SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Here are the latest updates on coronavirus and how local governments are responding to the illness, with a focus on California for Sunday, March 29.
CALIFORNIA STATUS UPDATE
The California Department of Public Health reports:
- Confirmed cases: 4,643 (As of 2 p.m. March 27).
- 101 deaths (including one non-California resident)
- 22 state and county labs processing tests for COVID-19. As of March 27, approximately 89,600 tests have been conducted.
- Click here for complete information on coronavirus, unemployment, and more from the state of California.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- San Joaquin County reaches 121 confirmed cases: San Joaquin County officials say they've reached 121 confirmed coronavirus cases. There have been 5 deaths in the county since the pandemic started.
- Stanislaus County coronavirus cases rise to 31: In the latest update from Stanislaus County, the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 31. No deaths have been reported at this time.
- Officials with the Placer County Health Department have reported the county's second coronavirus-related death. Health officials believe an elderly adult with several underlying health conditions contracted the virus through community spread. The person died on Saturday, March 28. Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson said in a press release it is, "everyone’s responsibility to stay at home unless absolutely necessary to help prevent as many more infections and deaths as we possibly can.” The first death in was reported March 4.
- To prevent the spread of coronavirus, all 280 state parks will temporarily close to vehicle traffic, starting Sunday, March 29. This comes one day after many parks reported seeing a surge in visitors.
- Save Mart to install Plexiglass shields at Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Lucky stores around California and Northern Nevada. The Plexiglass shields will be at every store register and serve as an added safety measure to help create a more protective space for employees and customers. Employees will also increase how often and how thoroughly surfaces, check stands and shopping carts are cleaned. The Save Mart Companies have 205 stores throughout California and Northern Nevada.
- Stanislaus County has 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Zero people have died in Stanislaus County and 783 people have tested negative for coronavirus.
- With cases of coronavirus surging and the death toll surpassing 100, lawmakers are pleading with cooped-up Californians to spend a second weekend at home to slow the spread of the infections. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday that the number of people hospitalized across the state spiked to more than 1,000, and that overnight the number of people admitted to intensive care units doubled from 200 to more than 400. He said the trend could lead to overstretched hospitals in California. Johns Hopkins University tallied more than 4,700 California cases Friday, with at least 103 deaths.
- Sacramento's West Wind Drive-In reopened over the weekend, but under strict guidelines. In a post on the drive-in's Facebook post, those who choose to watch a movie from the comfort of their car will have to stay in those cars the entire time of their visit. The concession stand will be closed and if you plan to use the restroom, there's a strict one person policy, with the exception of a child with an adult.
- California is beginning to see the surge of coronavirus cases that threatens to overwhelm hospitals. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said California's cases grew 26% in a day. Johns Hopkins University tallied more than 4,700 California cases as of Friday afternoon, with at least 97 deaths. State officials have been preparing for a surge in hospitalizations and have scrambled to create the estimated 50,000 additional beds that could be needed. Help arrived Friday in the form of the Navy hospital ship Mercy that docked in the Port of Los Angeles. It has 1,000 beds and will be used to treat non-COVID-19 patients to free up hospitals for virus cases.
OUR MISSION: FACTS NOT FEAR
CORONAVIRUS BACKGROUND
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine; however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
WHY HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SO CONCERNED
Some people have compared the low overall death toll to the flu's high annual death toll in the United States as a reason not to be concerned about COVID-19, however, doctors and health officials are concerned for three main reasons:
- Some people have built up immunity to the flu, but few have immunity to COVID-19 version of coronavirus.
- Both the flu and COVID-19 are spread by droplets, but COVID-19 might be spread in the air. Scientists are researching exactly how COVID-19 spreads.
FOR NEWS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, DOWNLOAD THE ABC10 APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for ABC10's Daily Blend Newsletter
WATCH MORE: