Merced County officials breathe sigh of relief, as tests from nursing home come back
Less than a week after it was reported that 148 individuals were tested for coronavirus following an outbreak at Anberry Transitional Care, each test has come back negative, a Merced County Public Health spokesperson told the Sun-Star Friday.
One resident originally testing positive at Anberry, but the state considers one positive case an outbreak due to the high risk setting of a skilled nursing facility.
“Obviously, with the residents who live there and it being a place that’s high risk for transmission, it was very important for us to be on it,” a County Public Health spokesperson told the Sun-Star, noting that a majority of local deaths have been within older age groups.
Nursing homes in the U.S. have been trouble spots for the disease, because of the large populations of high risk patients.
In nearby Turlock, for example, 19 residents at the Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center have died from COVID-19, and 101 residents and 55 employees have tested positive.
Also, Vintage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Modesto on Friday reported a second coronavirus death, and a staff member has tested positive.
County Public Health officials attribute the negative results at the Merced facility to rapid containment within a short time frame and fast 24 hour contact tracing. Anberry staff was quick to ramp up sanitation efforts and comply with guidelines following the outbreak, the spokesperson said.
Merced County Public Health at the same time reported two other outbreaks at a turkey ranch operated by Foster Farms and S & A Manufacturing and Welding. Testing updates for individuals possibly exposed at these facilities was not immediately available.
Friday, 14 additional COVID-19 cases were confirmed by County Public Health, bringing the total number of local infections to 334. Recoveries tally 245, active cases 82 and fatalities seven.
One more Merced County resident has been hospitalized due to COVID-19, raising the total to 41.
The City of Merced, Los Banos, Atwater, Delhi and Winton each rose by one or more cases Friday. Merced saw the largest increase, rising from 124 to 132 infected residents.
In California, there are 122,901 confirmed coronavirus cases and 4,485 deaths Friday.
Openings at county and state level
Merced County announced Friday that its buildings will be open to the public beginning Monday, June 8. To promotes social distancing, many departments will modify to service by appointment.
Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting will be open to the public, but with public seating limited to 25 persons. Some overflow space will be provided on a first come first serve basis.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that in one week, schools, day camps, bars, gyms, campgrounds and professional sports may begin reopening with modifications.
Opening schools and day camps is permitted statewide, but only counties like Merced that have been approved by the state for advanced reopening can move forward with the others. However, nearly all 58 of the state’s counties have been approved.
The state’s guidance will also include rules on hotels, casinos, museums, zoos and aquariums and the resumption of music, film and television production.
In California, 122,901 confirmed coronavirus cases and 4,485 deaths have been reported since the start of the pandemic.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Merced County officials breathe sigh of relief, as tests from nursing home come back."
