Contra Costa: Most New Cases Of Coronavirus In 10 Days

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — The number of new cases of coronavirus in Contra Costa County had dwindled down into the single digits or the teens over the past week-and-a-half, but that changed on Tuesday health officials announced 23 newly confirmed cases. That's the highest number since April 17 when three dozen cases were reported. Since then, new cases had dipped down to just four on two occasions, including yesterday.

The positive news is that the death toll is holding at 25, where it's been since last Friday.

There are currently 27 people hospitalized for complication of COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus.

Beyond Contra Costa County some grim milestones were reached. The US has now reported more than a million confirmed cases, about a third of the world's total. There have been 216,160 deaths across the globe.

The US reports 58,126 deaths. California has experience 1,810 deaths and 45,497 confirmed cases.

All of the figures in this report were updated at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, California unveiled a four-stage process for easing the state's stay-home order during a news conference at midday by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Dr. Sonia Angell, the state's Public Health Officer. Newsom did not provide a timeline for when restrictions would be eased, but said the state was "weeks, not months, away from making meaningful modifications" to the order, assuming social distancing continues.

Most notably, California may reopen schools in late July or August, Newsom said, citing the need to make up for lost learning as the state's students have faced a rough transition to distance education. Lower-risk businesses would also be allowed during the same time frame, including manufacturing, retail that allows for curbside pickup and offices that are able to implement social distancing, Angell said.

As for completely lifting the state's stay-home order and allowing high-risk places like concert venues, live sports and convention centers to reopen, Angell said that will not happen until the state has access to therapeutic drugs to treat COVID-19. Experts have warned that that development may take months, if not years.

— Patch editor Nick Garber contributed to this article.

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