Coronavirus updates: California death toll past 3,500 as over 100 die for 2nd straight day
California this week experienced two of its highest single-day death tolls since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, reaching triple digits twice.
A total of 132 people died between the state Department of Health’s official COVID-19 updates Tuesday and Wednesday, rising from 3,304 to 3,436 fatalities. Another 106 died between Wednesday and Thursday for a current total of 3,561 fatalities, according to a Bee survey of counties’ health departments.
More than 2,000 new cases were also reported each of Wednesday and Thursday for a grand total of now at least 86,194 infections statewide.
More than two-thirds of the state’s counties are now pressing onward with Phase 2 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s gradual economic reopening plan. As of Thursday morning, state health officials list 40 of California’s 58 counties as being cleared to reopen businesses such as in-store retail, shopping malls, restaurant dining rooms and some schools, all with modifications and guidelines to maintain social distancing as the virus continues to spread.
Sacramento and Yolo counties were recent additions to that list, joining nearby Placer and El Dorado, which were among the first to file their “attestation” documents early last week. Sacramento County plans to formally amend its public health order around midday Friday, meaning some restaurants, stores and Arden Fair mall could be back open in time for Memorial Day weekend.
The state has now been under Newsom’s stay-at-home order for nine weeks. The economic impact of the pandemic and the statewide shutdown have been enormous.
The U.S. Department of Labor in its weekly report Thursday said another 2.4 million Americans filed initial unemployment insurance claims last week. That brings the nine-week, nationwide total to more than 38.5 million.
After a few weeks of small declines, California saw 33,000 more initial claims last week than the one prior, with over 246,000 new filings pouring in for the week ending May 16 — more than any other state, according to the Department of Labor. The nationwide figure is seasonally adjusted, while the state figures are not.
Newsom has said that when accounting for lags in processing and reporting, California is already likely beyond 20 percent unemployment.
CVS opening 14 ‘self-swab’ test sites, 2 in Sacramento area
CVS Health announced Thursday morning it will offer COVID-19 testing at 14 CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations in California.
The test sites will open Friday and include two in the Sacramento area: one at the pharmacy on 1350 Florin Road in Sacramento, and the other at 8101 Greenback lane in Fair Oaks, according to the announcement.
“These new sites will utilize self-swab tests and mark the next phase of the company’s nationwide COVID-19 testing strategy to have up to 1,000 locations across the country offering this service by the end of May,” the company said in a news release.
CVS gives back “rapid results” within 30 minutes while the test subjects waits in their vehicle. Samples are then sent to an offsite laboratory, with official results returned in two to four days, CVS says.
Tests are on an appointment-only basis and must be scheduled via CVS.com. Those seeking a test must be 18 or older.
Insurance is accepted at the drive-up sites.
“Patients should not have any out-of-pocket costs, but you should check with your health plan to confirm scheduling a test,” the CVS website explains.
What might be open in Sacramento County this weekend?
Sacramento County’s clearance to join accelerated Phase 2 reopening means that restaurants can reopen for dine-in service potentially as early as Friday evening.
In reality, it will take many of the county’s eateries additional time to adjust to a 12-page, 99-bullet-pointed list of requirements and strong recommendations put forth by the state earlier this month for reopening restaurants.
The Bee has so far tallied some 30 restaurants across the county with plans to open their dining rooms between Friday and next Monday.
The county is also loosening restrictions on social gatherings. Friends and family, even from different households, will be able to gather outdoors in groups of up to 10, so long as they maintain six feet of social distance from one another, local health officials say. And those gathering should not share physical equipment.
According to the state parks website, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area has park entrances open at Granite Bay and Beals Point in Placer County; the Folsom Lake Marina in El Dorado County; and Folsom Point, Negro Bar and Nimbus Flat in Sacramento County.
Restrooms and boat launches are open at those access points. Motorized boating is allowed on Folsom Lake and non-motorized boating is OK at Lake Natoma.
Arden Fair mall is also expected to get the go-ahead to reopen, but Sacramento County officials say shoppers there and at other shopping centers allowed to reopen will be asked to wear masks.
Thousands of churches plan services, defying Newsom’s order
A lawyer for a church that is suing over California’s coronavirus ban on in-person services says he expects thousands of congregations to return to their churches at the end of this month.
As cases continue through the state’s court system, hundreds of pastors have signed a petition declaring that their services are “essential.”
“More than 1,200 pastors have signed the ‘declaration of essentiality’ that we were asked to put together,” said attorney Robert Tyler, one of the lawyers fighting for the right of Lodi’s Cross Culture Christian Center to reopen. “We expect more than 3,000 individual churches to open May 31, with or without permission.”
The announcement by the churches that they plan to reopen at the end of the month, contained in a letter sent to Newsom on Wednesday, tells the governor that “we believe religious practices to be as essential as any grocery store or hardware store.”
“Again, we believe you are attempting to act in the best interests of the state, but the restrictions have gone too far and for too long,” the letter declares. “In order to restore the proper balance between public safety and individual liberties, the clergy we represent have declared their intent to begin holding in-person church services beginning on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
“All services will be held in compliance with CDC and state guidelines for social distancing as is required of ‘essential businesses.’”
Newsom’s plans indicate churches can resume in-person services under Phase 3 of the state’s plan to gradually reopen businesses and other facilities. Phase 3 includes movie theaters, hair salons and other operations considered to carry a higher risk for spread of the coronavirus.
Tahoe still a no-go, local officials say
All nonessential travel into the El Dorado County portion of the Lake Tahoe basin remains banned indefinitely as part of Newsom’s order and the county’s own travel restrictions.
“If you’re not fortunate enough to live in the Lake Tahoe basin, you’re not supposed to be there to recreate,” county spokeswoman Carla Hass said. “We don’t anticipate (the order) will be lapsing before Memorial Day.”
Property owners can come to South Lake Tahoe, city officials announced Wednesday, but visitors are still being asked to stay home. Short-term rentals and lodging are not available.
Only 67 total COVID-19 cases have been reported in El Dorado County as of Wednesday afternoon, but health officials say community transmission of coronavirus is occurring and that no part of the county is considered to be at low risk.
Dr. Nancy Williams, the county’s health officer, referenced the potential impact of nonessential visitors on the availability of food and essential supplies at markets and pharmacies, and concerns of strain on the area’s health care system in her April 30 travel order.
“Significant risk would still exist were the state’s nonessential travel ban to be lifted,” the order reads.
Latest Sacramento-area numbers: More than 1,700 infected
The four-county Sacramento region, plus nearby Yuba and Sutter counties, have reported a total of 89 COVID-19 deaths and more than 1,700 lab-confirmed cases.
Sacramento County public health officials have reported 1,266 cases of the coronavirus and 56 deaths, last updated shortly after 10:15 a.m. Thursday. One newly reported fatality came Sunday and another Monday, with the latest reported in the city of Sacramento. A note on the Sacramento County website continues to say that all deaths have come in individuals who were either age 65 or older; had underlying health conditions; or had other risk factors.
Eight additional cases were reported Monday, five more on each of Tuesday and Wednesday, and 11 in Thursday’s update. Growth has slowed since April, when daily confirmed case increases ranged from 10 to a few dozen for much of the month.
Yolo County had one new COVID-19 confirmed case reported Thursday afternoon in Woodland, with the countywide total of people infected standing at 186. The county has reported 22 deaths tied to the virus. Fifteen of those deaths — including at least one staff member — have come at Stollwood Convalescent Hospital, located within the St. John’s Retirement Village campus in Woodland, according to the county website.
Placer County reported 176 cases and eight deaths, last updated 8 a.m. Thursday. The county’s last death was reported on April 15.
El Dorado County reported no new COVID-19 cases on Thursday afternoon. The county total remains at 67 cases, and its death toll remains at zero. The county added three new cases Monday.
Sutter County reported no new COVID-19 cases on Thursday; its total remains at 40. The county had one new infection reported Saturday and two on Sunday. Two people have died there due to the virus.
Yuba County had no new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday, and its total remains at 28 cases. The county reported two new cases Monday. One person has died there due to the virus.
World numbers: More than 5 million cases, over 330,000 dead
The global infection total for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the highly contagious coronavirus, has reached 5.07 million as of Thursday afternoon, with more than 331,000 fatalities worldwide, according to a data map by Johns Hopkins University.
The United states accounts for more than 1.57 million confirmed cases and over 94,000 of the deaths, according to Johns Hopkins. New York has passed 28,700 dead; New Jersey is approaching 11,000; and Massachusetts is above 6,000 dead from the coronavirus.
Another 5,000 have died of the virus in Michigan, over 4,800 in Pennsylvania and more than 4,600 in Illinois. Connecticut, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Virginia and Washington state each have reported between roughly 1,000 and 3,500 coronavirus deaths.
In Europe, the United Kingdom is above 36,000 deaths, while Italy has surpassed 32,000. France and Spain’s death tolls remain similar, each at about 28,000.
Brazil reported just under 19,000 deaths as of Thursday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins. Belgium, Germany, Iran, Canada and Mexico each have recorded roughly between about 6,000 and 9,000 deaths. More than 5,700 have died in the Netherlands.
What is COVID-19? How is the coronavirus spread?
Coronavirus is spread through contact between people within 6 feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The CDC says it’s possible to catch the disease COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
Symptoms of the virus that causes COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. Most develop only mild symptoms, but some people develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. The disease is especially dangerous to the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 7:45 AM.
