Merced County coronavirus: Three weeks after first case, 65 confirmed infections, 3 deaths
Three weeks after the first report of a Merced County resident testing positive for coronavirus, total infections for the county stand at 65 infections, three deaths, and 16 recoveries.
The county’s Department of Public Health reported one new case on Easter Sunday. There were five new infections reported the previous day. No new deaths were reported during the weekend.
A COVID-19 recovery is defined as being symptom free with no medication for 72 hours, according to Public Health.
Statewide as of Saturday, there were 21,794 infections and 651 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
On Thursday, Merced County reported its highest jump yet in coronavirus infections, with 12 new cases. Ten of those were healthcare workers at Sutter Health Rural Health Clinic in Los Banos.
“We can confirm that some individuals at the Rural Health Clinic tested positive for COVID-19,” a Sutter Health spokesperson said in a written statement to the Sun-Star. “We are working closely with Merced County Department of Public Health to trace and notify those who may have been exposed.”
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (shortness of breath, fever, and cough) who visited the Los Banos clinic on or near March 29 through April 8 is urged to call their medical provider, according to a County Department of Public Health news release.
Testing healthcare workers is a priority, Sutter Health’s statement said.
The clinic is closed for disinfection and is undergoing a “deep clean.” Once properly disinfected, the clinic will open for limited services and teleservice.
The target reopening date is April 13, according to the statement.
“In order to keep our patients and employees safe, Sutter Health has also implemented temperature screenings at all care facilities across our network and implemented universal masking,” the statement said.
Elsewhere in the central San Joaquin Valley
Fresno County surpassed 200 confirmed cases after 10 new positive tests for COVID-19 on Saturday.
Figures updated on the health department’s website also show 49 of the 201 cases involve patients being hospitalized at some point.
There have been five deaths in the county and 31 people have recovered (those who have been laboratory cleared or cleared by non-laboratory methods).
Kings County reported its first death on Saturday. There are 10 total cases there.
Mariposa County still had no positive results from its 75 tests, including five pending. Madera County also held steady at 32 cases.
This story was originally published April 12, 2020 at 1:13 PM.