Sacramento County smashes records with 228 new coronavirus cases, 87 total in hospitals
Sacramento County public health officials disclosed 228 new cases of the coronavirus and two new fatalities Monday morning, once again shattering the daily infection record as the surging pandemic continues.
The county now reports an all-time total of 3,004 cases of COVID-19, according to its public health dashboard. The death toll rose to 68, after having stood at 66 since June 17.
Sorted by “episode date,” which denotes the earliest known day to which health officials can track the onset of the virus (such as through testing, via hospital admission or death), the county dashboard now shows that an astonishing 945 infections have emerged in less than two weeks, from June 15-25.
Those 11 recent days make up more than 31 percent of the county’s total, which dates back to February, and seven of the days saw more than 90 new cases pour in.
The county’s hospitalization total for COVID-19 has also shot past its previous highest point, with data from the state health department showing 87 confirmed COVID-19 patients countywide as of Monday morning. That’s 10 more than the 77 reported a day earlier, which had tied an all-time mark not previously reached since April 6.
In recent weeks, local health leaders, including county health chief Dr. Peter Beilenson, have attributed a spike that emerged earlier in June to group gatherings taking place inside homes, such as birthday or graduation parties.
But Beilenson also expressed some concern about reopening bars in the area, noting as others have that they prove a challenge for social distancing and mask use.
On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom required seven counties on the state’s “watch list” for elevated COVID-19 activity, including Los Angeles, to close all bars immediately. Newsom recommended eight counties that have been on the list fewer than two weeks, including Sacramento, to do the same.
Following the release of the alarming numbers, Sacramento County announced early Monday afternoon that it is ordering all bars to close, heeding Newsom’s warning.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 11:30 AM.
