Santa Clara County Reports 135 New Coronavirus Cases, 5 Deaths

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — The Santa Clara County Public Health Department reported 135 additional coronavirus cases Monday.

The latest report brings the countywide case count to 23,355.

The county reported five additional coronavirus-related fatalities Monday, bringing its COVID-19 death toll to 378.

There were 87 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Santa Clara County as of Monday, of which 24 were being treated in intensive care units.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the launch Monday of a scientific working group that will examine the safety of any coronavirus vaccine that receives federal approval.

The working group includes 11 epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists and other medical experts from across the state that will be tasked with independently reviewing vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Newsom said the Scientific Safety Review Workgroup will do so as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies like Pfizer and Moderna roll out their coronavirus vaccines into next year.

The state's independent review process will also remain in place regardless of who wins the November presidential general election, Newsom said.

Santa Clara County Supervisors Susan Ellenberg and Joe Simitian are proposing a $100 million loan program that would provide low-interest loans to small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19.

If the proposal is approved at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, county administration will come back with a report outlining program options during budget hearings in mid-November.

"COVID-19 has been an economic body blow for our county's small businesses and their employees," said Simitian. "These businesses are the backbones of our communities, providing employment and economic stability for residents across the county."

Bay Area Community Health is teaming with BART to offer free COVID-19 testing at the Union City Station, BART officials announced.

The station, at 10 Union Square, will be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering free testing to all community members.

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There have been 869,825 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 16,979 coronavirus-related deaths in California as of Monday afternoon according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The United States had 8,202,679 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 220,046 coronavirus-related fatalities as of Monday afternoon.

There have been 40,272,0898 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,116,167 deaths reported globally as of Monday afternoon.

— Bay City News contributed to this report