Merced County releases city-specific coronavirus numbers, as total cases rise to 69
Four new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Merced County Monday, raising the number of infected residents to 69, according to County Public Health.
Merced County is now releasing updated COVID-19 numbers in the morning and evening.
An additional two individuals in the county have recovered from the disease, the county reported. A total of 18 residents have now lived through coronavirus.
Recovery is defined as being symptom free with no medication for 72 hours, according to County Public Health.
Three individuals have died from COVID-19 related complications in the county so far.
In California Monday, there are 23,625 confirmed coronavirus cases and 682 deaths.
For the first time, Merced County released city-specific coronavirus numbers in Monday’s news release.
“Due to a relatively low number of positive cases and the size of some of our cities and unincorporated communities, previously releasing those numbers could have been an identifying factor and a breach of patient confidentiality,” the release said.
“Furthermore, releasing that type of data could have also created a false sense of security in communities without confirmed cases, leading to greater spread of COVID-19.”
The information is now being released on account of the county reaching a high enough number of confirmed coronavirus cases, the release said. Patient confidentiality is no longer considered a risk for communities that have five or more cases.
The county will only release specific numbers for communities with at least five coronavirus cases, the release said.
Los Banos has the highest number of infected residents by far, claiming 25 of the total 69 cases in the county.
Merced is next with 15 cases.
Gustine and Atwater each have 6 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The city-specific tally accounts for 52 cases, leaving 17 undisclosed.
Ten of Los Banos’s cases are healthcare workers at Sutter Health Rural Health Clinic in Los Banos, it was reported Thursday.
“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.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 6:48 PM.
