Daily Merced County COVID-19 infections showing decline. Public Health to host Q&A
The Merced County Department of Public Health on Wednesday confirmed the fatality of two Merced County residents due to the novel coronavirus.
County-wide, 119 total individuals have now died on account of contracting COVID-19.
One previously reported death was removed on account of it being determined that the individual did not reside in Merced County, according to a County Public Health news release.
Both of the most recently deceased residents were males over the age of 64 with underlying health conditions, the release said.
On the positive side, new daily cases haven’t topped 100 for over a week. During much of July and August, laboratory confirmed infections numbering in the hundreds each day was the norm.
Merced County on Wednesday added 41 new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infections, raising its total caseload to 8,122 since the pandemic began.
County to host sessions to answer questions
County Public Health also announced on Wednesday that it will begin hosting biweekly health conversations to answer residents’ questions about COVID-19.
County Health Officer Dr. Salvador Sandoval will host the first English session on Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The session can be watched via Facebook Live on the Merced County Department of Public Health’s Facebook page.
Questions for Sandoval can be submitted on the Facebook page as well.
More on numbers
The recent decline in infections also means cases presumed to be active have dropped as well. Estimated active cases, meaning they were confirmed within the last two weeks, fell on Wednesday from 910 to 893.
The dip below the 1,000 mark is a milestone for Merced County. Cases presumed active had ballooned past 1,000 and stretched toward the 3,000 threshold in mid August, according to County Public Health numbers.
Another crucial step in the right direction is the county’s falling case positivity percentage. The data point shows the amount of coronavirus tests during the last week that return positive.
Among other criteria, dropping under the 8% mark is a key benchmark for counties to reopen more parts of their local economy under the newest state opening plan.
As of Wednesday, Merced County’s positivity rate is 8.6%, according to County Public Health.
Active hospitalizations also improved on Wednesday from 97 to 92. Residents being cared for within Merced County number 26, meaning the majority of locals with severe COVID-19 cases are hospitalized at facilities outside of the county.
The county’s running list of active COVID-19 outbreaks remains at 18.
Livingston Foster Farms plant shuts down
Wednesday also marked the first day of the Livingston Foster Farms plant being shut down to a widespread COVID-19 outbreak. At least 392 employees have tested positive and at least eight workers have died in connection to the outbreak.
About 1,400 employees were sent home with pay until at least Monday, Sept. 7, according to a statement by the company. Workers will be tested for coronavirus twice during the shutdown.
However, the complex employs around 3,700 people, and the other facilities will continue to run this week. These facilities will undergo two rounds of testing as well, Foster Farms said in a statement.
Eventually, all full time employees, part time employees and cleaning crews will be tested and cleared for work come the Sept. 7 return date, according to the company’s statement.
United Farm Workers on Monday floated a Foster Farms boycott if certain demands are not met.
The union, which represents about 2,000 Foster Farms Livingston employees, asked that the company shut down its entire Livingston facility.
In response, Foster Farms said misinformation is being disseminated as a result of the labor dispute. The company insists that they have followed Center for Disease Control guidelines since March.
The Fresno Bee’s Manuela Tobias contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 5:17 PM.
