Santa Clara County Reports 78 New Coronavirus Cases, 4 Deaths

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — The Santa Clara County Public Health Department reported 78 additional coronavirus cases Wednesday.

The latest report brings the countywide case count to 19,683.

The county reported four additional coronavirus-related fatalities Wednesday, bringing its COVID-19 death toll to 287.

There were 101 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Santa Clara County as of Wednesday, of which 36 were being treated in intensive care units.

Elsewhere in the Bay Area and beyond, with the COVID-19 pandemic remaining a public health threat, Contra Costa County health officials are advising against the usual Halloween traditions -- trick-or-treating, haunted houses, big parties -- to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

"COVID-19 can easily pass from person to person through close contact, and it's difficult to maintain a safe distance on porches and doorsteps, especially in neighborhoods where trick-or-treating is popular," according to a statement Wednesday from Contra Costa Health Services.

Health officials also warn that social distancing and mask wearing at Halloween parties, especially those that include alcohol, tends to break down as the events progress.

The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced Wednesday the eighth COVID-19-related death in the county.

The resident, a Hispanic man in his early 40s, had underlying health conditions, but COVID-19 was ruled the primary cause of death. He died in his home in South County, according to the public health division.

The county Public Health Communicable Disease Unit is currently investigating how he contracted the infection and contact tracing is underway.

Santa Cruz County has seen the rate of new cases drop, but the virus still disproportionately impacts residents of South County and members of the Latinx community.

A program to assist small landlords financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was approved Tuesday by San Mateo County supervisors. Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the Small Residential Rental Property Owner Assistance program, after allocating $2 million of federal funds towards its establishment on Aug. 4. Federal funding falls under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

President of the Board Warren Slocum said in August that the board is trying to create a "win-win" outcome.

"We're trying to create a situation that benefits small landlords as well as people and families so that they can stay in their homes and not end up homeless," Slocum said.

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There have been 769,513 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 14,632 coronavirus-related deaths in California as of Wednesday afternoon according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The United States had 6,616,458 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 196,436 coronavirus-related fatalities as of Wednesday afternoon.

There have been 29,674,488 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 937,204 deaths reported globally as of Wednesday afternoon.

— Bay City News contributed to this report

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