Category Archives: Solano County CA

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Daily Solano County COVID-19 UPDATE – only 5 new cases, testing fewer residents

Tuesday, May 5th: 5 new cases, no new deaths, total now 325 cases, 6 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.

Previous report, Monday, May 4

Summary

Solano County reported 5 new positive cases yesterday, total is now 325.  no new deaths, total now at 6.

BY AGE GROUP

  • No new cases of young persons under 19 years of age, total of 6 cases, less than 2% of the 325 confirmed cases.
  • All 5 of today’s new cases were persons 19-64 years of age, total of 236 cases, 73% of the total.   No new deaths, total of 2.  Note that only 32 of the 236 cases in this age group (13.6%) were hospitalized at one time.  (It is unclear whether the 2 deaths were ever hospitalized.)
  • None of today’s new cases were persons 65 or older, total of 83 cases, 26% of the total.  No new deaths of persons in this age group, total of 4.
    Note that 22 of the 83 cases in this age group (only 26.5%) were hospitalized at one time.  (It is unclear whether the 4 deaths in this age group were ever hospitalized.)

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 55 of Solano’s 325 cases resulted in hospitalizations, an increase of only 1 since yesterday.  Relatively good news – a small increase.

ACTIVE CASES:  60 of the 325 are active cases, 5 fewer than yesterday’s total of 65.  The county does not report WHERE the active cases are.  Below you will see that only 13 are currently hospitalized, which leaves 47 of these 60 active cases out in our communities somewhere, and hopefully quarantined.

The County’s “Hospital Impact” graph shows 13 of the 55 hospitalized cases are CURRENTLY hospitalized, 1 less than yesterday.  The County’s count of ICU beds available and ventilator supply remains at “GOOD” at 31-100%. (No information is given on our supply of test kits, PPE and staff.)

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added all 5 of today’s new cases, total of 180.
  • Fairfield remains at 61.
  • Vacaville remains at 36.
  • Suisun City remains at 16.
  • Benicia remains at 16.
  • Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: today all remain at <10 (less than 10).  Note that the numbers for other cities add up to 309, leaving 16 cases located somewhere among the locations in this “<10” category (same number as last reported).  Residents and city officials have pressured County officials for city case counts.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

TESTING

The County reports that 5,219 residents have been tested as of today.  This is an increase of only 59 residents since yesterday’s total of 5,160.  Testing numbers need to be much higher!  See Solano testing – by the numbers April 13 – present.  See also Solano County announces testing available to all.  We have a long way to go: only 1% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Solano’s upward curve in cumulative cases – as of May 5

The chart above shows the infection’s trajectory in Solano County.  We may be seeing a flattening of the overall curve, but our nursing homes, long-term care facilities and jails bear watching!

Still incredibly important – everyone stay home, wear masks when you are out, and be safe!

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA, Testing

Solano County announces COVID-19 testing available to all

Solano County Coronavirus Press Releases, May 4, 2020

County increases COVID-19 testing with two new community testing sites

SOLANO COUNTY – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement to add more than 80 community testing sites across the state focused on underserved communities, Solano County has launched two state operated testing sites in Vacaville and Vallejo. These new sites are powered through a partnership with the state and OptumServe, the federal government health services business of Optum, a leading health services innovation company.

Testing is by appointment only. Online applications for appointments can be scheduled at lhi.care/covidtesting. For people without internet access, they can call 888-634-1123.

Testing is open to anyone in the community, including agricultural workers, the homeless, undocumented individuals, and residents.

“The sites increase capacity to provide testing to individuals who have had limited access, enhance our ability to conduct surveillance, and help us work towards a phased reopening in our community,” said Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Health Officer. “We are grateful that the state has chosen to establish testing sites in our County and have this resource available for community members.”

To determine where to locate new testing sites, the state looked at both rural and urban areas where Californians would have to travel between 30 and 60 minutes to reach an existing testing site or hospital. That information was then evaluated based on underserved populations, to address known disparities, and median income, so residents have access to testing regardless of socioeconomic status.

“Thanks to Solano County and to OptumServe for the collaboration to make these testing sites possible,” said Charity Dean, M.D., Assistant Director of the California Department of Public Health. “We’re working together as part of the state’s Testing Task Force to ensure regions with the greatest need have access to tests, and these sites are going to be a major component in reaching our testing goals.”

For more information, click on Governor Newsom’s announcement to expand community testing in underserved areas. For more information about OptumServe, visit optumserve.com. For local coronavirus information, go to solanocounty.com/covid19.

# # #

News Contact:
Jayleen Richards, Public Health Administrator, Health and Social Services Department
(707) 784-8616 and JMRichards@SolanoCounty.com
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Nursing homes, Solano County CA, Vallejo CA

Vallejo nursing home with 99 COVID-19 cases was cited for improper practice in 2019

KTVU Fox2 News, By Rob Roth, May 4, 2020

VALLEJO, Calif. – At the Windsor Vallejo Care Center, 76 patients and 23 health workers have now tested positive for COVID-19.

Of those 99 cases, one of those patients is 64-year-old Joseph Quirarte of Pacifica.

He’s had both legs amputated because of diabetes. Now he has tested positive for the cornavirus.

His two children, including a son, an army staff sergeant stationed in Germany, are worried and frustrated.

“It’s a helpless feeling. I want to help, but I am on a separate continent,” said Sgt, Joe Quirarte Jr. from his base in Germany.

Daughter Maria Quirarte lives closer to the facility, but like all family members of nursing home patients, is not allowed to visit.

“We’re worried the COVID is in his system and we don’t know how his body is going to react. We are trying to be cautious and make sure he gets his meds on time,” she said.

The virus has hit the facility like an avalanche. On Friday there were 34 cases reported.  Now it has almost tripled.

Solano County Public Health said it is working closely with the facility to manage the outbreak.

Quirarte’s family said his father had two roommates who also tested positive and were moved to another room, for which they are grateful.

“He’s had two amputated legs and a toilet that wasn’t working. He has since been moved from that room,” said Maria.

“You see the news stories about other facilities and just hope it won’t happen to your parent’s facility,” said Joe Jr.

State public health records show Windsor Vallejo was cited for improper infection control practices in March 2019.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave the facility a rating of two stars out of five, base on health inspections and overall quality.

“Crucially, regulators have often given infection control pretty short shrift in terms of prioritizing inspections. And we are paying for it now,” says Michael Dark of the non-profit California. Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

To the Quirartes, the health care staff seems overwhelmed.

“We want to make sure they get the help they need to help our father, and others,” said Maria.

Management of Windsor Vallejo did not respond to our messages.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Nursing homes, Solano County CA

COVID-19 in Solano County – 53 new cases, one new death as of May 4

Monday, May 4th: 53 new cases, 1 new death, total now 320 cases, 6 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.

Previous report, Friday, May 1

(Note that 1 new case was added on Friday 5/1 AFTER the 4pm report was posted, raising Friday’s total to 267.)

Summary

Solano County reported 1 new case late on Friday and 53 NEW POSITIVE CASES over the weekend and Monday – total is now 320.  1 new death, total now at 6.

OVER THE WEEKEND:

  • 50 new cases were reported on Saturday 5/2
  • 3 new cases were reported on Sunday 5/3
  • No new cases were reported today, Monday 5/4
  • (Note also that 1 new case was added on Friday 5/1 AFTER the 4pm report was posted, raising Friday’s total to 267.)

BY AGE GROUP

  • No new cases of young persons under 19 years of age, total of 6 cases, less than 2% of the 320 confirmed cases.
  • 23 of today’s new cases were persons 19-64 years of age, total of 231 cases, 72%, of the total (down from 78% on Friday).   No new deaths, total of 2.  Note that only 31 of the 231 cases in this age group (13.4%) were hospitalized at one time.  (It is unclear whether the 2 deaths were ever hospitalized.)
  • 31 of today’s new cases were persons 65 or older, total of 83 cases, 26% of the total (up from 20% on Friday).
    Today’s 1 new death was a person in this age group, total now of 4.  Note that 22 of the 83 cases in this age group (only 26.5%, down from 40%, on Friday) were hospitalized at one time.  The percentage drop is surely due to the major increase of cases in the cluster outbreak at Windsor Vallejo Nursing Home, where most infected residents were evidently moved to a separate wing rather than to a hospital.  (It is unclear whether the 4 deaths in this age group were ever hospitalized, nor whether any came from Windsor Vallejo.)

HOSPITALIZATIONS: 54 of Solano’s 320 cases resulted in hospitalizations, an increase of only 3 over the weekend.  Relatively good news – a small increase despite the big number of new cases.

ACTIVE CASES:  65 of the 320 are active cases, an increase of 15 over Friday’s total of 40.  The county does not report WHERE the active cases are.  Below you will see that only 14 are currently hospitalized, which leaves 51 of these 65 active cases out in our communities somewhere, and hopefully quarantined.

The County’s “Hospital Impact” graph shows 14 of the 54 hospitalized cases are CURRENTLY hospitalized, 3 more than on Friday.  The County’s count of ICU beds available and ventilator supply remains at “GOOD” at 31-100%. (No information is given on our supply of test kits, PPE and staff.)

CITY DATA

  • Vallejo added 50 of today’s 53 (54) new cases, total of 175.
  • Fairfield added 1 new case, total now at 61.
  • Vacaville added 1 new case, total now at 36.
  • Suisun City remains at 16.
  • Benicia added 2 new cases, total now at 16.
  • Dixon, Rio Vista and “Unincorporated” are still not assigned numerical data: today all remain at <10 (less than 10).  Note that the numbers for other cities add up to 304, leaving 16 cases located somewhere among the locations in this “<10” category (same number as last reported).  Residents and city officials have pressured County officials for city case counts.  Today’s data is welcome, but still incomplete.

TESTING

The County reports that 5,160 residents have been tested as of today.  This is an increase of 1,061 residents over the 3 days since Friday’s total of 4,099.  That is only an average of just over 350 per day, about the same as on last Friday, but much better than Thursday when we added only 37 and Wednesday only 106.  We are still not up to the earlier times when the County reported daily increases of 505 and 438 new tests.  Testing numbers need to be much higher!  We have a long way to go: only 1% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Solano’s upward curve in cumulative cases – as of May 4

The chart above shows Saturday’s big jump in the infection’s trajectory in Solano County.  We may be seeing a flattening of the overall curve, but our nursing homes bear watching!  (And I haven’t heard anything about Solano County jails….)

Still incredibly important – everyone stay home and be safe!