COVID-19 claims two more lives in Merced County, raising local fatalities to 15
Coronavirus took the lives of two additional Merced County residents Wednesday, raising the number of local fatalities due to the pandemic this week to three, according to County Public Health.
Fifteen county residents have now died as a result of coronavirus-related complications.
One of the most recently deceased residents was a man between age 50 and 64 with no underlying health conditions. Information about the other death is not yet available, according to a County Public Health news release.
Along with the fatalities, 77 additional individuals tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday locally, raising the caseload since the pandemic started to 2,260. Infections assumed active, meaning they were confirmed within the last two weeks, rose to 1,159.
While availability of coronavirus testing continues to expand locally, county and state data shows rising cases cannot be attributed only to increasing tests.
The positive case rate, which shows the percentage of individuals screened for COVID-19 who test positive, has nearly doubled in three weeks. On June 24, Merced County’s cumulative positive case rate since the pandemic started was 6.16%. Wednesday, it is 11.44%.
Looking at more recent data, the California Department of Public Health reported an even higher positive test rate in Merced County. At 16% Wednesday, Merced County’s positive test rate over a seven day average is double the state’s ideal maximum of 8%.
For the second day in a row, infections severe enough to require patient hospitalization fell slightly — 31 county residents were hospitalized Wednesday compared to 32 Tuesday.
The City of Merced continues to lead area communities, in terms of positive coronavirus cases, with 821 total residents infected since the beginning of the pandemic, as of Wednesday.
Atwater comes in second, but with 322 cases. Los Banos tallies 264, Livingston 218, Winton 169 and Delhi 160. All other impacted Merced County communities count fewer than 100 cases each.
In absence of a vaccine to curb the virus’s rapid spread, health officials have pleaded with the public to practice simple preventative measures proven by science to deter COVID-19 transmission.
“We need their help to control this situation better,” Merced County Director of Public Health Rebecca Nanyonjo-Kemp said of residents in a recent interview with the Sun-Star. “It’s a cry and a plea for help.”
According to health officials, effective precautionary measures include wearing a face mask, washing hands, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings with other households. These precautions slow COVID-19 transmission through droplets expelled in the air from sick persons and asymptomatic carriers.
Testing continues to expand
Rite Aid announced Wednesday the launch of two new drive-through testing sites in Merced County and 159 other locations nationwide opening Thursday.
Merced County sites are located at 3142 G St. in Merced and 500 Main St. in Livingston.
The new sites offer self-swab nasal tests overseen by Rite Aid pharmacists. Locations operate Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Additional regional COVID-19 testing at Rite Aid locations is available in Chowchilla, Turlock and Fresno. A complete list of testing sites is on Rite Aid’s website.
Nasal tests are available for all adults, regardless if they are experiencing virus symptoms. Patients must show government issued identification, be at least 18 years old and pre-register online at www.riteaid.com to schedule an appointment.
The additional drive through testing more than doubles Rite Aid’s coronavirus testing sites to 258 across the country, with the capacity to do 94,000 tests weekly across all locations.
Plus, County Public Health officials announced Tuesday that another testing site with Verily will open on the county’s west side Monday.
Operating as a mobile RV, it will frequent the Los Banos Fairgrounds Monday and Tuesday, traveling to different counties around the region on other days. About 250 self-swab tests can be completed per day through walk in or or registered appointments.
The new testing locations add to the existing area sites at Golden Valley Health Centers in Los Banos and Merced, the state OptumServe site in Merced and CVS locations in Merced and Atwater.
County Public Health officials noted Tuesday that expanding COVID-19 test locations may aid in Merced County finally meeting the state’s minimum threshold of 150 average daily tests per 100,000 residents.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 5:26 PM.
