In a stark warning to Americans, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the United States is heading in the wrong direction in the fight against coronavirus and that the nation could be approaching a time when 100,000 cases are diagnosed each day.
“I am very concerned,” Fauci told a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.
Infections are rising rapidly mostly in parts of the West and South, and Fauci and other public health experts said Americans everywhere will have to start following key recommendations if they want to get back to more normal activities like going to school.
“We’ve got to get the message out that we are all in this together,” by wearing masks in public and keeping out of crowds, said Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.
In California, cases of COVID-19 continue to surge and Gov. Gavin Newsom will implement new statewide restrictions on Wednesday as a method to turn the tide. California has confirmed close to 223,000 infections, a nearly 50% increase over two weeks ago that has been driven in part by the state's ability to now test more than 100,000 people per day. But more concerning to officials is the steady growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations — a 43% increase in the past two weeks.
“The framework for us is this: If you’re not going to stay home and you’re not going to wear masks in public, we have to enforce —and we will,” Newsom said, adding the state will be “a little bit more aggressive as it relates to guidelines on Fourth of July.”
Earlier in the week Newsom ordered bars to close in several counties that are experiencing surges and recommend closures in other counties seeing a rise in cases, including Stanislaus County. Stanislaus County officials have not closed any bars to date, but are awaiting further instructions from the state.
"On Sunday, June 28th we learned that the State of California issued updated orders and recommendations for the closure of bars in many communities throughout the State, including Stanislaus County," said Stanislaus County CEO Jody Hayes. "We are seeking clarification from the State on what discretion, if any, we have as a local community to make this decision. We expect clarification within the next 24-48 hours. While we await this information, we must also delay any planned decisions and announcements regarding further reopening of personal services businesses. We recognize the confusion and associated impacts of these delayed actions and appreciate your patience as we work with the State to clarify these important issues."
Personal service businesses like tattoo parlors, spas, and nail salons were hoping they would be able to open by the first of July, but the rise in cases the area is experiencing has pushed the opening back to an undetermined date.
As of Tuesday, Stanislaus County has had 2,255 cases, with 474 currently presumed active and 44 deaths. Within the last 24 hours, Stanislaus County recorded 90 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths.
Of the 474 current cases, 142 are in the hospital, with 38 in ICU. Hospital bed availability is at 41 percent and ICU bed availability has fallen to 36 percent. Seventy-eight percent of the area's ventilators are available.
A total of 30,556 tests have been conducted in Stanislaus County. The current test positivity rate is at 7.4 percent.
Turlock residents now have an option for testing closer to home. OptumServe In-Office Testing in Patterson moved to Turlock on Monday and set up at the Rube Boesch Center at 275 N. Orange Street. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. To sign-up visit: https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call (888) 634-1123. This service is provided by the State of California Testing Task Force in conjunction with OptumServe.
“I am very concerned,” Fauci told a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.
Infections are rising rapidly mostly in parts of the West and South, and Fauci and other public health experts said Americans everywhere will have to start following key recommendations if they want to get back to more normal activities like going to school.
“We’ve got to get the message out that we are all in this together,” by wearing masks in public and keeping out of crowds, said Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.
In California, cases of COVID-19 continue to surge and Gov. Gavin Newsom will implement new statewide restrictions on Wednesday as a method to turn the tide. California has confirmed close to 223,000 infections, a nearly 50% increase over two weeks ago that has been driven in part by the state's ability to now test more than 100,000 people per day. But more concerning to officials is the steady growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations — a 43% increase in the past two weeks.
“The framework for us is this: If you’re not going to stay home and you’re not going to wear masks in public, we have to enforce —and we will,” Newsom said, adding the state will be “a little bit more aggressive as it relates to guidelines on Fourth of July.”
Earlier in the week Newsom ordered bars to close in several counties that are experiencing surges and recommend closures in other counties seeing a rise in cases, including Stanislaus County. Stanislaus County officials have not closed any bars to date, but are awaiting further instructions from the state.
"On Sunday, June 28th we learned that the State of California issued updated orders and recommendations for the closure of bars in many communities throughout the State, including Stanislaus County," said Stanislaus County CEO Jody Hayes. "We are seeking clarification from the State on what discretion, if any, we have as a local community to make this decision. We expect clarification within the next 24-48 hours. While we await this information, we must also delay any planned decisions and announcements regarding further reopening of personal services businesses. We recognize the confusion and associated impacts of these delayed actions and appreciate your patience as we work with the State to clarify these important issues."
Personal service businesses like tattoo parlors, spas, and nail salons were hoping they would be able to open by the first of July, but the rise in cases the area is experiencing has pushed the opening back to an undetermined date.
As of Tuesday, Stanislaus County has had 2,255 cases, with 474 currently presumed active and 44 deaths. Within the last 24 hours, Stanislaus County recorded 90 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths.
Of the 474 current cases, 142 are in the hospital, with 38 in ICU. Hospital bed availability is at 41 percent and ICU bed availability has fallen to 36 percent. Seventy-eight percent of the area's ventilators are available.
A total of 30,556 tests have been conducted in Stanislaus County. The current test positivity rate is at 7.4 percent.
Turlock residents now have an option for testing closer to home. OptumServe In-Office Testing in Patterson moved to Turlock on Monday and set up at the Rube Boesch Center at 275 N. Orange Street. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. To sign-up visit: https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call (888) 634-1123. This service is provided by the State of California Testing Task Force in conjunction with OptumServe.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
