The latest developments around the region related to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, as of Saturday morning include:
- As of Saturday at 8:30 a.m., officials have confirmed the following number of cases in the greater Bay Area region (“+” added since last check Friday, Mar. 19):
- Alameda County: 45 cases (+10)
- Contra Costa County: 46 cases (+4), 1 death
- Marin County: 38 cases (+23)
- Monterey County: 5 cases (+3)
- Napa County: 0 cases
- San Francisco County: 76 cases
- San Mateo County: 110 cases (+10), 1 death
- Santa Clara County: 196 cases (+7), 8 deaths (+2)
- Santa Cruz County: 15 cases (+1)
- Solano County: 13 cases (+3)
- Sonoma County: 21 cases (+10)
- Statewide: 1,199 cases (+524), 24 deaths (+8)
- The state has stopped staffing tollbooths on seven Bay Area bridges, which means automated cameras will capture license plates and drivers will get notifications in the mail unless they already have FasTrak.
- Facing a surge in patients, Walnut Creek’s John Muir Health on announced the closing of three urgent care centers in San Ramon, Orinda and Concord in order to consolidate care and staff in Berkeley, Pleasanton, Brentwood and Walnut Creek.
- Santa Clara County is running a stockpile drive for medical equipment as healthcare workers prepare to handle large numbers of patients when testing begins to ramp up in the region.
- The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office will release 26 inmates after the Superior Court signed an order to reduce the jail’s population and minimize the risk of spreading the virus.
- Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced the launch of an emergency relief fund to serve the city’s most vulnerable residents and first responders during the pandemic.