Updates: “We are in a big rush for COVID-19,” says SF health officer

LAST July 30, 3:50 pm The state of California reported on Thursday 10,197 new cases of COVID-19 and 194 deaths.

Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom reported a “stable” positive test rate of 7.5%.

“Your actions can literally save lives,” the governor tweeted. “Be smart. Do your part. Wear a mask.”

July 30, 12:15 pm The city of San Francisco is launching a Latino-focused testing campaign, which, according to a press release, “will focus on culturally responsive safety messages to increase awareness of health orders and guidelines, as well as programs that support the community with food, shelter, finances and mental health services. “

One such program, the Right to Recover Fund, would provide a two-week salary replacement of up to $ 1,285 for up to 1,500 San Francisco residents who test positive for COVID-19. Another program offers a smaller one-time payment to help with purchases and other support services.

“Our Latino community has been greatly affected by this pandemic, and we have been working closely with our community partners to ensure that resources and testing are accessible to those who need it most,” said Mayor Breed. “This new campaign will help us continue to spread the word in the community about what everyone can do to keep themselves and their families safe, healthy and supported.”

Members of the Latino community in San Francisco account for about half of all coronavirus cases in San Francisco, despite being only 15% of the city’s population.

July 30, 11:10 am Dr. Grant Colfax stated at a press conference Thursday that the city is exploring ways to apply mask policies and other safety precautions within the city, but did not promise to issue a fine like other Bay Area counties.

“We are exploring how we can increase enforcement, particularly in situations where requirements that are very clear and that we have repeatedly emphasized are not being met,” he said. “This would apply primarily in terms of follow-up with companies and in other situations where people gather. We are focusing on working with community stakeholders to [encourage] voluntary compliance, but they’re also looking to enforce as needed, especially in an overvoltage situation. “

July 30, 10:50 a.m. At a virtual press conference on Thursday, Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Supervisor Cathering Stefani announced a new inpatient facility for low-acuity patients recovering from non-related illnesses COVID-19.

The new city-funded site at 1163 and 1167 Gorgas Avenue in Presidio will serve to open hospital beds for incoming COVID-19 patients. The facility will open for 20 patients, but will have a capacity for 93 patients.

“The demand for acute care and the ICU has grown at a rate of 15% every week during the month of July,” said Stefani. “This is of great concern.”

Colfax also noted the increase in hospitalizations for COVID, adding that during the April peak, 94 patients were hospitalized; That number dropped to 26 six weeks ago. Today, however, San Francisco registered a new peak in hospitalizations, with 107 patients. A quarter of them are in intensive care.

“In just 10 days, this month we went from 5,000 to 6,000 COVID-19 cases,” Colfax continued. “Let me be clear: We are in a great wave of COVID-19. The virus is moving fast and more people are getting sick. “

According to its current estimates, the city will see “more than 750 Saint Franciscans in the hospital in mid-October” and will have recorded 600 deaths.

July 30, 9:30 a.m. The Santa Clara County Health Department confirmed that it is investigating a coronavirus outbreak among several employees at a South Bay Costco store.

NBC Bay Area reports that up to nine employees at the store have tested positive for the virus and safety precautions are being taken.

Costco was not immediately available for comment.

July 30, 8:50 a.m. San Mateo County was added to the state watch list on Wednesday, and all nine Bay Area counties are now on the list administered by the California Department of Public Health.

The county’s case rate over 14 days averaged 110.4 positive cases per 100,000 residents on Wednesday. The state threshold for inclusion on the monitoring list is a case rate of 100.

After being listed for three days, counties must cease certain industries unless operations can be conducted outdoors and with sidewalk pickup.

The three-day clock started in San Mateo County on Wednesday, and county authorities warned that additional restrictions could take effect on Saturday, August 1. The following companies should be preparing to close or modify operations: gyms and gyms; places of worship and cultural ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals; offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors; personal care services such as nail salons and body waxing; hairdressers and hair salons; and shopping centers. Shops that offer tattoos, piercings, and electrolysis cannot be operated outdoors and must close.

July 30, 7:30 a.m. California broke its record for the most COVID-19-related deaths in a single day this week.

The Department of Public Health reported 197 deaths on Tuesday. This tragic number comes after the state experienced an increase in cases and hospitalizations in July.

UC Berkeley infectious disease professor John Swartzberg said the deaths we are seeing now are from cases that were detected in early July.

“Deaths are going to lag behind the number of new cases in almost a month,” Swartzberg said. “When we see deaths continue to rise, that’s less of a barometer of how we are today.”

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 8,715 COVID-19 deaths in California.

As deaths increase, the rate of increase in new cases is slowing slightly. The average number of new 7-day cases was 8,818 per day as of Tuesday, according to the CDPH. A week ago, the 7-day average was 9,420. California has 475,305 confirmed cases to date.

Swartzberg said the suggestion for a decrease in new cases is encouraging, but hesitates to call it a trend, and says the slowdown in cases should continue for another week or two before knowing if this is simply a problem.

The state has created a watch list for counties that require additional monitoring due to increased transmission of the virus. There are currently 37 of the 58 counties on the list, representing about 93% of the state’s population.

In the Bay Area, all nine counties are now on the watch list. After dodging the list for weeks, San Mateo County was added on Wednesday.

See CDPH State Update COVID-19.

Coronavirus in the metropolitan bay area: links you need

COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

Alameda County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Contra Costa County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Lake County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Marin County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Monterey County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Napa County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

San Benito County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

San Francisco County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

San Mateo County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Santa Clara County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Santa Cruz County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Solano County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Sonoma County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

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