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Santa Clara and San Mateo counties have seen fewer patients with confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 in intensive care unit beds over the past week, according to the recent public data.
Santa Clara County reported a new total of 2,231 cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, May 3, and one death, for a total of 115. Of the 140 people hospitalized, 44 are in ICU, 33 fewer patients than a week earlier. On April 26, the county reported 77 patients in ICU.
In San Mateo County, the total number of coronavirus cases is 1,233 and the death toll remained at 51 as of Friday, May 1.
San Mateo County’s number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases in ICU has ebbed and flowed over the past week. As of Thursday, April 30, the county reported 17 patients with or suspected of having the coronavirus in ICU beds at its hospitals, the same as the day before. In the past week, the highest number of COVID-19 patients in ICU was 26 on Saturday, April 25.
Shelter-at-home orders
This week marked the announcement of extended stay-at-home orders in six Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, that go into effect on Monday, May 4.
Health officers for the counties issued revised orders on Wednesday, April 29, that largely retains restrictions that were previously in place but loosens some directives. The new orders allow gardeners and landscapers to resume all work and reclassifies construction and real estate as “essential business” that is permitted.
On Friday, May 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom indicated that California is now “many days, not weeks” away from loosening the statewide stay-at-home order in effect until the end of May.
Newsom didn’t provide a timeline for the changes, but said he’ll make an announcement on the topic sometime next week. The pending modifications come as the state reports a decrease in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and more resources for testing and personal protective equipment arrives.
COVID-19 case at juvenile hall
A youth admitted two weeks ago into the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall in San Jose tested positive for COVID-19, the county announced Friday, May 1.
“Best practices were used to protect both youth and staff from exposure in our facilities,” the county said in a statement, adding that the youth “is doing well.”
No further details were released by the county, except that the youth was never placed in general population, was isolated and moved to the medical clinic within the facility after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.
The county said additional youths and staff members are being tested for the coronavirus but that none of the tests have come back positive so far, though testing is not yet completed.
Couples can obtain marriage licenses remotely under new executive order
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Thursday allowing state residents to obtain marriage licenses remotely due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The order will allow couples to obtain a marriage license from their county clerk via video conference provided that both members of the couple are state residents and that they can both present a valid form of identification on the video call. The clerk will then email the licenses to the couple.
The state will also recognize marriages performed over video call as long as both members of the couple are present and there is at least one witness to the live ceremony.
The executive order will remain in effect for the next 60 days, according to Newsom’s office.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula’s response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and the Almanac here.
Bay City News Service contributed to this report
Bay City News Service contributed to this report
Bay City News Service contributed to this report
