As we enter the Thanksgiving Holiday, here is a look at the recent numbers of COVID-19 cases in Contra Costa County. These numbers are as of November 24.
The County data showed that a total of 94 people are currently in the hospital which is double the number on Nov. 10 where just 45 were in the hospital. Of those in the hospital, 57 were utilizing a ventilator.
- Cases per Day 100,000 – 12.1
- Positivity Rate – 3.8%
- Total cases – 23, 146
- Recovered Cases – 20,646
- Total Tests – 584,842
- Total Deaths – 258 (131 deaths occurred in nursing homes)
- Concord – 56
- Richmond – 33
- Walnut Creek -31
- Pleasant Hill – 23
- Antioch – 20
- Pittsburg – 19
- Brentwood – 11
- Orinda – 11
- San Pablo 10
- Bay Point – 8
- Oakley – 7
- Danville – 5
According to the county, in the past 14-days, the cases per 100,000 showed that San Pablo had the most cases (522.1), however, Byron (377.4) was second with 5 cases followed by Discovery Bay (374.5) with 50 cases.
In the past 14-days, Countywide, the most number of cases showed:
- 368 – Richmond
- 320 – Antioch
- 197 – Concord
- 170 – Pittsburg
- 164 – San Pablo
- 138 – Brentwood
- 96 – Walnut Creek
- 90 – San Ramon
- 85 – Oakley
- 71 – Danville
- 65 – Bay Point
- 54 – Martinez
- 53 – Hercules
- 50 – Discovery Bay
For more information, visit: https://cchealth.org/
Last week, California reached the unfortunate milestone of 1 million COVID cases statewide. With transmission and hospitalizations on the rise, health officers representing counties across the Bay Area are tightening local rules for high-risk indoor activities where the virus can spread more easily.
Contra Costa Health Services today issued an order to close, effective Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 8 a.m.:
- Indoor dining
- Indoor fitness centers
- Concession stands at movie theaters
Dine-in restaurant and gyms reopened at reduced capacities when the county entered the state’s red tier in late September. But recent increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations make the closures necessary to help contain spread of the virus.
“Indoor interactions at restaurants, movie theaters, and indoor gyms and fitness centers are high-risk activities,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, health officer for Contra Costa County. “And given what we’re seeing happen across the country and the region, we must act now.”
Diners at restaurants remove their masks to eat or drink, as do movie patrons when snacking on food from concession stands. People also breathe heavily while they exercise at indoor gyms, increasing the risk of droplet and aerosol transmission of COVID-19, which can be only partially reduced by wearing a face covering.
Contra Costa recently moved from the state’s orange tier to the more restrictive red tier because of an increasing number of cases in the county. Meanwhile, hospitalizations in Contra Costa have returned to levels not seen in several weeks. On Nov. 11, 50 people with COVID were hospitalized in the county – the highest number since September.
“I’ve said this many times before, but it’s so important I can’t repeat it enough: The best way to protect against COVID-19 is to wear a face covering whenever you are near people who do not live with you, and whenever you go in a building that is not your home,” said Dr. Farnitano.
Health officials are especially worried about people gathering indoors with the holidays coming up and may consider other closures in the days and weeks ahead. Contra Costa County, which is now in the red tier, could move into the state’s most restrictive tier, the purple tier, within the coming weeks. If the county moves into the purple tier, schools that haven’t reopened will have to remain closed until the county moves back into the red tier or until they receive a waiver from the state.
“Our hope is that this new health order will slow down the spread of COVID so schools will have a better chance to reopen,” Dr. Farnitano said.
