Bay Area coronavirus updates | Monday, Aug. 17

The latest developments around the region related to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, as of Monday afternoon include:

  • Due to recent lightning strikes throughout the Bay Area, San Francisco health officials on Monday temporarily suspended all outdoor walk-up COVID-19 testing. The suspension of outdoor testing at city testing sites comes at the recommendation of the city’s Fire Department, the Department of Public Health and the National Weather Service, due to heightened risk of lightning in the region. Although walk-up testing has been suspended starting at 2 p.m., the sites remain open for drive-through testing appointments. Walk-up patients have the option of setting up a drive-through appointment instead, city officials said.
  • A photography contest following the theme “Why I wear a mask” is launching Monday in Union City, city officials announced Friday. The contest, open to residents 5 to 20 years old, is aimed at helping to communicate the importance of wearing a face covering to stop the spread of COVID-19. Judging the contest will be Don Feria, a freelance editorial and commercial photographer from Union City. Cash prizes will be given to the top three winners: the first place winner will receive $100, the second-place winner $75, and the third-place winner $50.
  • West Contra Costa Unified School District is starting its 2020-2021 school year on Monday in a distance-learning format. Students will join each other and teachers providing live lessons either from home or their classrooms via Zoom or Google classroom, or through pre-recorded or pre-assigned activities for independent study, school district officials said. The district’s 28,000-plus students will take classes remotely, starting at 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday, including a homeroom or advisory period for students to connect with each other and their teachers.
  • As of Monday at 5 p.m., officials have confirmed the following number of cases around the greater Bay Area region (“+” number added since last check Sun., Aug. 17, unless otherwise noted):
    • Alameda County: 15,130 cases (+7), 221 deaths (+2) (Totals include Berkeley Health Department data)
    • Contra Costa County: 11,408 cases (+180), 157 deaths
    • Marin County: 5,788 cases (+78), 83 deaths (+1) (Totals include San Quentin State Prison)
    • Monterey County: 6,548 cases (+87), 46 deaths
    • Napa County: 1,245 cases (+39), 13 deaths (+2)
    • San Francisco County: 8,346 cases (+54), 69 deaths
    • San Mateo County: 7,150 cases (+198), 126 deaths
    • Santa Clara County: 14,636 cases (+207), 209 deaths
    • Santa Cruz County: 1,454 cases, 7 deaths (+1)
    • Solano County: 4,767 cases (+171), 41 deaths
    • Sonoma County: 4,377 cases (+84), 57 deaths (+3)
    • Statewide: 628,031 cases (+14,342 since Sat.), 11,242 deaths (+95 since Sat.)

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