- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Public Health officer issues update on COVID-19 cases, skilled nursing facility outbreak
Lake County’s COVID-19 cases totaled 360 on Friday, said Dr. Gary Pace. That’s an increase of 36 over the previous Friday.
Of those, 38 are under active Public Health monitoring and 317 are recovered. None currently are hospitalized and five have died.
On Friday night, more than 731,000 cases and approximately 13,643 deaths were reported statewide by Public Health departments across California.
Lake County Public Health said 10,040 tests have been conducted locally.
On Friday, the California Department of Public Health said 11,796,970 tests have been conducted in the state, an increase of 133,046 over the prior 24-hour reporting period.
The state said local health departments have reported 33,307 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 157 deaths statewide.
In Lake County, Pace said Public Health is continuing to track an outbreak at a local skilled nursing facility.
Pace said he would not comment when asked to identify the specific facility.
He said Friday that the outbreak has resulted in four of the facility’s staff members testing positive. Five residents have contracted the virus, and two have died; those deaths were Lake County’s fourth and fifth COVID-19 deaths.
“Similar concerning situations have arisen in other counties around the state,” said Pace.
“The facility is working with local Public Health and state regulators to ensure everything is being done to protect staff and residents,” Pace said.
Pace told Lake County News that the facility has been working with Public Health and “reportedly following the protocols.”
He said the state has visited the facility with the outbreak and reviewed infection prevention issues.
“Of course this is a very concerning scenario in our community. And there has been a great deal of controversy about mask-wearing and general adoption of protective measures,” Pace said.
He said skilled nursing facilities are extremely vulnerable and have been successful in keeping the virus out until this point.
Pace said the virus is generally entering into workplaces through contacts outside of work – such as family and social gatherings.
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