Two more reported coronavirus cases in Merced County raise total to 87
Two more coronavirus infections were reported Saturday in Merced County, bringing the total number of residents infected with the coronavirus to 87, according to the county Public Health Department.
Residents who have recovered remained at 28 and deaths related to complications from the illness were still three. There are 55 active cases, meaning people who are still sick.
Based on information provided by the people who test positive, Public Health staff will continue to assess risks of exposure and contact any affected individuals.
Los Banos still leads the county with 32 of the cases. Merced is second with 16. Gustine and Delhi both have seven confirmed cases and Atwater six. Due to privacy laws, the Public Health Department cannot release much additional identifying information.
As of Saturday, there are 29, 348 cases in California and 1,050 deaths.
This past week has seen the largest increase in confirmed COVID-19 patients in the central San Joaquin Valley since the global pandemic reached the region less than two months ago.
Within an eight-day period, cases across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties doubled, from about 400 people on April 8 to 800 on April 16.
Mariposa County is the only county within the region to not have a confirmed coronavirus case and is one of only five counties in the state to hold that distinction.
This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 5:58 PM.
