Two Merced County residents test positive for coronavirus. Total local cases rises to four
Two new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Merced County on Thursday, bringing the total number of individuals with the virus to four, according to Merced County Department of Public Health news release.
Public Health is currently tracing others at risk of exposure after contact with the two newly confirmed individuals.
Like the first two COVID-19 cases, the two new ones were acquired by individuals after traveling outside of Merced County, county officials confirmed. The first confirmed case was a result of domestic travel by airplane outside of California.
“Although all of the cases of COVID-19 in our county, to date, can be traced to exposures outside of our county, we must consider the very likely possibility that exposure to an unrecognized case within our community can occur,” said Merced County Public Health Officer Dr. Kenneth Bird in the release. “Now, more than ever, we must take every possible measure to slow the spread of this illness.”
The release did not specify what area of the county the infected individuals reside.
Three of the four Merced County individuals to contract coronavirus are under the age of 40, the release said.
The Department of Public Health urges persons especially ages 18 to 45 comply with preventative social distancing and self-isolation measures. Individuals in this age group make up 51% of the confirmed cases in California, the release said.
“It’s going to take each of us doing our part to ensure that we minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic here in our own community,” said Public Health Director Dr. Rebecca Nanyonjo-Kemp in the release. “We each have a responsibility to rise to the call.”
“My fear is that mixed messaging has lessened the seriousness of COVID-19 which leads to misunderstanding the critical importance of adhering to simple and effective preventative measures.”
The Madera County Department of Public Health confirmed its first death due to coronavirus Thursday, making it the first death related to the virus in the central San Joaquin Valley.
The individual, a man in his 60s suffering from underlying health conditions, tested positive for the virus on March 23, a Madera County Department of Public Health news release said.
The man is suspected to have contracted the disease through community transmission.
As of Thursday, the U.S. totaled more confirmed coronavirus cases than any other nation with at least 81,321 people having contracted the disease, the New York Times reported.
Still, a persistent shortage of testing supplies in Merced County, and nationally, has created only a partial picture of how many individuals are COVID-19 positive.
At least 53 residents have been tested by the Merced County Department of Public Health. Commercial labs have tested at least that many.
The Department of Public Health began a drive-through style coronavirus testing site Wednesday, according to Public Health officials. Plans are in their infancy, but on an as-needed basis, testing sites are set up on the county’s east and west sides.
Mobile testing is available only by appointment for those referred by Public Health.
Two UC Merced students were tested last week. One result was negative and the other is pending.
A City of Merced public safety officer tested positive as well, but was counted in Madera County on account of the officer being a resident there.
A Merced County Courthouse courtroom was disinfected and a case declared a mistrial after the individual potentially exposed others within the courtroom. A Court news release later urged residents to avoid the Courthouse.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 3:48 PM.
