Coronavirus updates: After deadly August, health officials eye ‘downward trend’ in infections

Although last month was the deadliest yet in California’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the consistent lowering of hospitalizations and a slowing infection rate are seen as hopeful signs of improvement.

In August, nearly 3,800 Californians died of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus. That number is the highest recorded since March, when the virus began to spread worldwide. July saw just over 3,100 die in the state due to the coronavirus.

As of Sunday, 732,000 Californians have been infected with the virus and 13,709 have died from it.

What lies ahead in September still remains to be seen. Public health officials in Sacramento County are cautiously optimistic, as the curve in local infections appears to be flattening again after a spike earlier this summer.

“We still have to be cautious so we can continue this downward trend,” Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye told The Sacramento Bee on Thursday. “Our hope is to continue to reduce the numbers so we can slowly reopen and not have a spike again. We want to get low enough to reopen schools.”

In Sacramento County, more than 120 people died in August, accounting for a significant share of its total death toll of 327. As of Friday, county officials said 18,813 people have been infected with coronavirus, 15,459 of which health officials say have likely recovered.

Daily numbers of new coronavirus infections have been dropping slowly. On July 20, when the spike was at its peak, a record daily caseload of 398 was set. Since then, it has not been surpassed, and daily reports of new cases have not exceeded 300 between Aug. 15 and the end of the month.

Hospitalization rates have also been falling, both statewide and locally. There are currently 3,336 patients hospitalized in California, 1,091 of whom are in ICUs. That’s down from its peak in mid-July when more than 7,100 Californians were hospitalized.

In Sacramento County, 168 people are hospitalized, 50 of whom in ICUs. The total number of hospitalized patients is down from more than 280 in late July. This number, as in statewide data, has been consistently lowering daily for more than a month. Per the state’s new color coded reopening plan, the county remains in the purple tier, representing the most serious, widespread infectious activity.

Latest Sacramento-area infections and deaths

Yolo County health officials have reported a total of 2,541 COVID-19 cases and 53 deaths. On Sunday, 17 new cases were reported. On Saturday, 30 more infections were reported. On Friday, 22 new cases and one death were added. There are 10 patients in county hospitals, seven of whom are in ICUs. The county has three ICU beds remaining, according to state data. The county has seen outbreaks at several long-term care facilities, which account for 145 of the total number of cases and 26 of the deaths.

Woodland’s Stollwood Convalescent Hospital reported an outbreak in April and it is still the most severe outbreak in the county. There, 66 people connected to the facility have been infected with coronavirus and 17 have died. The facility will close permanently in this month.

At Alderson Convalescent Hospital, also in Woodland, 17 residents and 10 staff members have been infected. Three people have died. Courtyard Healthcare Center in Davis has reported infections in seven residents and four staff members. Gloria’s County Care in Woodland has reported infections among nine residents and 11 staff. Two people have died. Woodland Residential Services has reported infections in six residents and the same number of staff. Four people have died.

Yolo County, like Sacramento County, is coded purple.

Placer County has reported a total of 3,182 cases and 36 deaths. On Sunday, 28 new cases and one death were reported. On Saturday, 39 more people were confirmed to have coronavirus and Friday’s update added 32 cases. There are 42 people hospitalized in the county and 11 are being treated in ICUs. The county has 27 ICU beds available. Placer County is also coded purple.

El Dorado County has reported 1,001 COVID-19 cases and two deaths due to the virus, with 13 new cases on Friday. There are currently no patients in county hospitals. The county has 12 ICU beds available. El Dorado County has been coded red by state health officials, indicating substantial viral activity while still allowing for some increased economic capabilities.

Sutter County has reported a total of 1,465 cases and 10 deaths. Four new cases were added Friday. Twelve people are currently being hospitalized, with two in the ICU. In neighboring Yuba County, 994 people have been infected and six have died. Yuba added 20 new cases Thursday and 19 more Friday. Seven people in Yuba County are being hospitalized, with one in the ICU. Both Sutter and Yuba counties are coded purple.

Worldwide: Almost 27 million infected

Across the globe, nearly 27 million people have been infected with the coronavirus and over 881,000 people have died as of Sunday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The United States accounts for the largest share of infections for any one country, with more than 6.2 million cases and nearly 189,000 deaths.

Brazil is the next leading nation in both infections and deaths, with 4.1 million and 126,000, respectively. India is third, with just a few thousand fewer infections than Brazil and more than 70,000 deaths. Although Russia has confirmed over 1 million infections, it has only reported 17,700 deaths, putting the nation at No. 12 overall.

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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 people 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.