COVID-19 deaths at seven for Placer County

On Wednesday, the Placer County Health Division reported a total of seven COVID-19 related deaths in Placer County. This is an increase of two deaths from Tuesday's count of five. Wednesday's death, as well as the death on Monday, were south Placer County area residents in the 65-and-over age group with underlying health conditions, according to the health division. The 65-and-over age group accounts for 22 percent of confirmed cases in Placer County, as of Tuesday, according to county statistics. All seven COVID-19 deaths in Placer County have been people who are age 65 or older with underlying health conditions, based on Gold Country Media reports. According to the county's latest COVID-19 statistics, south Placer accounts for 109 of the 129 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county, as of Wednesday. The areas of Mid Placer and East Placer account for 11 and nine confirmed cases respectively, according to county statistics Tuesday. Neighboring Sacramento County has 853 positive cases with 32 deaths, as of Tuesday, according to Sacramento County. The state of California has 23,338 cases and 758 deaths, as of Tuesday, according to the California Department of Public Health. On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced six key indicators that will guide California's officials for when and how to modify the COVID-19 pandemic's stay-at-home and other orders. During Tuesday's briefing, the governor said that the progress in flattening the curve, increased preparedness of the healthcare delivery system and the effects of other COVID-19 interventions have yielded positive results. However, Newsom said, these actions have also impacted the economy, poverty and overall health care in California. Any consideration of modifying the stay-at-home order must be done using a gradual, science-based and data-driven framework. "While Californians have stepped up in a big way to flatten the curve and buy us time to prepare to fight the virus, at some point in the future, we will need to modify our stay-at-home order," Newsom said. "As we contemplate reopening parts of our state, we must be guided by science and data, and we must understand that things will look different than before." Until immunity is built, Newsom said actions will be aligned to achieve the following: Ensure the ability to care for the sick at hospitals Prevent infection in people who are at high risk for severe disease Build the capacity to protect the health and well-being of the public Reduce social, emotional and economic disruptions. California's six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order, Newsom said, are: The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19 The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary. While there is not a precise timeline for modifying the stay-at-home order, according to Newsom, the six indicators will serve as the framework for making that decision.