Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered every county in California to close indoor restaurants, movie theaters and wineries Monday as the state combats a surge in coronavirus cases.
He also ordered bars to cease all operations, indoor and outdoor, throughout the state.
Newsom had previously directed 30 counties on the state’s “watch list” due to surging outbreaks to close business operations in those sectors. But Newsom said the order will now extend to all 58 California counties.
Newsom’s statewide closure order applies to a host of other indoor spaces: zoos, museums, cardrooms and family entertainment centers. Those establishments are still allowed to operate outdoors in most counties, including restaurant patios.
In addition, Newsom ordered the 30 counties on the state watch list to close gyms, churches, offices for non-critical work sectors, shopping malls and barbershops and hair salons.
More than 80% percent of California’s population lives in those 30 counties. In the Bay Area, the list includes Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
The governor said the order comes as hospitalizations and new cases continue to surge, and some rural counties, such as Placer and Lake counties, are nearing bed capacity in hospital intensive care units.
“This virus is not going away any time soon,” he said. “It’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID -19 is not going away any time soon, until there is a vaccine and/or an effective therapy.”
UPDATE on Monday July 13 – Well, maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe this Alert worked! As of this evening, the County is now – finally – reporting percent positive test rates on its daily COVID-19 dashboard. See today’s BenIndy report for details. – Roger Straw
Percent Positive Test Rates – 17 days and counting
By Roger Straw, July 12, 2020
Increasingly, national, state and county news reports are focusing on percent positive test rates. Five Bay Area counties report daily on their seven-day average percent positive test rate, but Solano County does not.
This information is immediately important, as positive test rates in California and other southwestern states are increasing.
Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Health Officer
I wrote to Solano County Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas on June 24 asking for information as to Solano County’s “percent positive test rate.” He replied next day with thanks and wrote, “We are actively working to include these values on our County dashboard. I hope we can begin to report on them sometime next week.”
That was 17 DAYS AGO. I wrote again on June 29 thanking him and asking for the information as a “seven-day moving average.” After two weeks had passed and hearing nothing, I wrote again on July 9 to remind him, with no response to date.
A reader wrote to me today, asking me to renew this request daily here on the Benicia Independent, as the information is so incredibly important, and the public needs to know.
I think that might be a good idea!
Dr. Matyas: It has been 17 DAYS… and we are still waiting. Hopefully tomorrow?
Solano Public Health Administration
275 Beck Avenue
Fairfield, CA 94533
Main Line: (707) 784-8600
Fax: (707) 421-6618
For Urgent Questions or Concerns
Solano Public Health Main Line – Call the Solano Public Health Main Line at 707-784-8600 for questions or concerns about a public health-related issue. Communicable Disease Main Line (24/7 Line) – For questions or concerns about communicable diseases, call (707) 784-8001.
Please use this phone number when reporting a health emergency to Solano Public Health.
On Facebook:facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH/
Solano County Supervisors:
District 1 covers, essentially, the part of Vallejo that lies between Georgia Street and the Napa County line. It also includes the Napa marshes to the west and Hiddenbrooke. Map. Supervisor Erin Hannigan Phone: (707) 553-5363 Fax: (707) 784-6665 ehannigan@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
Michael Wilson
District Representative for Supervisor Hannigan Phone: (707) 553-5363 Fax: (707) 784-6665 mlwilson@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
Josette Lacey
District Representative for Supervisor Hannigan Phone: (707) 553-5363 Fax: (707) 784-6665 jmlacey@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
District 2 includes Benicia, approximately half of Vallejo (area south of Tennessee Street to Oakwood Street and south of Georgia Street as well as the waterfront including Mare Island), the Cordelia and Green Valley area of Fairfield, almost all of the Suisun Marsh and the unincorporated areas of Green Valley and Home Acres. Map. Supervisor Monica Brown Phone: (707) 784-3031 Fax: (707) 784-6665
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352 MEBrown@solanocounty.com
Liat Meitzenheimer
District Representative for Supervisor Brown Phone: (707) 784-3004 Fax: (707) 784-6665 lfmeitzenheimer@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
Stephen Hallett
District Representative for Supervisor Brown Phone: (707) 784-2974 Fax: (707) 784-6665 SLHallett@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
District 3 , area west of I-680 and Green Valley (not Old Town Cordelia which is in District 2), includes most of Fairfield, about half of Suisun City, all of Tolenas and Suisun Valley, and Travis Air Force Base south of Travis Avenue. I-80 and Air Base Parkway form the major divider through Fairfield, with the northeast part of Fairfield in District 5. Suisun City south of Prosperity Lane and east of Emperor Drive is in District 5. Map Supervisor Jim Spering Phone: (707) 784-6136 Fax: (707) 784-6665 jpspering@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6352
Catherine M. Cook
District Representative for Supervisor Spering Phone: (707) 784-6418 Fax: (707) 784-6665 cmcook@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
Dee Dee Barrett District Representative for Supervisor Spering Phone: (707) 784-3006 Fax: (707) 784-6665 dmbarrett@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
District 4 includes Vacaville west of Peabody Road up to Marshall Drive, north of Marshall Drive to Nut Tree Road and then west of Interstate 80 to the Yolo County line, Dixon and the unincorporated area north of Midway to the Yolo County line. Map. Supervisor John Vasquez Phone: (707) 784-6129 Fax: (707) 784-6665 jmvasquez@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
Jennifer Hamilton District Representative for Supervisor Vasquez Phone: (707) 784-3034 and (707) 784-6128 jlhamilton@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
Ryan Chalk District Representative for Supervisor Vasquez Phone: (707) 784-3034 and (707) 784-6128 rlchalk@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
District 5 , includes the eastern section of Suisun City, south of Prosperity Lane and east of Emperor Drive to Highway 12, including Pintail Drive; the eastern part of Vacaville, including most of the 95687 area east of Peabody Road, south of Marshall Drive and east of Nut Tree Road to Interstate 80; north of Air Base Parkway in Fairfield; and south of Midway Road to include Rio Vista and the Elmira area. Map.
Alexandra Winston
District Representative for Supervisor Thomson Phone: (707) 784-6131 Fax: (707) 784-6665 AWinston@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
Judi Booe
District Representative for Supervisor Thomson Phone: (707) 784-6131 Fax: (707) 784-6665 jsbooe@solanocounty.com
675 Texas Street, Suite 6500
Fairfield, CA 94533-6342
Friday, July 10: 90 new cases today, 1 new death. Since the outbreak started: 2,075 cases, 111 hospitalized, 28 deaths.
Compare previous report, Thursday July 9:Summary
Solano County reported 90 new cases today, total of 2,075 cases since the outbreak started. Over the last 7 days, Solano reported 599 new cases, an average of 85 per day.
1 new death today, total of 28, someone over 65 years.
Hospitalizations – Solano is reporting 1 more currently hospitalized person since yesterday, for a total of 40, and 3 additional hospitalizations, total of 111 persons in the total number hospitalized since the outbreak started.
Active cases(“The total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Solano County residents who are still within 10 days of when their specimens were collected.”) – Solano reported39 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 435. This figure has been climbing steadily: a week ago Monday there were 70 active cases, increasing to a yesterday’s high of 409 and today’s new record of 435. Only 40 of those active cases are hospitalized; a whole lot of infected people are out among us, hopefully quarantined. And I have to ask, is the County equipped to contact trace all of these?
ICU beds Available increased by 2% to 39%. Ventilators Available increased by 4% to 86%.
Testing – only 160 residents were tested since yesterday, total of 35,840. We still have a long way to go: only 8% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.
By Age Group
Youth 17 and under – 10 new cases today, total of 202 cases, and no new hospitalizations, total only 2 since the outbreak began. Two weeks ago, there were only 88 cases among this age group – we’ve seen 114 new cases in just 14 days!I continue to raise an alarm for Solano’s youth. Cases among Solano youth have increased in recent weeks to nearly 10% of the 2,075 total confirmed cases.
Persons 18-49 years of age – 56 new cases today, total of 1,244 cases. This age group represents 60% of the 2,075 total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups. The County reported 1 new hospitalization among this age group today, total of 29 hospitalized since the outbreak began, and 2 deaths.
Persons 50-64 years of age – 21 new cases today, total of 402 cases. This age group represents 19% of the 2,075 total cases. 1 new hospitalization today, total of 37 hospitalized since the outbreak began. No new deaths, total of 3 deaths.
Persons 65 years or older – 3 new cases today, total of 226 cases. This age group represents 10% of the 2,075 total cases. 1 new hospitalization, total of 43 hospitalized since the outbreak began. 1 new death, total of 23 deaths. In this older age group, 19% of cases required hospitalization at one time, a substantially higher percentage than in the lower age groups. And this group accounts for 23 of the 28 deaths, or 82%.
Incidence Rate: Cases, Hospitalizations, Deaths
On the Age Group chart (and also on the Race/Ethnicity chart) there are “Rate” tabs. Today’s report shows Solano County with:
Solano County has 462 positive cases per population of 100,000, up from 442 yesterday (Compare this number with the City incidence rates, below.)
25 Solano hospitalizations per population of 100,000, up from 24/100k yesterday.
6 Solano deaths per population of 100,000, same as yesterday.
Percent Positive Test Rates
Increasingly, national, state and county news reports are focusing on percent positive test rates. Five Bay Area counties report daily on their seven-day average percent positive test rate, but Solano County does not. This information is immediately important, as positive test rates in California and other southwestern states are increasing. I wrote and asked Dr. Matyas on June 24 to supply information as to Solano County’s “percent positive test rate.” He replied next day with thanks and wrote, “We are actively working to include these values on our County dashboard. I hope we can begin to report on them sometime next week.” That was nearly 2 weeks ago… (and I wrote to him again yesterday, will keep you posted).
City Data
Vallejoadded 29 new cases today, total of 706.
Fairfield added 35 new cases today, total of 720. Fairfield has seen over 200 new cases over the last week, and now has more positive cases than anywhere in Solano County.
Vacaville added 12 new cases today, total of 320 cases.
Suisun City added 12 new cases today, total of 142 cases.
Benicia remained steady today, total of 40 cases. Benicia was extremely stable with only 2 new cases for the entire month of June. Now Benicia has seen 13 new cases in 10 days. The numbers are small in comparison to other Solano cities, but something’s definitely going on in Benicia!
Dixonadded 2 new case today, total of 118 cases. Dixon has also moved from stable to increasing over this last week.
Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 21 cases.
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 at 8 cases, those unaccounted for in the other City totals.
A “Rate” column shows the rate of positive COVID-19 cases (per 100,000 population) for each city. Benicia has the lowest rate, 145.1 cases per 100,000. Compare Solano cities’ incidence rates in the chart, and note that the CDC reports today’s rate in California at 750 per 100,000 (climbing fast this past week, and up from 732 yesterday).
Race / Ethnicity
The County report on race / ethnicity data 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 reportsthat 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 23% of cases, 21% of hospitalizations and 19% of deaths.
Black Americans are 13% of Solano’s population, and account for 13% of cases, but 28% of hospitalizations, and 35% of deaths.
Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 36% of cases, 28% of hospitalizations, and 23% of deaths.
Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 10% of cases and 14% of hospitalizations, but 19% of deaths.
Both documents spell out circumstances and situations in which face coverings are required, as well as exceptions to the orders. Today might be a good time to review both, and be prepared when you go out.
Be aware – as of yesterday, we had 409 positive cases of the virus in Solano County, including 40 here in Benicia. It’s here among us, and it’s incredibly contagious.
I know… we’re all tired of the social distancing and the masks, but we need to maintain our focus to beat this thing. Let’s all keep our politics – and our aerosol emissions – to ourselves.
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