Coronavirus Cases In CoCo Now 51; Nat'l Guard Called Up

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — Contra Costa Health Services announced on Saturday that coronavirus cases have risen to 51. No new deaths were reported, just the one that was disclosed on Friday.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom called up the National Guard Friday to assist deliveries at the state's food banks.

Grappling with the coronavirus crisis, the governor said the executive order will provide short-term food security to isolated and vulnerable Californians and the short deployment will help to stabilize the immediate need of food banks.

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The governor's office noted that many food banks have been affected by a significant decline in volunteerism, impacting logistical and local infrastructure for food distribution. The California Guard will initially deploy personnel and logistical equipment to a food bank distribution warehouse in Sacramento County and will conduct immediate site assessments statewide for those counties that have requested short-term support and stabilization.

This short-term assistance from the California National Guard allows time to mobilize AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps and Local Conservation Corps members, and other volunteers where counties have identified serious gaps, the governor's office said.

The Contra Costa-Solano Food Bank has also begun planning new distribution locations. The food bank stated online, "There will be supplemental distributions starting next week utilizing our first drive-thru food assistance method. We are so thankful for the volunteers who stepped up to put together 1,000 of our new emergency food boxes on Thursday." The Contra Costa food group has a warehouse located in North Concord.

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The state's food deployment strategy also launches the Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, which calls on neighbors to be first line of support for California's most vulnerable residents who have been advised to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign is focused on older adults and promotes ways to safely check on your neighbors, family and friends, and will be run by California Volunteers, the state office tasked with engaging Californians in service, volunteering and civic action.

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