5 Weekend Coronavirus Deaths In CoCo; Hospitalizations Rise

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — There were five coronavirus deaths reported in Contra Costa County over the weekend, although no new deaths were recorded on Monday, according to health officials.

The death toll for Contra Costa County is now 169 since the start of the pandemic.

Another 204 cases were confirmed on Monday, bringing the county's cases to 12,869.

Especially troubling is that the number of hospitalizations is climbing again. The county reported 99 people are receiving treatment for COVID-19 complications, while across the Bay Area 647 people are hospitalized.

At the state capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that he plans to release concrete reopening guidelines later this week for counties that are removed from the state's coronavirus monitoring list. Contra Costa County has been on the Watch List for more than a month.

Most of the greater Bay Area's counties are on the Watch List for elevated coronavirus case and hospitalization levels. Napa and Santa Cruz counties fell off the list over the last 10 days, allowing them to reopen indoor operations for businesses like hair salons and gyms as well as places of worship.

However, the state has given little instruction to the eight counties that have fallen off the list in recent weeks about how quickly they can resume indoor operations for certain businesses.

Newsom said he discussed reopening guidelines over the weekend both with state and local public health officials and business leaders to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Falling off the monitoring list will also have consequences for schools, as counties that have been off the monitoring list for at least 14 days will be allowed to resume in-person classes. "We look forward to advancing the opportunity for those districts that are determined on the basis of local conditions, what they believe is in the best interest for their kids and moving back to in-person learning," Newsom said of counties not on the monitoring list. "They have that option."

Counties on the monitoring list, however, must continue with fully online classes indefinitely. A total of 35 counties in the state have been on the Watch List for at least three consecutive days.

State public health officials have now confirmed 668,615 coronavirus cases and 12,152 deaths across California.

The state's 14-day test positivity rate sits at 6.5 percent while the seven-day rate is down to 5.6 percent, Newsom said. The state continues to average over 100,000 tests per day.

— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story