COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations in San Joaquin County continue to show slight declines but are beginning to plateau.
That’s the assessment San Joaquin County Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park provided the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday regarding the current status of the pandemic.
Case rates have marginally declined from 15.6 cases per 100,000, down from 16.1 on Oct. 12. Park also said the testing positivity rate has stalled at 5 percent and hospitalizations have remained around 100 patients per day.
*Since the pandemic started in March 2020 there have been 100,005 total COVID-19 cases in the county and 1,775 deaths
*Currently there are 97 people hospitalized; 25 people in ICU; 14 people on ventilators
*60.3% (393,709 residents) are fully vaccinated and another 8.3% (52,992 residents) have received partial vaccinations through the county, as well as other multi-county entities, hospital systems, and pharmacies
*Hospital ICUs are over 95% full, but only 24% of hospital ICU beds are filled by COVID-19 patients
“The current plateau in testing, case rates and hospitalizations is concerning especially with the winter months approaching, more people gathering indoors during the holidays and the upcoming flu season,” Park said. “ We need to continue doing the work to get more people vaccinated and ensure they continue to wear masks and social distance inside public spaces in order to avoid another COVID outbreak surge.”
Park said some of the potential reasons for the plateau include the reopening of schools, a slow-down in vaccination rates, people being more relaxed with masking and social distancing, outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities and colder weather bringing people indoors where transmission is more likely.
The primary reason for COVID-19 cases within the county is due to the Delta variant as 95 percent of COVID cases are due to the variant.
San Joaquin County Clinics are now offering COVID-19 monoclonal anti-body treatment for patients 12 years and older with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The treatment can lower the amount of virus in the body, reduce symptoms and help avoid hospitalizations. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to call (209) 468-6820 to see if they are eligible and to schedule an appointment.
Park also gave the Board an update on vaccinations for 5–11-year-olds. She said that the county public health department has received an initial shipment of 1,100 Pfizer pediatric doses to administer to the younger population.
Park reiterated who is eligible for booster shots. She said people 18 years and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible to receive a booster 2 months after their initial shot. People who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccination are eligible to receive a booster 6 months after their second dose. She also emphasized that individuals could mix and match their vaccinations and do not need to get the same vaccine that they originally received.
