Two new COVID-19 deaths reported in Merced County. Pandemic’s total caseload hits 200
Two additional coronavirus-related fatalities were reported in Merced County on Friday, raising the total from four to six deaths, according to County Public Health.
The first new death reported in weeks was Monday. Friday’s two fatalities make this week the most deadly yet in Merced County for coronavirus.
One deceased individual was a female between the ages of 50 and 65 with no underlying health conditions. The other was a female over the age of 65 with an underlying health condition.
The total number of coronavirus cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic hit 200 on Friday —up 11 from Thursday. The first case of coronavirus in Merced County was reported March 22.
With 11 new COVID-19 cases reported Friday and nine Thursday, the total number of infected residents rose significantly this week. Merced County typically averages three to six daily cases, according to County Public Health.
Individuals having recovered from the disease number 127 and those actively ill account for 67 cases.
The first infant in the county to contract COVID-19, a 5-month-old child, was reported Wednesday. County Public Health noted a recent uptick in the number of infected children in the county over the last two weeks.
Three additional people under age 18 were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, raising the tally to 16. On Monday, the total was just 10.
The City of Merced continued to lead county cities and gain COVID-19 cases Friday, rising from 63 to 69 sick residents.
County Public Health only discloses communities where five or more persons have tested positive for coronavirus. None of the seven other affected Merced County communities showed an increase in cases.
As of Friday, 98 homeless individuals in the county have been sheltered in area hotel rooms via the statewide initiative Project Roomkey, County Public Health said in a news release.
Over 300 homeless individuals have been contacted overall to provide services like food and other essential items. Housing and health care services are provided on a priority basis, but food and toiletries are available to all homeless in the county.
“We are taking a multi-agency approach to engaging with unsheltered homeless individuals and identifying those who need services and medical follow-ups due to COVID-19,” said Yvonnia Brown, Director of the Merced County Human Services Agency in the release.
“These efforts will not only provide much needed assistance to those individuals, it will also help contain the spread of COVID-19 within the community at large.”
A total of 4,145 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Merced County Friday. Of those, 3,891 are negative, 200 are positive and 54 are pending. This includes testing through both commercial and public health labs.
In California as of Friday, there are 74,931 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,060 deaths.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 5:38 PM.
