Merced County COVID-19 deaths hit 125. More aid for small businesses coming
Two additional Merced County residents died after contracting the novel coronavirus, the Merced County Department of Public Health reported on Wednesday.
Total local fatalities now tally 125 since the coronavirus pandemic’s beginning.
Both of the most recently deceased residents were men older than 64, according to County Public Health. One had underlying health conditions prior to his death, while the health status of the other is unknown.
Along with Wednesday’s deaths came 25 new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases — the lowest daily number of infections confirmed this month.
The county’s total caseload reached 8,440 known COVID-19 infections with the new cases.
Merced County residents presumed to be actively sick continued to fall on Wednesday, estimated at 750. The active case count estimate is based on the number of laboratory confirmed positive cases within the last two weeks.
The declining amount of recently confirmed COVID-19 infections is reflected in Merced County’s case positivity. The percentage indicates the amount of individuals screened for the disease during the past seven days who test positive.
Although local case positivity rose slightly from 7.3% on Tuesday to 7.5% on Wednesday, it remained below the crucial 8% threshold.
According to the most recent statewide plan to reopen California’s economy, counties like Merced that are subject to the strictest limitations must maintain a positivity below 8% for two straight weeks in order to advance toward relaxed restrictions.
Merced County is now on day two of meeting the positivity requirement. However, the county’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents still significantly exceeds the required benchmark for state-approved reopening, according to state data.
Governor signs bill for small businesses
While many nonessential businesses remain shut in Merced County and statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced the signing of a Senate bill aimed at providing financial relief to struggling small businesses.
Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, spearheaded Senate Bill 1447. Caballero noted that her predominantly rural and agricultural district, which encompasses Merced County, is heavily dependent on small businesses — many of which are immigrant-owned.
The bill allows businesses with less than 100 employees to claim a credit against their personal and corporate income taxes each taxable year, beginning in 2020. To qualify for the credit, the business’ gross income must have declined at least 50% over this time last year.
Newsom said the bill is aimed at ensuring the money goes to actual struggling small businesses.
More Merced County COVID-19 data
Since the start of the pandemic, 18.27% of the 46,388 Merced County residents tested for COVID-19 have had their results return positive, according to County Public Health data.
Residents actively hospitalized on account of COVID-19 cases serious enough to mandate hospitalization improved on Wednesday to 77 -- a decline of two patients from Tuesday. Just 19 hospitalized residents are being looked after at facilities within the county, while the others are cared for elsewhere.
The number of county residents ever hospitalized due to COVID-19, however, increased by eight to 623.
Active coronavirus outbreaks also fell on Wednesday by one to 19 total. Central Valley Nephrology was removed from the list of current outbreaks.
Facilities are cleared from active outbreak status when there are no new laboratory confirmed cases for two weeks.
County communities most affected by the virus continue to be the cities of Merced and Atwater, where cases number in the thousands.
All other local regions each tally cases in the hundreds or less. Los Banos, however, stretched toward the 1,000 mark on Wednesday, reaching 992 infected residents since the pandemic began.
The Sacramento Bee’s Andrew Sheeler contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 5:20 PM.
