Merced County reports 9 new coronavirus cases. Hilmar added to list of affected areas
Merced County saw its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases in recent weeks Thursday, as the number of total cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic rose from 180 to 189, County Public Health reported.
The county typically averages three to six new daily cases, according to Public Health officials, making the Thursday’s increase higher than normal.
Individuals having recovered from the disease rose from 109 to 120. Officials say 65 of the total coronavirus cases are active.
Four Merced County residents have died, with the most recent death reported Tuesday.
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.
An additional person under the age of 18 was confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, raising the tally to 13.
The total number of Merced County residents ever hospitalized because of coronavirus rose Thursday from 32 to 33. This includes residents hospitalized in facilities both in and outside of the county.
Hilmar for the first time made the list of communities with five or more infected individuals Thursday. Six Hilmar residents have contracted COVID-19, according to County Public Health.
The City of Merced continues to lead with the most coronavirus cases . Merced now claims 63 total infections. Los Banos is next highest at 43.
Delhi, Livingston, Atwater, Winton and Gustine also make the list, with 20 or fewer cases each.
A total of 3,998 tests have been performed in Merced County, through both the commercial and public health lab systems. Of those, 3,746 are negative, 189 positive and 63 are pending.
Coronavirus around the region
Stanislaus County has reported 537 positive cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, including 23 deaths and 392 recoveries. A total of 8,038 tests have been conducted.
Tulare County for the first time in nearly a week reported no new deaths related to the coronavirus Thursday. Health and Human Services Agency reported an additional 27 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total to just shy of 1,300. Fifty-four people have died and 342 people have recovered.
Kings County Health officials report 348 total cases Thursday. Of those, 244 are active cases, 103 are recovered and one is a fatality.
Mariposa County has remained at 15 total cases for several days. No known COVID-19 related deaths have occurred. All but one of those cases are recoveries. The remaining individual is hospitalized.
Madera County tallies 69 total cases Thursday. Individuals still ill total 22, recoveries number 45 and two people have died.
In California as of Thursday, there are 73,224 confirmed coronavirus cases and 2,977 deaths.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 5:41 PM.
