The latest developments around the region related to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, as of Tuesday afternoon include:
- Santa Cruz County was removed from the state’s COVID-19 watchlist after the list was unfrozen for the first time in several weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Santa Cruz County was added to the watchlist late last month after it was flagged for factors that included rising case and hospitalization rates. Counties on the list are prohibited from opening certain higher-risk businesses such as salons and gyms. It was removed from the list retroactive to Friday, Newsom said.
- On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved extending a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions until Sept. 30. The moratorium intends to alleviate some of the income loss and out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic until the state can come up with a solution. “We need to take some action, I believe today, to protect our tenants affected by COVID-19 until there is more clarity from the state as a whole,” said Supervisor Bruce McPherson, who co-authored the resolution. The board will also come back in mid-September to discuss implementing a six- or 12-month repayment program of their own, similar to that of Santa Clara County.
- Santa Clara County continues to provide appointment and drop-in COVID-19 testing sites, with more appointment slots added this week. Locations change every week based on testing needs in the county. This week, appointment-only testing will be conducted in San Jose, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Milpitas. Appointments can be made three days in advance of the testing date until slots are filled and are open to all county residents who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. The county offers more than 50 COVID-19 testing locations and they can be found HERE.
- As of Tuesday at 5 p.m., officials have confirmed the following number of cases around the greater Bay Area region (“+” number added since last check Mon., Aug. 18, unless otherwise noted):
- Alameda County: 15,437 cases (+307), 224 deaths (+3) (Totals include Berkeley Health Department data)
- Contra Costa County: 11,668 cases (+260), 157 deaths
- Marin County: 5,788 cases, 83 deaths (Totals include San Quentin State Prison)
- Monterey County: 6,662 cases (+114), 46 deaths
- Napa County: 1,264 cases (+19), 13 deaths
- San Francisco County: 8,427 cases (+81), 70 deaths (+1)
- San Mateo County: 7,228 cases (+78), 127 deaths (+1)
- Santa Clara County: 14,872 cases (+236), 213 deaths (+4)
- Santa Cruz County: 1,505 cases (+51), 7 deaths
- Solano County: 4,871 cases (+104), 43 deaths (+2)
- Sonoma County: 4,465 cases (+88), 57 deaths
- Statewide: 632,677 cases (+4,646), 11,342 deaths (+100)