COVID-19
breaking news & updates
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Increase In Bay Area COVID Cases Expected After Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
Health officials warned the Bay Area and across California will likely see a bump in the already higher COVID cases because of holiday weekend gatherings. The latest surge prompted some people to dust off their masks. But San Francisco resident Jacqueline Tang, she never put her mask away. "It's finding that balance and really thinking about the community you're in, right? There are a lot of children and elderly people who can't get vaccinated," said Tang. She said she never stopped wearing a mask when shopping or going indoors. "I had my double vaccinations, boosted. I'll take tests if I travel at all," said Tang. CBS News Read more
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An Oakland Couple Took The Trip Of A Lifetime. Then COVID Stranded Them Abroad
Lisa Scimens and her husband John Moss were elated in early May to finally be going on a European odyssey to celebrate their 30th anniversary. They had planned to do the trip in March 2020 before the pandemic killed the voyage. The Oakland couple left May 8 to spend nine days in Paris, followed by a week in Berlin, and two weeks in London. But what started off as the perfect trip, ended up with Scimens and Moss quarantining in a hotel in Germany with COVID-19, uncertain of when they can get home. As travel ramps up for the summer, tourists are negotiating how to safely navigate COVID abroad and finding the pandemic still has the power to upend plans and spoil vacations.
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S.F. Schools Report Most COVID Cases Since January
San Francisco public school students and staff reported 472 COVID-19 cases last week, up from 320 in the previous week. That figure matches numbers reported at schools in the first and last week of January during the winter Omicron surge. It marks an eight-fold increase in cases at schools since the San Francisco Unified School District dropped its mask mandate in April — a reflection of the uptick in community spread across the city, which is one of the nation’s COVID-19 hotspots. San Francisco’s coronavirus positive test rate reached 11.7% last Thursday, nearly twice California's overall rate of 6.6%. SFUSD has reported 7,421 cumulative cases in its 2022 spring semester, among about 62,800 students and staff members. The academic year ends June 1.
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State Honors Marin School District For Pandemic Response
In the fall of 2020, when most Marin school districts were still in remote instruction mode because of the pandemic, the Sausalito Marin City School District was the first to reopen for classroom learning. The district, which received a waiver from the state to reopen its elementary grades, ended up having 176 student days during that year — the most of any in Marin, according to the Marin County Civil Grand Jury. For that and other efforts to maintain instruction standards during the pandemic, the district has won a 2022 California Pivotal Practice Award from the California Department of Education.
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Census Confirms The Size of SF's 2020 Pandemic Exodus: 6.3% Or 55,000 People
Now that the 2020 Census data releases are done, we get the first American Community Survey annual estimated figures for 2021 — covering the period from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021. The full population data release won't come until the end of June, but for now we have some trend lists on fastest-shrinking and fastest-growing cities. During that first year of the pandemic, the Census Bureau estimates that San Francisco lost 54,813, or 6.3% of its population — the most of any town or city of any size, and comparable to exoduses from natural disasters. Number two on the list of fastest-declining cities, for example, was Lake Charles, Louisiana, which lost an estimated 5% of its population after two devastating hurricanes in the second half of 2020. SFist Read more
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COVID Vaccine/Treatment News |
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You Can Now Get Paxlovid By Mail, Bringing The U.S. One Step Closer To The "Pandemic Endgame"
San Francisco-based primary and urgent care provider Carbon Health has partnered with COVID test manufacturer Detect to announce a new service that lets people test themselves, consult online or by phone with a doctor who can prescribe antiviral pills, if appropriate, and get the pills delivered — all without leaving the house. The service brings the approach of the federal government’s nationwide “Test to Treat” program — where people can visit government-run sites to get tested and, if eligible, get prescription antiviral pills on the spot — into the home. It marks a further evolution of COVID treatment as the virus continues its march toward becoming a more normal, "endemic" part of our lives. SF Chronicle Read more
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Why We Need Better COVID Vaccines This Fall
New research by a team of San Francisco scientists is raising questions about the usefulness of a new Omicron-specific COVID vaccine for next fall, as the virus quickly evolves and the risk of illness is likely to soar. The study, published in the journal Nature, offers growing evidence that federal policymakers must make a tough choice: Should today’s vaccine be changed – and, if so, how? Time is tight, so a decision is planned next month. It comes as the nation is in the midst of a new wave of infections related to new Omicron variant subtypes, averaging more than 105,000 new cases a day for the first time since February. An estimated 58% of all new U.S. cases are linked to the hyper-transmissible BA.2.12.1 Omicron variant, which is quickly spreading among both the vaccinated and previously infected. East Bay Times Read more
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How Nasal COVID-19 Vaccines Can Help Prepare For Infection Where It Starts
Imagine inhaling just a few drops of liquid or mist to get protected from COVID-19. That is the idea behind nasal COVID-19 vaccines, and they have been getting a lot of attention recently as a spray or liquid. These nasal vaccines would be based on the same technology as normal vaccines given by injection. But as Mayuresh Abhyankar, a University of Virginia researcher who studies infectious diseases and works on nasal vaccines, explains, vaccinating someone right where the coronavirus is likely to start its attack comes with many immunological benefits. PBS Read more
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Vaccines Offer Little Protection Against Long COVID, Study Finds
The COVID vaccines, while holding up strong against hospitalization and death, offer little protection against long COVID, according to research published Wednesday in the journal Nature Medicine. The findings are disappointing, if not surprising, to researchers who were once hopeful that vaccination could significantly reduce the risk of long COVID. Compared to an unvaccinated individual, the risk of long COVID in a fully vaccinated individual was cut by only about 15 percent, the study found. NBC News Read more
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State/National/International News |
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The Real COVID Surge Is (Much) Bigger Than It Looks. But Don't Panic
Cases of COVID-19 are – yet again – on the rise. The U.S. is seeing an average of more than 100,000 reported new cases across the country every day. That's nearly double the rate a month ago and four times higher than this time last year. And the real number of cases is likely much higher than that, according to health officials. Because many people now rely on at-home tests, "we're clearly undercounting infections," White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told reporters at the most recent COVID press briefing. Hospitalizations are trending upwards too, though only gradually still in most places. Yet in most places, health officials haven't called for any new COVID restrictions. So how big is the surge, really? And is there anything you should be doing about it? NPR Read more
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California Had Almost 20,000 Extra Pandemic Deaths Through Last Year. Here’s Why They’re Missing From Official COVID Stats
COVID-19 has officially killed more than 90,000 Californians, roughly equivalent to the populations of Santa Barbara and San Leandro. But research suggests the true toll of the pandemic could be much higher, with more than 20,000 “hidden” excess deaths concentrated in the southernmost counties, plus a handful of rural counties to the north. These deaths, according to researchers, are a combination of uncounted COVID-19 fatalities — some deliberately overlooked for political reasons — and deaths from other pandemic-related causes, like gun violence, traffic accidents, overdoses and strained hospital systems. SF Chronicle Read more
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Who Else Feels Like One Of The Only People Still Actively Avoiding COVID?
A common refrain of mine throughout the pandemic has been “well, it depends on your personal relationship with risk.” Friends and family know I’m paying attention to COVID19 details to design my personal safety routines, so they ask me “is it safe to ...” as if there’s a clear yes/no answer. March 2020: Is it safe to visit with friends outside sitting six feet apart? March 2021: I’m vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask? March 2022: Is it safe to work out at the gym? What it comes down to, in terms of personal decisions, is how comfortable you are with uncertainty. Over two years into the pandemic, few risk questions have definitive yes/no answers, a reality inherent in dealing with a brand new pathogen and the massive numbers involved. Daily Kos Read more
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Asymptomatic COVID-19 May Not Spread As Easily As Symptomatic
Symptomatic COVID-19 cases are responsible for more viral transmission than asymptomatic infections, suggests an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of 130 studies published yesterday in PLOS Medicine. A team led by University of Bern researchers in Switzerland searched databases through Jul 6, 2021, for studies on COVID-19 patients with documented symptom status at the start and end of follow-up, as well as mathematical modeling studies. The studies included data on 28,426 COVID-19 patients from 42 countries, 11,923 (42%) of whom were asymptomatic. CIDRAP Read more
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What If You Get COVID During Your Summer Trip? Here's How To Minimize Travel Risks
With Memorial Day approaching and many people in the Bay Area ramping up plans for summer travel, COVID continues to pose a threat, with highly transmissible Omicron variants driving the latest surge. As of Wednesday, the U.S. had a coronavirus case rate of 33 new daily cases per 100,000 people, on par with the height of the delta surge late last summer. Hospitalizations are up 30% over the past 14 days, though still well below the winter peak. How do experts say you should factor that into your summer vacation picture? SF Chronicle Read more
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COVID Lockdowns In Shanghai Have Led To Imaging Dye Shortages, Delaying Tests To Diagnose Diseases In U.S. Patients
Doctors cannot seem to pinpoint what is wrong with Michael Quintos. Mr. Quintos, 53, a Chicago resident, has constant stomach pain. He has been hospitalized, and his doctors have tried everything including antibiotics, antacids, even removing his appendix. “I still don’t feel good,” Mr. Quintos said. His doctors recommend using a CT scan with contrast, imaging that relies on a special dye often injected into patients to better visualize their blood vessels, intestines and organs like the kidney and liver. But a nationwide shortage of the imaging agents needed for the procedure — the result of the recent lockdown in Shanghai to quell a Covid outbreak — has prompted hospitals to ration these tests except in emergencies. Like thousands of others in recent weeks, Mr. Quintos cannot get an exam using the contrast dye. NY Times Read more
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Gov. Newsom Tests Positive For COVID-19
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19 in the morning after exhibiting mild symptoms. “The Governor will continue to work remotely,” the governor’s office said in a statement, adding that he will “remain in isolation at least through Thursday, June 2 and until he tests negative” in accordance with local and state health guidelines.
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Enrollment Drops At U.S. Colleges, Even As The Pandemic's Effects Ebb
The ongoing enrollment crisis at U.S. colleges and universities deepened in spring 2022, raising concerns that a fundamental shift is taking place in attitudes toward the value of a college degree — even as the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted operations for higher education. NY Times Read more
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Politics and Pandemic Fatigue Doom California’s COVID Vaccine Mandates
In January, progressive California Democrats vowed to adopt the toughest covid vaccine requirements in the country. Their proposals would have required most Californians to get the shots to go to school or work — without allowing exemptions to get out of them. Months later, the lawmakers pulled their bills before the first votes. One major vaccine proposal survives, but faces an uphill battle. It would allow children ages 12 to 17 to get a covid-19 vaccine without parental permission. At least 10 other states permit some minors to do this. California Healthline Read more
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UCLA Reinstates Mask Mandate As California COVID Cases Surge
The University of California, Los Angeles said last Thursday it will reinstate an indoor mask policy as coronavirus cases surge in the nation’s most populous state, which now forecasts hospitalizations will nearly triple in the next month. UCLA’s 45,000 students and all faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks inside (effective May 27) following “a consistent rise in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County and on our campus,” school officials said in a statement. Los Angeles County’s public health director, Barbara Ferrer, applauded UCLA’s decision. AP Read more
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Total Confirmed Cases
Bay Area: 1,425,081
California: 9,570,326
U.S.: 84,022,711
Alameda County
Primary Vaccine Series Completed: 86.3%
Total Cases: 284,538
Total Deaths: 1,877
Test Positivity (7-day rate): 8.9%
Hospitalized Patients (as of 5/31): 96
ICU Beds Available (as of 5/31): 92
The community level of COVID-19 in Alameda County is medium based on cases and hospitalizations, according to the most recent update from the C.D.C. on May 26. The number of deaths in the Alameda County area have remained at about the same level. NY Times
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Total Reported Deaths
Bay Area: 8,441
California: 91,311
U.S.: 1,004,770
Contra Costa County
Primary Vaccine Series Completed: 86.7%
Total Cases: 208,010
Total Deaths: 1,306
Test Positivity (7-day rate): 12.3%
Hospitalized Patients (as of 5/31): 85
ICU Beds Available (as of 5/31): 48
The community level of COVID-19 in Contra Costa County is medium based on cases and hospitalizations, according to the most recent update from the C.D.C. on May 26. The number of deaths in the Contra Costa area have remained at about the same level. NY Times
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Strange, Spring Flu Spike Likely Related To COVID-19. How?
Colorado has experienced a strange, spring spike in flu cases this year, and like many other trends in the post-pandemic world, this year’s odd flu season likely is related to COVID-19. “It’s wild. It’s throwing everyone for a loop,” infectious disease expert, Dr. Michelle Barron, said of the 2022 flu season. “A lot of people have caught the flu in the last few weeks. It’s here. A lot of us got our flu shots in August. The vaccine might not have been a perfect match for this year’s flu. And any protection we had probably has worn off by now.” UCHealth Today Read more
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- COVID-19 testing is a good idea, but keep in mind, people who test negative can still harbor the virus if they are early in their infection.
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A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
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An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
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Over the past week, Alameda County has averaged 826 new cases and 0.7 new deaths per day.
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Over the past week, Contra Costa County has averaged 546 new cases and 0.1 new deaths per day.
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Top 10 Locations of Cases in
Alameda County, cumulative
as of 5/31/2022
Oakland: 82,564
Hayward: 35,648
Fremont: 29,959
San Leandro: 17,225
Berkeley: 16,279
Eden MAC: 15,723
Livermore: 13,908
Union City: 12,414
Alameda: 10,225
Castro Valley: 9,911
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Top 10 Locations of Cases in
Contra Costa County, cumulative
as of 5/31/2022
Richmond: 29,913
Antioch: 27,162
Concord: 22,454
Pittsburg: 17,578
San Pablo: 12,639
Brentwood: 12,478
Walnut Creek: 10,870
Oakley: 10,267
San Ramon: 9,715
Martinez: 7,092
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About Eden Health District |
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The Eden Health District Board of Directors are Chair Mariellen Faria, Vice Chair Pam Russo, Secretary/Treasurer Roxann Lewis, Gordon Galvan and Ed Hernandez. The Chief Executive Officer is Mark Friedman.
The Eden Health District is committed to ensuring that policy makers and community members receive accurate and timely information to help make the best policy and personal choices to meet and overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We welcome your feedback on our bulletin. Please contact editor Lisa Mahoney.
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