COVID-19 rates still falling in California; Sacramento County jail outbreak continues
California’s coronavirus numbers have continued to trend mostly downward in recent weeks, though the start of the K-12 school year is a likely source of new infections, and outbreaks have also continued in some congregate settings.
The California Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported the latest COVID-19 case rate at 23.5 per 100,000, a 19% decrease from one week earlier.
The statewide test positivity rate was recorded at an even 10%, down from 11.4% last week and at its lowest point since mid-June. In mid-July, California’s positivity peaked at 16.2%.
Hospitalizations are also falling in many parts of the state. CDPH reported 3,505 virus patients in hospital beds as of Monday, down from a peak in the latest surge of more than 4,800 in late July. State health officials reported 418 in intensive care units, down from about 570 in late July.
The BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the omicron variant now account for 99.5% of virus cases nationwide, according to a weekly update Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the previously dominant BA.2 strains making up the remaining 0.5%.
Placer County reports first child death from COVID-19
Local health officials announced last Friday that a Placer County resident under the age of 18 died from COVID-19, the first such death for the Sacramento-area county since the beginning of the pandemic.
The child did not have any underlying health conditions, according to a county health news release. Placer County said the death happened earlier this summer.
A county spokeswoman said the local health office would not be sharing any additional information regarding the case. A data dashboard on the county’s website showed one virus death in a child between ages 5 and 17.
“It is important that residents stay up-to-date on COVID vaccinations,” county health officer Dr. Rob Oldham said in a statement. “For the youngest children, that might mean completing their initial series. For older adults, that might mean a second booster. If you are eligible, do not wait to get your booster.”
The county has reported more than 650 deaths from COVID-19 since March 2020, most of them in elderly adults.
Virus outbreak continues at sheriff’s jail facility
An inmate outbreak first reported earlier this month at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center has continued to grow, according to data from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The jail facility near Elk Grove had 161 active virus cases among inmates as of last Wednesday, according to the latest weekly update from the Sheriff’s Office, up from 106 two weeks earlier. The Sacramento County Main Jail downtown had only one active infection.
The jail system reported a net increase of 125 infections in last week’s update out of 775 tests conducted, meaning about 16% of tests returned positive. Fifteen of the 125 new cases were detected during the intake period.
The two-jail system housed 3,419 inmates as of the latest weekly update. The Sheriff’s Office has recorded 4,019 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, including those who are no longer incarcerated.
The Sheriff’s Office has not announced any early inmate releases for the latest outbreak, as it did this January when the omicron brought a sharp increase of infections at both the downtown jail and RCCC.
“There are many considerations and variables for managing COVID-19 in our correctional facilities,” Lt. Rodney Grassmann, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said in early August.
Sacramento-area numbers by county
Sacramento County’s latest case rate is 21.3 per 100,000 residents, state health officials said in Tuesday’s update, an 8% decrease from one week earlier.
Hospitals in Sacramento County were treating 169 virus patients Monday, state data show, down from 171 one week earlier. The intensive care unit increased to 25 from 22.
Placer County’s latest case rate is 13.7 per 100,000 residents, a 20% decrease from one week earlier.
Hospitals in Placer County were treating 75 virus patients Monday, up from 72 one week earlier. The ICU total increased to 14 from 11.
Yolo County’s latest case rate is 16.6 per 100,000 residents, a 5% decrease from one week earlier.
Hospitals in Yolo County were treating 11 virus patients Monday, up from three a week earlier. The ICU total remained at one.
El Dorado County’s latest case rate is 11.7 per 100,000 residents, an 11% decrease from one week earlier.
Hospitals in El Dorado County were treating four virus patients Monday, down from eight a week earlier. The ICU total decreased to zero from three.
Sutter County’s latest case rate is 27.7 per 100,000 residents, down 10% from last week, and Yuba County’s is 22.7 per 100,000, down 7%, state health officials reported Tuesday.
The only hospital in Yuba County, which serves the Yuba-Sutter bicounty area, was treating 16 virus patients Monday, up from nine a week earlier. The ICU total increased to three from zero.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 10:29 AM.
