Alameda County added to state’s virus watch list

Alameda County became California’s 30th county placed on the state’s watch list because of growing concerns over the coronavirus, health officials announced Sunday.

“While Alameda County has the highest number of cases among Bay Area counties, the County’s case rate is third highest in the Bay Area and less than half of California’s overall case rate,” said a statement released by county health spokeswoman Neetu Balram.

The state puts counties on its watch list if they exceed thresholds for certain criteria, including significant changes in coronavirus infection rates, increases in hospitalizations, and availability of ICU beds and ventilators.

In the past two weeks, Alameda

County averaged a virus case rate of 104 positive results per 100,000 people. The threshold to be placed on the list is 100 cases per 100,000, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Alameda County officials reported 240 cases Saturday for a total of 7,725 cases, according to data compiled by this news organization.

The county also reported one death Saturday for a total of 148 fatalities since the pandemic began in March.

“The magnitude of the change is above what would be expected as a result of the County’s substantial expansion of testing,” the statement said.

It added that after three consecutive days on the list, the county is subject to stateimposed restrictions and enforcement.

The surge in cases can be

attributed to a lack of face coverings and distancing and transmission among those at risk in skilled nursing homes, front-line workplaces and more.

California had a total of 318,706 cases after 1,539 positive results were reported

Sunday, according to this news organization’s coronavirus tracker.

Alameda County officials said the situation has been affected “by accelerated reopening across the region and state, as our residents often live, work and recreate across county boundaries.”

On July 1, state health officials said counties on the watch list were required to

close indoor activities for restaurants, wine tasting, movie theaters, zoos and museums and family entertainment centers for a minimum of three weeks.

Alameda officials said they plan to apply for state approval to allow county health officers to determine which activities could continue because they do not pose a big risk to the community.

According to the release, Alameda officials hope to continue with outdoor dining and outdoor zoo operations while on the watch list.

Santa Clara County — which has long had the state’s most restrictive public health order — was removed last week from the state’s list because its number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 did not

increase by 10% over three days.

The decision to remove Santa Clara from the list came after a confusing holiday weekend for the South Bay, where the state rejected Santa Clara County’s request to expand its reopening plan and sent armed agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to restaurants

in Morgan Hill and Gilroy to inform owners they were violating state orders and should shut down outdoor service or risk a citation.

Contra Costa, Marin and Napa are the other regional counties on the list, according to California officials.