Bay Area: The local Bay Area region barely remains greater than 15% capacity

SANTA CRUZ >> Just before the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency’s coronavirus data dashboard was updated to reflect a total of 60 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom gave an overview of where each of the five Regional Stay-At-Home order groupings fell in terms of ICU capacity.

By the skin of its teeth, Santa Cruz County, which is in the Bay Area region, stayed above the 15% ICU capacity marker. So, at 15.8% ICU capacity, counties like Santa Cruz that have not elected to voluntarily enter into the order continue to operate under purple-tier restrictions. But staying above the dotted line does not mean things have leveled out; in fact, the county has seen 1,300 cases since Thanksgiving. The county said in a tweet that after the pandemic began, it took more than six months for the county to reach that point.

Data from county spokesman Jason Hoppin shows that all five of the county’s most recent deaths are deaths of residents that once occupied beds at three different skilled nursing facilities: Santa Cruz Post Acute, Pacific Coast Manor in Capitola and Montecito Manor in Watsonville. Montecito Manor did not reply to a query before publishing.

Previously, the California Department of Social Services had not shown any indication that an outbreak — just one case of the virus at congregate living facilities — had occurred at the Watsonville facility it licenses. At the time of reporting, CDSS showed less than 11 residents and less than 11 staff members at Montecito Manor had an active case of COVID-19.

The 56th fatality was a woman at least 90 years of age with underlying health conditions that contributed to her death; she was a resident of Pacific Coast Manor. Her death certificate provided to the county does not indicate an ethnicity.

The 57th fatality was a white man in his 60s with no underlying health conditions that could have contributed to his death; he was a resident of Santa Cruz Post Acute.

The 58th fatality was an Asian woman at least 90 years of age who had underlying health con

ditions that contributed to her death; she was a resident of Pacific Coast Manor.

The 59th fatality was a white man at least 90 years of age who had no underlying health conditions that could have contributed to his death; he was also a resident of Pacific Coast Manor.

Lastly, the 60th fatality was a white woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions that contributed to her death. She was the resident of Montecito Manor, the first reported case and death at what was once Watsonville Community Hospital.

Data from the CDPH shows that all of the county’s skilled nursing facilities have been reporting their cases. Today, less than 100 residents and less than 100 facility staff members are infected with COVID-19. But in total, 230 residents have tested positive and 158 staff members have tested positive. The case numbers have only increased since the month began. Seven facilities licensed by CDPH have recorded outbreaks since the pandemic began.

The CDSS recorded 54 total cases between residents and staff at residential care facilities in Santa Cruz County. Four facilities licensed by CDSS have recorded outbreaks since the pandemic began.

Today, less than 100 residents and less than 100 facility staff members are infected with COVID-19. But in total, 230 residents have tested positive and 158 staff members have tested positive.