Coronavirus Cases Surge In Santa Clara County

Los Gatos CA

04 December, 2020

5:51 PM

Description

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — County of Santa Clara officials said they are seeing alarming spikes in coronavirus cases at congregate settings, including homeless shelters and long-term care facilities. "These upticks are unfortunate indicators of the rapid and exponential rise of COVID-19 in our community, reaching our most vulnerable residents," the county's Public Health Department said in a statement. High community prevalence of COVID-19 means that despite safeguards and regular surveillance testing in congregate facilities, there is significantly increased risk that COVID-19 infections will come into a facility from the community, county officials said. Santa Clara County Deputy Health Officer Dr. George Han said in a statement that the case surge imperils the community's most vulnerable. "These outbreaks are an unfortunate reminder that increases in community transmission of COVID-19 threaten our most vulnerable communities," Han said. "Along with rising cases and increasing hospitalizations, this should serve as an alarm bell for each of us to take every possible step to reduce the spread of COVID-19." There had been relatively few cases of COVID-19 in the unhoused population until late November, when positive cases began emerging, coinciding with the sharp spike in community transmission. At the Boccardo Reception Center (BRC), an emergency shelter in San Jose for unhoused individuals, 20 positive tests were reported on Nov. 23, 26 positive tests were reported on Nov. 29, and 14 positive tests were reported on Dec. 2. Of the 60 total cases at BRC, four are staff and the rest are clients. At South Hall, another homeless shelter in San Jose, two positive tests were reported on Nov. 18, two positive tests were reported on Nov. 30, and three positive test results were reported on Dec. 2. Of the seven total cases at South Hall, one is a staff member and the rest are clients. Frequent testing is continuing at both sites and results are continuing to be reported. Shelter intakes were immediately suspended, and no new clients were referred to the shelters after the results of the first positive tests were received. All individuals who tested positive were contacted by the COVID-19 Shelter Hotline staff and placed in isolation hotel rooms for the duration of their isolation period. At BRC, County officials took the additional step of placing most clients, even those who tested negative for COVID-19, in hotel rooms as a precaution. The few clients who remain at BRC have all completed their isolation or quarantine period. The County is actively working with community partners and shelter operators to reinforce safety procedures, including prohibiting gathering at the shelters, including at mealtime and recreation, improving ventilation, enforcing mask wearing at all times, informing all residents of the scale of the outbreak, and taking any additional steps to prevent residents from coming near any other person especially when indoors. The significant recent uptick in cases across congregate settings also includes long-term care facilities. This is not unexpected given the widespread level of COVID-19 in the community. Since the outset of the pandemic, the County has actively investigated and responded to all concerns about potential cases of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, including licensed skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, and board and care facilities in the county. There are multiple investigations underway into outbreaks, including two significant outbreaks at facilities in San José. One facility has 151 total positive cases as of Dec. 2, including 81 among residents and 70 among staff, county officials said. The other facility has 86 total positive cases, with 66 among residents and 20 among staff as of Dec. 2. The county has specialized teams dedicated to investigating outbreaks and providing guidance and support to affected facilities. This includes assistance with testing and facilitating mutual aid requests for staffing support. County officials said they are devoting extensive resources to controlling these outbreaks. But they acknowledged that it is not enough without substantial efforts by every community member to do their part to reduce transmission by wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and avoiding contact with people outside their household.