SAN PABLO — Contra Costa County health leaders called for more effort from residents on the final day of what’s been the worst month in California during the coronavirus pandemic.
The state has seen 15 days with more than 100 deaths from COVID-19, according to data compiled by this news organization. Before July, only 100 or more deaths in a day were recorded only six times.
“If we don’t get serious now, ashes, ashes, we all fall down,” said Dr. Desmond Carson, a Bay Area hospital doctor who said he has seen the repercussions of folks being too casual with social-distancing guidelines.
Carson questioned why — if the National Guard was deployed for protests — they weren’t responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The National Guard needs to come and tell these fools who don’t want to wear a mask that they’re wearing it or they’re going home,” Carson said. “There have been 134,000 people have died in this country and there hasn’t been a response to stem it. The stemming has to come.”
Friday’s news conference comes on the heels of the news that July was California’s worst month for coronavirus cases.
In Contra Costa County, the numbers have reflected that spike. The death toll in July grew from 79 to 119, and the number of cases grew by 4,470, an average of 144 per day. The county’s overall death and case total are the third-most in the state.
Just as concerning, the number of intensive-care unit beds being used by patients increased from 124 on June 30 to 152 on July 31. In all, 76% (152 of 199) ICU beds in the county were being used, up from the 47% that were being used at the end of June.
Leaders announced Friday that new testing sites will be coming to the county.
Check back for updates.
