Coronavirus updates: Rise in Santa Clara hospitalizations 'likely' related to reopening efforts

LATEST, June 8, 4:15 p.m. Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody said in a Board of Supervisors meeting Monday that a small rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations is "likely" related to the county's reopening measures in May.

“We are beginning to see a little bit of an uptick in our hospitalizations which likely reflects the easing we did in the middle of May,” she said.

Hospitalizations, an important indicator of disease spread, rose from 38 on May 31 to 73 on Monday, June 8. The county currently has 2,973 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 145 deaths.

Cody has long been conservative about the state's reopening procedures, and has expressed "concern" over whether California was moving to open up higher-risk businesses too quickly.

Nevertheless, Santa Clara County moved forward with reopening a number of different businesses June 5, including outdoor dining, in-store shopping, pet grooming and small outdoor religious ceremonies.

June 8, 4:00 p.m. Below is a rundown of announcements from Bay Area counties of new coronavirus cases on Monday. This list will be updated as more counties release details.

—Solano County announced 24 new cases, for a total of 590. The death toll remains 23.

—Marin County announced 36 new cases, bringing its total to 625. The death toll remains 17.

—Alameda reported new cases to increase its total to 3,945. The death toll remains 101.

—Contra Costa reported new cases to increase its total to 1,706. The county also announced one additional death for a total of 40.

—Napa reported new cases to increase its total to 153. The death toll remains 10.

—San Francisco reported 32 new cases to increase its total to 2,779. The death toll remains 43.

—San Mateo announced 64 new cases, bringing its total to 2,394. The death toll remains 88.

—Santa Clara reported 31 new cases for a total of 2,973. The county also reported one new death, bringing its death toll to 145.

June 8, 3:20 p.m. As costly as the global pandemic has been in human lives lost, it could have been much worse.

A new, peer-reviewed study by UC Berkeley researchers published Monday in the journal Nature found that emergency health measures taken in six countries prevented about 530 million COVID-19 infections, of which 62 million would probably have been “confirmed cases.”

The analysis looked at 1,717 policies applied in China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France and the United States from the emergence of the virus in January to April 6.

For the U.S., interventions averted 4.8 million confirmed cases and 60 million total cases.

Read more from SFGATE's Mike Moffitt here.

June 8, 2:45 p.m. On Monday, Contra Costa County released a plan to open more business types by June 17 and July 1. The East Bay county will first allow hair salons and barbershops to open June 17, followed by a number of higher-risk businesses on July 1.

According to the plan, dine-in restaurants, bars, hotels, museums, indoor religious services, and, notably, gyms, are allowed to open at the start of July. Businesses offering "limited indoor leisure" — like arcades, billiards and bowling — can resume operations too.

The new guidelines follow Friday's relaxing of shelter-in-place restrictions, when Contra Costa announced outdoor dining, swimming pools, dog parks and outdoor religious services could reopen.

The county is notably moving faster than most of its Bay Area neighbors, including San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Solano County, however, has already begun to allow hair salons and dine-in restaurants to reopen.

Read more from SFGATE's Eric Ting.

June 8, 2:15 p.m. Below is a rundown of announcements from Bay Area counties of new coronavirus cases on Monday. This list will be updated as more counties release details.

—Alameda reported new cases to increase its total to 3,945. The death toll remains 101.

—Contra Costa reported new cases to increase its total to 1,706. The county also announced one additional death for a total of 40.

—Napa reported new cases to increase its total to 153. The death toll remains 10.

—San Francisco reported 32 new cases to increase its total to 2,779. The death toll remains 43.

—San Mateo announced 64 new cases, bringing its total to 2,394. The death toll remains 88.

—Santa Clara reported 31 new cases for a total of 2,973. The county also reported one new death, bringing its death toll to 145.

June 8, 2:00 p.m. Yosemite National Park could welcome visitors back as early as Wednesday or Thursday if state health officials ease coronavirus restrictions on lodging and campsites outside the park.

Officials of Mariposa, Tuolumne, Madera and Mono counties sent a June 1 letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health leaders urging them to approve a plan developed by park officials calling for reopening the park to the general public on or about June 11, according to the San Jose Mercury.

As a national park under federal jurisdiction, Yosemite does not need state approval to reopen. But an estimated 70 percent of overnight Yosemite visitors stay outside the park, at local hotels and campgrounds, which are currently are closed or open only to essential workers such as doctors and nurses. If this lodging isn’t available, where will the overnight tourists go?

Read more from SFGATE's Mike Moffitt.

June 8, 1:55 p.m. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra warned the public Monday afternoon that scammers are capitalizing on the coronavirus spread by posing as contact tracers in an effort to acquire sensitive personal information.

“Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for personal information such as your Social Security number or financial information. It sickens the soul that there are people out there who make it their business to scam you as most of us seek to band together to respond to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Attorney General Becerra in a statement. “I ask all Californians to be alert and protect your personal information. And if you see something, say something. We are working to track these imposters.”

Becerra added that such scammers are attempting to reach potential victims by phone calls, text and email.

June 8, 1:15 p.m. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said in a Monday press briefing that new guidance is available for schools reopening as the coronavirus continues to be a threat.

Across the state, the school experience will get an overhaul so "at the end of the day, even if it looks a little different, everyone is getting a high-quality education," Thurmond said.

The guidance suggests students be spaced six feet apart and have their temperatures taken before entering the campus.

It also recommends "students and staff should be wearing facial coverings," Thurmond said.

Read the full story on SFGATE.

June 8, 12:50 p.m. BART is increasing train service on its yellow line — which services Concord, Walnut Creek and Antioch — by adding several more trains per day to allow for social distancing as ridership begins to grow.

Beginning Monday, BART will add three more trains during typical commute hours, the agency announced.

Morning trains will be added beginning at the Pleasant Hill station at 6:16 a.m., 6:46 a.m. and 7:16 a.m. Three trains added in the afternoon from the Daly City station are scheduled to run at 3:55 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

June 8, 11:30 p.m. The World Health Organization said Monday that individuals who contract the coronavirus but don't show symptoms aren't propelling the spread of COVID-19.

“From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the emerging diseases and zoonosis unit for the WHO. “They’re following asymptomatic cases. They’re following contacts. And they’re not finding secondary transmission onward. It’s very rare.”

June 8, 10:30 a.m. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk partially reopened Saturday for pedestrians and diners.

Boardwalk spokesman Kris Reyes said restaurants and retail would be open for "guests to walk around, shop, eat, and sit much like they would on the Santa Cruz Wharf." Rides and attractions, however, are still closed.

Reyes did offer a potential reopening date window for such attractions, however, telling KSBW those may open "a few days after" June 12.

June 8, 10:15 a.m. Winery tasting rooms may now open in Sonoma and Napa counties, following an easing of restrictions related to the coronavirus. In Napa, officials stated that bars (including tasting rooms) as well as casinos, hotels, pro sports, museums and TV and film production may reopen as of June 5. Gyms, which had been included in the state plan for reopening, will not open in Napa County at this time.

In Sonoma County, restrictions were similarly lifted on wineries on June 6. Also allowed to reopen in the county are hair salons and restaurants, as long as social-distancing procedures are followed.

June 8 9:30 a.m. After confirming more than 2,190 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, the state of California has now recorded more than 130,000 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began.

On Friday, the state broke its record for the most newly confirmed cases in a single day, with 3,603 new positive tests.

The apparent surge in new cases, however, comes as testing becomes more widely available. As UCSF epidemiologist George Rutherford told SFGATE recently, positive test rates don't reflect the full picture.

"As testing increases, we're going to catch more of the asymptomatic cases, which we know make up a significant number of infections," he said. "What I walk around with in my head, based on data from China, is that 35 percent of infections are asymptomatic and another 25 percent are very mild, often so mild they may not come to medical attention. So that's 60 percent of infections that can go completely undetected."

June 8, 9:00 a.m. Hundreds of unsheltered individuals residing in San Francisco's District 10 — which includes the Bayview, Hunter's Point, the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill — showed up to be tested for the coronavirus over the weekend in a pop-up testing effort organized by UCSF and the United Council of Human Services.

Visitors were given the option of two tests: the swab test for COVID-19 and an antibody test to see if they may have already had the virus. They were also given a hot meal — barbecue — and access to veterinary care for pets. They did not need to show symptoms to be tested, though if they tested positive they were relocated to a hotel room to quarantine.

“We think this model between an academic institution and the community can come up with new ways to support people through this pandemic,” Dr. Margot Kushel, director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, told The Chronicle over the weekend.

June 8, 8:00 a.m. A modification to Alameda County's shelter-in-place order went into effect Monday allowing so-called "social bubbles."

A "social bubble" is defined as a group of 12 or fewer people from different households that should be maintained for a minimum of three weeks.

Members are still encouraged to wear face coverings at all times and practice social distancing. The social bubble should still only meet outdoors and agree to follow all the same rules.

Alameda is now also allowing childcare, extracurricular activities for children and some businesses to resume.

Read more about Alameda County's order here.

Over the weekend, many counties also opened up in restaurant dining  and hair salons. Here's a look at where dining and hair salons are open and closed across the Bay Area:

Outdoor dining at restaurants

Counties where outdoor dining is allowed: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma

Counties where outdoor dining is not allowed: Alameda, San Francisco

Indoor dining at restaurants

Counties where indoor dining is allowed: Napa, Solano, Sonoma

Counties where indoor dining is not allowed: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara

Barbershops/hair salons

Counties where barbershops and hair salons are open: Napa, Solano, Sonoma

Counties where barbershops and hair salons are not open: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara

To see the full lists of what’s open in your area, visit your county’s public health department website (linked below) for more information.

Coronavirus in the greater Bay Area: A county-by-county snapshot

ALAMEDA COUNTY: 3,945 confirmed cases, 101 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail and manufacturing

For more information on Alameda County, visit the public health department website.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: 1,706 confirmed cases, 40 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail and manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, outdoor dining, swimming pools, outdoor religious services.

For more information on Contra Costa County, visit the public health department website.

LAKE COUNTY: 30 confirmed cases

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail, manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, offices where telework is not possible, received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls and schools

For information on Lake County, visit the public health department website.

MARIN COUNTY: 625 confirmed cases, 17 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail and manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, outdoor dining, outdoor religious services.

Fore more information on Marin County, visit the public health department website.

MONTEREY COUNTY: 751 confirmed cases, 10 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail, manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, offices where telework is not possible, received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls and schools

For more information on Monterey County, visit the public health department website.

NAPA COUNTY: 153 cases, 3 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail, manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, offices where telework is not possible, received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, schools and hair salons

For more information on Napa County, visit the public health department website.

SAN BENITO COUNTY: 107 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail, manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, offices where telework is not possible, received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls and schools

For more information on San Benito County, visit the public health department website.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY: 2,779 confirmed cases, 43 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail and manufacturing

For more information on San Francisco County, visit the public health department website.

SAN MATEO COUNTY: 2,394 confirmed cases, 88 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail and manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, outdoor dining, swimming pools, outdoor religious services.

For more information on San Mateo County, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY: 2,973 confirmed cases, 145 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities; retail and manufacturing, pet grooming, outdoor dining

Fore more information on Santa Clara County, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: 234 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail, manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, offices where telework is not possible, received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls and schools

For more information on Santa Cruz County, visit the public health department website. 

SOLANO COUNTY: 590 confirmed cases, 23 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: All "low-risk" businesses that can comply with physical distancing guidelines; received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, schools, and hair salons

For more information on Solano County, visit the public health department website.

SONOMA COUNTY: 653 confirmed cases, 4 deaths

What's open beyond essential businesses: Outdoor businesses and activities, retail, manufacturing, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums, offices where telework is not possible, received state approval to open dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, schools, and hair salons.

For more information on Sonoma County, visit the public health department website.

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