COVID-19 Update 2020-03-20

There are currently 267,871 of COVID-19 confirmed globally, up from 142,783 last Friday, with 11,194 deaths and 90,603 recoveries.

Global confirmed cases outside of China topped 100,000 on March 15th with 163,966 total cases reported as of March 19th. Outside of China, the number of cases has been doubling about every 4 days, with 88,733 total cases reported March 15th. There were 8,555 confirmed cases outside China on March 1st.

Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany, The USA and France all have total confirmed cases in the 10’s of thousands, each with at least two thousand new cases reported so far today, with the exception of Iran, who has far more limited testing capacity.

Italy now reports more fatalities than China. Italy is set to tighten lockdown restrictions as daily case reports continue to rise and the fatalities balloon. 40,000 Italians have thus far been charged with violating the lockdown.

Hydroxychloroquine, a drug commonly prescribed for malaria is enlisting front-line healthcare workers for a clinical trial.

The disease is truly global at this point, with over 140 countries having confirmed cases out of 195 countries in the world. South Africa reported +52 new cases yesterday, bringing their total to 202.

According to a new study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine, the so called Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is present in aerosols (droplets in air) for up to 3 hours, with a half life of about an hour, survives on metals and plastics for up to three days, with a half life of about 6 hours and remains viable on cardboard up to 24 hours.

China reported a case of transmission where an infected individual transmitted the Coronavirus to someone who stood next to them at a bus stop for 15 sec. China’s ability to track all smartphone users GPS co-ordinates greatly assisted their contact tracing and provided specific data on the contagion. Likewise, Chinese scientists published a report on an infected person on a bus infecting several others as far as 4.5 meters away.

There are +2,756 new confirmed cases in the US today, bringing the total to 16,545. The US is now reporting about as many new cases daily as Italy.

The US had +106 new cases on March 8th and +461 new cases on March 12th.

Total US cases more than doubled in the past 4 days again, while Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan have all controlled their local disease spread to a manageable rate.

Goldman Sachs is forecasting a 24% decline in economic activity next quarter and a 9% unemployment rate in the next couple of quarters. J.P. Morgan predicts a 14% contraction in second-quarter U.S. growth.

The National Guard has begun activating. Under the authority of various states, the Guard will work with Governors and Municipalities to provide various support as needed.

Reports from hospital staff from across the nation, running out of Personal Protection Equipment, especially masks, are making the rounds on social media.

Governor Newsom expanded the Shelter in Place order to all of California, asked for a hospital ship from the U.S. Navy to be stationed in LA and projected that 56% of the California population could be infected over 8 weeks unless significant measures are taken.

The Governor had also issued an executive order halting foreclosures and evictions, as well as directing the state utilities commission to monitor efforts by companies to prevent utility shutoffs.

California is offering support for workers losing wages due to COVID-19. It is possible to file for partial wage replacement benefits with the state, if you have lost your job or had your hours reduced.

Bay Area hospitals are preparing for a surge in cases, patients with respiratory illnesses are being treated in drive through clinics.

All public Santa Cruz County schools remain closed.

Governor Newsom is warning parents to be prepared for schools to remain closed until after the summer break.

There were 565 confirmed cases in the Bay Area yesterday, up from 210 last Friday.

The total cases confirmed in Santa Cruz county is 14.

Many local department stores have had shortages of certain items. Several stores limited the number of certain items per customer to prevent hoarding. Some stores are offering pick up or delivery services.

Amazon announced that some customers will see shipping delays, due to a dramatic increase in orders and new preventative measures taken at their facilities.

There is no reason to expect food shortages. During the worst of China’s lockdown, family members were allowed to purchase food or food was delivered.

Montage Health in Monterey is offering free eVisits for locals who think they may have COVID-19.

Visit the Coronavirus Daily Update Page on KSCO.com for more info.

You can find out more from the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, by going to santacruzhealth.org.

If you experience Fever, Cough or Shortness of Breath, please call your Health Care Professional.

Regardless of how healthy you are, to protect the most vulnerable, don’t be a disease vector. Take action by staying home as much as possible.

As is always true to prevent any communicable disease, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your elbow, avoid touching your face, and remember, don’t pick your nose!!

– The COVID-19 Update from KSCO’s Director of Digital Media, Jonty McCollyer