Category Archives: Covid 19

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Test positivity rates

Solano County COVID infection rate rising: 7-day test positivity rate reaches record high of 9.3%

Wednesday, July 22: 125 new cases today, no new deaths.  Since the outbreak started: 2,982 cases, 35 deaths.

Compare previous report, Tuesday July 21:Summary

  • Solano County reported 125 new cases today, total of 2,982 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 7 days, Solano reported 669 new cases, an average of 96 per day.
  • Deaths – no new deaths today, total of 35.
    Currently hospitalized, 7/22/20
  • Hospitalizations – 2 additional currently hospitalized persons today, total of 50.  No increase in the total number hospitalized since the outbreak started: 130.  (The County no longer reports Total Hospitalized, but I have added the hospitalization numbers in the Age Group chart.)
  • Active cases – Solano reported 85 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 311.  Last week we hit a record high of 440 active cases.  Note that only 50 of today’s 311 active cases are hospitalized; a lot of infected people are 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 fell 2% to 36%.  Ventilators Available rose 3% to 91%.
  • Testing – 1,093 residents were tested since yesterday, total of 46,415.  But we still have a long way to go: only 10% 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 a record high of 9.3%, up from 8.2 yesterday.  Last week the number increased each day, from 5.3% on Monday to a 9.1% on Friday.  The recent dramatic daily increases are beginning to show on the 7-day average line.  CONTEXT: California’s 7-day positivity rate is reported today at 7.6%.  Our rate in Solano County is above the State’s rate.  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 – 23 new cases today, total of 305 cases, and no new hospitalizations, total only 2 since the outbreak began.  A week ago, there were 233 cases among this age group – we’ve seen 72 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 2,982 total confirmed cases.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 72 new cases today, total of 1,813 cases.  This age group represents over 61% of the 2,982 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations today, total of 33 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 3 deaths.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 19 new cases today, total of 569 cases.  This age group represents over 19% of the 2,982 total cases.  The County reported no new hospitalizations today, total of 41 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 4 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 11 new cases today, total of 294 cases.  This age group represents 10% of the 2,982 total cases. No new hospitalizations, total of 54 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths, total of 28.  In this older age group, over 18% of cases required hospitalization at one time, a substantially higher percentage than in the lower age groups.  This group accounts for 28 of the 35 deaths, or 80%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 3 new cases today, total of 65 cases.  Benicia was extremely stable with only 2 new cases for the entire month of June.  Now Benicia has seen 15 new cases in 7 days.
  • Dixon added 7 new cases today, total of 155 cases.
  • Fairfield added 43 new cases today, total of 1,020.  Fairfield has more positive cases than anywhere in Solano County.
  • Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 25 cases.
  • Suisun City added 9 new cases today, total of 221 cases.
  • Vacaville added 25 new cases today, total of 499 cases.
  • Vallejo added 38 new cases today, total of 988.
  • Unincorporated areas – Although the County still still shows Unincorporated at <10 (less than 10), a little math tells the story: Solano’s unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 9 cases (those unaccounted for in the other City totals).

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, 24% of hospitalizations and 23% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 13% of cases, but 26% of hospitalizations, and 32% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 33% of cases, 27% of hospitalizations, and 26% of deaths.
  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases and 14% 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.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Nursing homes

Coronavirus: Outbreak at Walnut Creek nursing home leaves 12 dead, 130 infected

Manor Care Health Services-Tice Valley, Walnut Creek, CA
San Francisco Chronicle, by Anna Bauman, July 20, 2020

Twelve residents have died and 130 people have been infected with the coronavirus at a Walnut Creek nursing home, state health officials said Monday.

Ninety-two residents and 38 health care workers at Manor Care Health Services-Tice Valley tested positive for the coronavirus as of Sunday, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. There were at least 25 active cases among residents.

Many of the cases were asymptomatic and more than 50 people — 27 residents and 26 staff — have recovered, said Julie Beckert, assistant vice president of marketing communications for HCR Manor Care. The whole facility has been tested.

Data provided by state health officials paint a picture of how the virus spread gradually through the facility in the past month.

The first resident tested positive June 18. Four days later, 32 residents and at least one staff member were infected. The numbers more than doubled in the next week and continued climbing in the following weeks as the virus continued to spread.

The first resident died June 25. Three weeks later, 12 residents were dead, according to state data.

The 120-bed facility offers short-term care, long-term care and outpatient rehabilitation options, according to its website.

The facility has a record of health violations, state records show. Medicare gave the facility a four-star, or above average, rating.

During an April 2019 recertification inspection, officials found that the facility failed to meet federal and state requirements for providing a safe and clean environment, regularly evaluating and training nurse aides, storing food and kitchen items properly, and following infection control measures, according to state records.

In one instance, an inspector found soiled clothes, a dirty commode bucket and a toilet plunger with brown stains left in a bathroom. In another recorded incident, a housekeeper failed to remove personal protective equipment before leaving the room of a patient with a highly communicable disease.

Another housekeeper did not sanitize cleaning equipment before taking it out of an isolation room, according to the inspection report. Nurses did not sanitize a blood pressure cuff or pulse oximeter after using them on patients, the report said.

Deaths in long-term care facilities account for more than a third of California’s COVID-19 deaths. The virus spreads in close quarters, most often claiming vulnerable victims who are elderly or have pre-existing conditions.

There have been 2,953 COVID-19 deaths at 1,223 skilled nursing facilities in California since the beginning of the pandemic, state data show. More than 16,700 residents and 11,800 health care workers have been infected.

At the Walnut Creek facility, employees must self-quarantine after testing positive, Beckert said. Staff wear personal protective equipment, follow hygiene protocols and are screened for COVID-19 symptoms, she said.

In response to the pandemic, the facility implemented regular patient temperature checks, increased cleaning, educated staff regarding personal protective equipment and created an airborne isolation unit for high risk patients, Beckert said. Manor Care is working with health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she added.

Contra Costa County health officials referred questions to the state health department. A state health representative said the department would not provide information beyond what is available in its database.

The outbreak in Walnut Creek is among the deadliest to hit East Bay skilled nursing homes. Another Contra Costa County outbreak occurred at San Miguel Villa in Concord, where 20 residents died and 82 people were infected.

In Alameda County, 19 residents died in a coronavirus outbreak at Gateway Care and Rehabilitation Center in Hayward.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Solano sees 98 new COVID cases, another death, rising positive test rate

Tuesday, July 21: 98 new cases today,
1 new death.  Since the outbreak started: 2,857 cases, 35 deaths.

Compare previous report, Monday July 20:Summary

  • Solano County reported 98 new cases today, total of 2,857 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 7 days, Solano reported 544 new cases, an average of 78 per day.
  • Deaths – 1 new death today, total of 35.  Today’s new death was someone in the 65+ age group.
  • Currently hospitalized, 7/21/20

    Hospitalizations – 5 fewer  currently hospitalized persons today, total of 48.  And no increase in the total number hospitalized since the outbreak started:130.  (The County no longer reports Total Hospitalized, but I have added the hospitalization numbers in the Age Group chart.)

  • Active cases – Solano reported 21 fewer ACTIVE cases today, total of 226.  Last week we hit a record high of 440 active cases.  Note that only 48 of today’s 226 active cases are hospitalized; a lot of infected people are 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 fell 1% to 38%.  Ventilators Available fell 2% to 88%.
  • Testing – 1,055 residents were tested since yesterday, total of 45,322.  But we still have a long way to go: only 10% 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 8.2%.  Last week the number increased each day, from 5.3% on Monday to a high of 9.1% on Friday.  The recent dramatic daily increases will begin to show on the 7-day average line sometime soon.  CONTEXT: California’s 7-day and 14-day positivity rate is reported today at 7.5%.  Our rate in Solano County is above the State’s rate.  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 282 cases, and no new hospitalizations, total only 2 since the outbreak began.  A week ago, there were 220 cases among this age group – we’ve seen 62 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 9.9% of the 2,857 total confirmed cases.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 69 new cases today, total of 1,741 cases.  This age group represents over 61% of the 2,857 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations today, total of 33 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 3 deaths.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 11 new cases today, total of 550 cases.  This age group represents over 19% of the 2,857 total cases.  The County reported no new hospitalizations today, total of 41 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and no new deaths among this age group, total of 4 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 5 new cases today, total of 283 cases.  This age group represents 10% of the 2,857 total cases. No new hospitalizations, total of 54 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  1 new death, total of 28 deaths.  In this older age group, over 19% of cases required hospitalization at one time, a substantially higher percentage than in the lower age groups.  This group accounts for 28 of the 35 deaths, or 80%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 5 new cases today, total of 62 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 3 new cases today, total of 148 cases.
  • Fairfield added 33 new cases today, total of 977.  Fairfield has more positive cases than anywhere in Solano County.
  • Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 25 cases.
  • Suisun City added 7 new cases today, total of 212 cases.
  • Vacaville added 21 new cases today, total of 474 cases.
  • Vallejo added 29 new cases today, total of 950.
  • Unincorporated areas – Although the County still still shows Unincorporated at <10 (less than 10), a little math tells the story: Solano’s unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 9 cases (those unaccounted for in the other City totals).

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, 24% of hospitalizations and 23% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 13% of cases, but 26% of hospitalizations, and 32% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 33% of cases, 27% of hospitalizations, and 26% of deaths.
  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases and 14% 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.

Benicia CA, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Keeping Watch on Earth News

Benicia Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19; Community Center Closed

PRESS RELEASE
CITY OF BENICIA
City Hall, 250 East L Street
Benicia, California 94510

Contact:  Lorie Tinfow, City Manager
ltinfow@ci.benicia.ca.us

CITY OF BENICIA UPDATE ON COVID-19
FOR JULY 20, 2020
Benicia Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19;
Community Center Closed

Benicia, CA (July 20, 2020) – The City of Benicia shares the news that an employee at the Benicia Community Center informed the City of Benicia today that they received a positive test result for COVID-19. The City of Benicia has been in contact with Solano County Public Health Office and is following and exceeding their guidance. In an abundance of caution, the City of Benicia has decided to close the Benicia Community Center effective tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21 to begin a deep cleaning of the entire facility. Staff will be tested, and the Community Center will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen. Credits will be issued for all Parks & Community Services program registrations affected by the closure.

“We make it a policy not to disclose detailed information to protect employee privacy,” said City Manager Lorie Tinfow. “We will facilitate testing for all employees who may have been exposed and notify program participants as appropriate. The City of Benicia is committed to maintain the safety of our staff, our visitors and our program participants to the best of our ability.”

Increased instances of positive test results have been seen in Solano County, in the State of California and in our country. Employees of the City of Benicia, including those who work at the Benicia Community Center, follow recommended protocols such as wearing face coverings, washing hands, and maintaining social distance. A significant number of positive cases stem from social and family gatherings. The City of Benicia reminds all residents to follow recommended protocols and avoid gatherings.

The City of Benicia has a community services phone line for COVID-19 questions and concerns; call 707.746.4285 or email pcs@ci.benicia.ca.us.

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