The latest developments around the region related to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, as of Thursday afternoon include:
- A coalition of Bay Area transit agencies released a joint plan Wednesday to assuage riders’ fears that they will contract COVID-19 and suggesting ways for them to keep healthy as they return to public transit. The “Riding Together” plan outlines the steps that more than two dozen transit agencies in nine Bay Area counties plan to take to safely welcome riders back, using guidance from the California Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. In total, 27 public transit agencies and providers in Napa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, Solano and Sonoma counties are participating in the Riding Together plan. The plan can be found at healthytransitplan.org.
- Service resumes Saturday on several Muni metro and bus lines after being suspended for five months due to COVID-19 by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Some of the restored lines have been modified to support essential workers and people running essential errands like grocery shopping or going to medical appointments. Bus routes returning include the 7-Haight-Noriega, 37-Corbett, 45-Union Stockton, 48-Quintara and 67-Bernal Heights. Lines being extended include 12-Pacific Community Shuttle, 30-Stockton, 44-O’Shaugnessy and 54-Felton. Other changes include extra weekend service on the 28-19th Avenue line and more frequent buses on the 8-Bayshore, 9-San Bruno, 9R San Bruno Rapid, 12-Pacific Community Shuttle, 14-Mission, 19-Polk, 22-Fillmore, 24-Divisadero, 25-Treasure Island, 28-19th Avenue, 29-Sunset, 43-Masonic and 44-O’Shaughnessy.
- As of Thursday at 4 p.m., officials have confirmed the following number of cases around the greater Bay Area region (“+” number added since last check Wed., Aug. 19, unless otherwise noted):
- Alameda County: 16,184 cases (+348), 231 deaths (+3) (Totals include Berkeley Health Department data)
- Contra Costa County: 12,046 cases (+160), 161 deaths (+3)
- Marin County: 5,832 cases (+12), 83 deaths (Totals include San Quentin State Prison)
- Monterey County: 6,865 cases (+80), 49 deaths (+2)
- Napa County: 1,295 cases (+13), 13 deaths
- San Francisco County: 8,611 cases (+83), 72 deaths
- San Mateo County: 7,382 cases (+61), 127 deaths
- Santa Clara County: 15,085 cases (+213), 217 deaths (+4)
- Santa Cruz County: 1,569 cases (+23), 7 deaths
- Solano County: 5,006 cases (+135), 44 deaths (+1)
- Sonoma County: 4,779 cases (+117), 65 deaths
- Statewide: 644,751 cases (+5920), 11,686 deaths (+163)