Merced County adds 84 new coronavirus cases in four days, active cases reach new high
Merced County Department of Health on Tuesday reported a new high for daily coronavirus cases with the addition of 31 new infections.
Since Friday, the county has recorded a total of 84 new infections, raising the number of active cases to 177 — the highest number of actively infected people reported since the pandemic began.
The total number of Merced County infections reported since the pandemic’s start is now 493, with 309 recoveries and seven deaths.
Cases have been consistently rising at a higher rate daily, a County Public Health spokesperson told the Sun-Star.
News of the steep increase comes one day after the fourth local COVID-19 outbreak was reported at a Livingston almond processing plant. Eight employees reportedly tested positive for the disease as of Monday.
An additional individual in connection to the plant tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, raising the outbreak’s tally to nine, the spokesperson said.
County Public Health is still working with Hughson Nut Company, the operator of the plant, to get employees tested. The site has since been closed and cleaned.
Also this week, the county began the process of demobilizing its coronavirus response center with the intent to address regular responsibilities staff was diverted from during the COVID-19 threat before a potential second wave. County Public Health’s other roles were either put on hold or largely reduced in capacity the last few months.
The change mean less intensive case management, less frequent media releases and data reports. Weekend contact tracing will decrease and the amount of time it takes to complete contact tracing may increase. County Public Health coronavirus testing will be utilized for outbreaks, or as a last resort.
The sudden increase in COVID-19 infections raises questions about the timing of demobilization.
But County Public Health officials say the department is able to mobilize again quickly if need be.
The change is better deemed a “modification” than demobilization, the spokesperson said, noting that the language may be confusing and concerning to the public. County staff will still actively follow and respond to coronavirus locally.
Tuesday’s updates included:
Fresno County: 82 new cases, 2,788 to date; two new deaths, 57 to date; 1,921 active cases; 810 recovered.
Kings County: Reported Monday, 26 new cases, 1,831 to date, including 1,000 associated with outbreaks at state prisons in the county; two new deaths, eight to date; 1,159 active cases; 664 recovered.
Madera County: 24 new cases, 250 to date; one new death, four to date; 88 active cases; 158 recovered.
Mariposa County: No new cases, 17 to date; no new deaths, one to date; 1 active case; 15 recovered.
Stanislaus County: 1,267 positive cases since pandemic’s start, 35 deaths, 919 recoveries.
Tulare County: 134 new cases, 2,798 to date; no new deaths, 98 to date; 804 active cases; 1,896 recovered,
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 6:19 PM.
