate fell overnight by 1.8% from 4.9% to 3.1%.  I was skeptical about the remarkably low rate last week: our supposedly smooth 7-day moving average has been jumping all over the place lately (see note about delayed adjustments below).  For the record, two weeks ago we saw Solano rates above 7% for the first time since we peaked at 9.3% on July 22.  Last week we bottomed out at 2.7%.  The County’s line graph looks like a flat line and tells us absolutely nothing, so I decided today that it isn’t worth posting here.  Health officials and news reports focus on percent positive test rates as one of the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much more stable California 7-day test rate fell slightly today from 3.5% to 3.3%.  (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 also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 5 new case today, total of 656 cases, representing 11% of the 5,987 total cases.  No new hospitalizations among this age group, a total of 5 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deaths.  In recent weeks it seems too many youth are ignoring public health orders.  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 remained at 11% since then.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers have increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 5 youth have been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 27 new cases today, total of 3,596 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents 60% of the 5,987 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 94 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths among this age group today, total of 4 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect his group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 12 new cases today, total of 1,146 cases.  This age group represents 19% of the 5,987 total cases.
    1 new hospitalization today, total of 80 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  1 new death in this age group today, a total of 8 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – Yesterday, I reported Solano’s LARGEST SINGLE WEEKEND INCREASE in this age group since I began keeping records on April 20: 31 new cases, 3 new hospitalizations and 2 deaths.  The outbreak continues: 7 new cases today, 3 new hospitalizations and 1 new death.  Now we can report that this is almost assuredly related to news of an outbreak at the Parkrose Gardens Alzheimer’s and Dementia care facility in Fairfield, where 31 patients and 8 staff have tested positive.  This age group’s 588 cases represent 9.8% of the 5,987 total cases.  Total hospitalizations since the pandemic began number 119 today, and deaths total 40 in this age group.  In this older age group, 20.2% of cases required hospitalization at one time.  This group accounts for 40 of the 52 deaths, or 77%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 5 new cases today, total of 153 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 1 new cases today, total of 399 cases.
  • Fairfield added 15 new cases today, total of 1,955.
  • Rio Vista added no new cases today, total of 40 cases.
  • Suisun City added 4 new cases today, total of 433 cases.
  • Vacaville added 4 new cases today, total of 993 cases.
  • Vallejo added 21 new cases today, total of 1,995 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas added no new cases today, total of 19 cases.

Cases, Hospitalizations & Deaths by 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 Latinex members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases, 12% of hospitalizations, and 19% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 23% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 31% of cases, 33% of hospitalizations, and 27% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 20% of cases, 22% of hospitalizations and 21% of deaths.

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.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Fairfield CA, Nursing homes, Senior care, Solano County CA

31 residents and 8 staff have COVID at Fairfield Alzheimer’s and dementia care facility

Coronavirus outbreak at Fairfield nursing home


31 nursing home residents and eight staff members at Parkrose Garden nursing home in Fairfield have tested positive for COVID-19.
FOX2 KTVU News, September 15, 2020

FAIRFIELD, Calif. – A Fairfield nursing home is dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak, amid criticism from some staff and families.

Parkrose Gardens is a 102-bed facility that specializes in memory care: dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“I would like to figure out a way to talk to my mom,” said the daughter of one resident, who is among 31 to test positive for coronavirus,” she said.

The daughter preferred to stay anonymous, to protect her mother, 69, diagnosed with dementia while in her mid-50’s.

“I’ve been told she is okay and doesn’t show symptoms, but I want to see that for myself, I want to talk to her, it worries me,” she said.

She is also concerned that many employees she has come to know over two years are gone.

“I know they’re completely understaffed right now, a lot of people left, probably scared, I wouldn’t want to work somewhere that everyone has COVID.

Outside the facility Monday, employees declined to describe conditions inside.

“I don’t want to lose my job,” shrugged one.

Off-camera, one health care worker at Parkrose told KTVU that proper protocols were not followed, leading to the outbreak.

“I haven’t hugged my dad since March,” admitted one woman, arriving to retrieve her elder father’s belongings after his death at Parkrose.

He had been in 2-week quarantine after testing positive, but she believes his death was from other causes.

“As far as I know my dad did not die of the virus, he died because he was 94 years old with dementia and was ready to go, and died in his sleep, peacefully.”

Parkrose Gardens is owned by Meridian Senior Living, which owns 11 congregate living facilities in California and dozens more across the country.

In a statement, it responded, in part: “We are continuing to monitor and adjust out precautions…we will continue to implement the stringent infection control policies and practices.”

But communication remains a sore spot.

“I’m used to talking to my mom every other day,” said the daughter, who feels certain her mother is distressed and confused at her isolation and change in routine.

“She doesn’t understand what’s going on, she doesn’t even understand there’s a coronavirus going on.”

Her mom has an iPad but the last time they were able to speak on Facetime was prior to her positive test.

“They say not they can’t give her the iPad because of risking contamination, or the Wi-Fi doesn’t reach to her room, so there are all these obstacles.”

She hopes for direct contact and more details about the scope of the outbreak.

“I’m not blaming anyone, I just want some answers.”

Benicia Fire Department, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Keeping Watch on Earth News

Benicia Firefighter Tests Positive for COVID-19

PRESS RELEASE
CITY OF BENICIA
Benicia Fire Department
250 East L Street
Benicia, California 94510

Contact: Fire Chief Josh Chadwick
Benicia Fire Department
(707) 746-4275
jchadwick@ci.benicia.ca.us

CITY OF BENICIA UPDATE ON COVID-19
FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
Benicia Firefighter Tests Positive for COVID-19

Benicia, CA (September 15, 2020) — On September 15, 2020, a Benicia Fire Department firefighter informed the City of Benicia that they received a positive test result for COVID-19. The source of the infection has not yet been determined, but the Benicia Fire Department is working with the Solano County Public Health Department and is following and exceeding their guidance.

Fire Chief Josh Chadwick has been in close contact with Solano County Public Health and has determined that, based on the firefighter’s last shift on duty and the date of onset of symptoms, there was no direct exposure to the community during the firefighter’s infectious period.

“We are fortunate that during the period of infection, the firefighter did not have direct contact with members of the public in the City of Benicia. The Benicia Fire Department is committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of the residents of Benicia,” said Benicia Fire Chief Josh Chadwick.

The Benicia Fire Department has standing operating guidelines in place and abides by county protocols to limit or prevent the infection between patients and fire personnel. Fire personnel follow these guidelines and protocols during treatment and interaction with residents. The affected Firefighter is in self-quarantine at home and has not required hospitalization.

All Benicia fire stations remain fully staffed and the City does not anticipate any disruption to service delivery.

Due to health privacy rights, the City is prohibited from providing any information about the identity of the affected firefighter. This is the third member of the Fire Department and the sixth City employee to test positive for COVID-19. We are facilitating testing for all employees who may have been exposed.

For up-to-date information about the City of Benicia’s response to COVID-19, please go to https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/coronavirus.