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Santa Clara County had a record 512 COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour period the day before Thanksgiving and wasted no time cracking down on companies violating health orders.
As of November 27, Santa Clara County had 32,985 cases of COVID-19 and 545 deaths. In addition, 222 people have been hospitalized with the virus. Of these, 68 were in intensive care units and 193 out of 624 ventilators were in service.
The surging case rate alarmed health officials as hospitals prepared to admit more patients.
“We’re really, really worried,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 testing manager. “All the measures that we are monitoring and which have worked well in the previous months have increased significantly.”
In July, in the midst of a previous outbreak, the county’s highest case rate was 385 cases in a single day.
“We don’t want to be in a place where we see the kind of challenges in our hospitals that unfortunately some communities elsewhere in the United States and around the world have had to face,” said County Legal Counsel James Williams.
Authorities imposed immediate fines on businesses over Thanksgiving weekend for violating the health order. The county has lifted its grace period for businesses to fix problems before they are fined and pledged to crack down. And it did.
As of noon on November 27, the county had imposed 76 fines on local businesses. The main violations have been for not submitting and publishing revised rules on social distancing.
A county spokesperson said businesses will have 30 days to pay a fine, and business compliance officials will never ask for money up front. Officers will wear yellow vests and present identification.
Meanwhile, the county plans to offer COVID-19 testing by appointment next week in Los Gatos, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Palo Alto and will offer flu shots at the same time.
Walk-in testing is available in San Jose and Gilroy next week, but flu shots will only be available at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose.
The fairgrounds will also be the only test site open on Nov. 29 during Thanksgiving weekend.
Fenstersheib stressed that people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested, especially if they are in close contact with family members and colleagues.
“New studies have shown that the majority of transmissions are caused by people who are asymptomatic and who are unlikely to know that they are potentially transmitting the disease to family, colleagues and anyone they come in contact with,” said Fenstersheib. “They need to know they have the virus so they can isolate and break the chain of transmission, even if they don’t feel sick.”
Here’s where to get tested:
Appointment and appointment:
San jose
Santa Clara County Fairground Parking A (in front of the Blue Arch). Rendezvous behind the wheel, by bike and without an appointment.
Opposite the main entrance to the exhibition grounds, 344 Tully Road.
Meeting from December 1 to December 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. December 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be tests at the exhibition center on November 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
By appointment only:
The cats
LGS Adult Recreation Center, 208 E. Main St. By appointment only on November 30, 9:30 am to 4 pm
mountain view
Performing Arts Center, 500 Castro Street By appointment only on December 1, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cupertino
Cupertino Seniors Center, 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard. By appointment only on December 2, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Campbell
Orchard City Banquet Hall (in the Campbell Community Center), 1 W. Campbell Ave. By appointment only on December 3, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Palo Alto
Auditorium of the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road. By appointment only on December 4, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pop-up test sites:
No appointment necessary and only for people without symptoms. The flu test is not included:
San jose
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 N. White Road. December 1 – December 4, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Public Health Story Road Hub, 1775 Story Road. December 4, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Gilroy
South County Annex (formerly Del Buono Elementary), 9300 Wren Ave. December 1 – December 4, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact Mauricio La Plante at [email protected] or follow @mslaplantenews on Twitter.
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