• Donate
  • Subscribe
  • logo
  • logo
  • REGIONS
    • North County
    • Central County
    • South County
  • NEWS
    • Economy
    • Education
    • Emergencies & Disasters
    • Government
    • Health & Wellness
    • Housing & Homelessness
    • Outdoors
    • Podcasts
    • Politics & Elections
    • Safety, Security & Justice
    • Transportation
    • Water, Power & Waste
    • Youth Media
  • ARTS & CULTURE
    • Culture
    • Dance
    • Food
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Visual Arts
  • COLUMNISTS
    • Norberto Santana, Jr.
    • Anne Marie Panoringan
    • Paul Hodgins
    • Julie Leopo
  • INVOLVEMENT
    • Community Opinion
    • Press Releases
  • ABOUT
    • Mission & Values
    • Civic Engagement
    • Impact & Honors
    • Inside the Newsroom
    • Staff & Contact Us
    • Support & Partnerships
    • Archives
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
We have been your lifeline during the pandemic, economic fallout, wildfires, protests and the election. Support us today with a tax-deductible donation.
Orange County Coronavirus

Orange County and State Officials Say Coronavirus Impact May Not as Bad as Initial Estimates [April 10 update]

SPENCER CUSTODIO, Voice of OC

An ambulance is loaded with equipment next to a Hoag Hospital emergency room entrance in 2019.

By Spencer Custodio Spencer Custodio | April 10, 2020
590 Shares
Share585
Tweet5
Reddit
Email

California and Orange County officials are now expecting the surge of hospitalizations from the new coronavirus pandemic to be less than what was initially projected, which they largely attribute to broad stay home orders. 


Editor’s Note: As Orange County’s only nonprofit & nonpartisan newsroom, Voice of OC brings you the best, most comprehensive local Coronavirus news absolutely free. No ads, no paywalls. We need your help. Please, click here to make a tax-deductible donation today to support your local news.


Gov. Gavin Newsom showed updated modeling at a Friday news conference, which indicates less hospitalizations than initially estimated. 

“It’s also going to be a cautionary tale because if we pull back from that effort you will see numbers that will change dramatically,” Newsom said. 

As of Thursday, the virus has killed 17 people in Orange County out of 1,138 confirmed cases. There’s also 124 people currently hospitalized, with 57 in intensive care units, according to the latest publicly released OC Health Care Agency statistics.  

California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, said Newsom’s stay home orders and the six-foot physical distancing measure is working because the hospitalization rate is lower than expected. 

“This is actually signaling to us that our peak may not be as high as we planned around and expected,” said Ghaly, adding that current projections nearly mirror what the current hospitalization rate is. 

Orange County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick also has said she believes the county is heading in the right direction. 

“Overall, we believe our trend is headed in the right direction, and that’s related to the number of new cases we’ve seen over a period of time,” Quick said at a Thursday news conference. 

“We are basing our response on the idea of planning for a surge in our health care system, and we are working actively with the state, as well as our region, to ensure that we have enough hospital beds,” Quick said. 

Quick said Orange County’s virus case count trend shows that physical distancing and stay home orders are working. 

“We have reason to be hopeful that this is working. I want to remind everybody that this doesn’t mean we can lessen up on any of this, we still need people to stay home and only come out for essential activities,” she said.

But, Quick said, there’s still a shortage in testing kits, which is a nationwide problem. 

Meanwhile, County officials continue scrambling to get medically vulnerable and elderly homeless people into hotels as the new coronavirus continues to spread throughout the county. 

The first attempt at getting beds at the Ayres Hotel in Laguna Woods fell apart last week after residents protested the site. The city’s population is largely senior residents, who the CDC said the virus will impact more than younger people. 

At Tuesday’s news conference, County CEO Frank Kim said a contract with a Stanton hotel was finalized, along with with the Ayres Hotel in Orange. 

“Without a hotel or motel to help isolate this population, it exposes the entire community,” said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett at the news conference.  

“Hotels and motels across Orange County are working with us,” she said. “The county simply cannot take a hotel, the property has to be offered to us.”  

Bartlett has questioned the policy of renting motel rooms as opposed to purchasing such facilities in order to transition them to permanent supportive housing later. 

There has been no public update on a proposal to house homeless at regional park areas with sprung structures or the work being done at the Joplin Youth Center in nearby Trabuco Canyon area to also house particularly vulnerable homeless people.

State officials have sent trailers to Anaheim, Santa Ana and the OC Fairgrounds for emergency housing. Anaheim and Santa Ana’s trailers are aimed at housing homeless individuals in city shelters who are either medically vulnerable or tested positive for the virus. It’s still unclear what the next steps at the fairgrounds are. 

Here’s the latest on the virus numbers across Orange County: 

Spencer Custodio is a Voice of OC staff reporter. You can reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.

Reporter Nick Gerda contributed to this story. 

Digital Editor Sonya Quick Contributed to this story. 

How can I sign up for a vaccine?

For full details on the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County view our Voice of OC vaccine page that is constantly updated and has links of where to register for an appointment: http://bit.ly/occovidvaccine.

What is COVID-19? Do I have it?

INFORMATION View the CDC website. View OC's website. View the latest OC case counts.

TRANSLATIONS See the county's guides in non-English languages. Learn key Coronavirus facts in Vietnamese and Spanish via VietRise. See VietRISE guides in Spanish and Vietnamese.

PROTECTION To limit exposure, the CDC recommends: wash your hands often, avoid close contact with others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth mask when around others, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

SYMPTOMS The CDC identifies these key symptoms that can occur any time between 2 and 14 days after exposure: Fever or chills, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches,  headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect Coronavirus, CALL your primary medical provider.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS If you display any of the following emergency warning signs, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.

RISK The CDC identifies people most at risk for serious illness: Older adults, and people who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

What is open?

RESIDENTS The County of Orange offers a list of notices and news on what guidance is given for families and persons.

SCHOOLS The latest information for the county is available from the Orange County Board of Education.

STATE GUIDE TO WHAT IS OPEN A full list of statewide guidelines for what is open and what is closed.

SOCIAL DISTANCING Staying away from other people is called "social distancing." The aim is to SLOW the spread of Coronavirus so as to not overwhelm the nation's health care systems and so that people in need can get help. The Washington Post explains: "The spread (of COVID-19) can be slowed, public health professionals say, if people practice "social distancing" by avoiding public spaces and generally limiting their movement."

What support is available?

STRESS & ANXIETY Stress and anxiety can be triggered by the situation and resources are available to help from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and from the American Psychology Association. Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious, here are tips on talking with children about COVID-19.

MENTAL HEALTH The County of Orange offers a list of available mental health support services.

FIRST RESPONDERS The County of Orange offers these support services for first responders and health care workers.

BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS The County of Orange offers a list of up-to-date guidelines for business and faith-based/community organizations.

FOOD ASSISTANCE Voice of OC offers a weekly list of available food pantries in Orange County. You can also apply for food benefits over the phone through the CalFresh program at 800-281-9799 or online.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Buses and trains still offer service, but routes have been reduced so make sure to check your route ahead of time.

HOMELESSNESS The County of Orange offers a list of available shelter beds and other resources.

GENERAL FINANCIAL HELP Here are some services:

  •   • Find information on unemployment and disability benefits.
  •   • The Orange County Social Services Agency, despite closing its lobby, is processing online filings for assistance programs. This includes emergency cash assistance for immediate needs like rent or medical bills. The phone line has averaged a 30 minute wait time and offers a callback service, but people are encouraged to apply for benefits online.
  •   • Residents can apply for any of these programs by calling 800-281-9799.

RESTAURANT OWNERS & EMPLOYEES You can find a detailed list of resources available to restaurant owners and employees

How can I help?

VOLUNTEERING A statewide guide offers examples of ways to volunteer safely during Coronavirus. Options include, but are not limited to: donating plasma, making cloth face masks and supporting local food banks. Orange County's Second Harvest Food Bank lists support options online.

DONATIONS An Orange County Community Resilience Fund has been started through the OC Community Foundation to raise money for local nonprofits and volunteer organizations.

Since you've made it this far,

You are obviously connected to your community and value good journalism. As an independent and local nonprofit, our news is accessible to all, regardless of what they can afford. Our newsroom centers on Orange County’s civic and cultural life, not ad-driven clickbait. Our reporters hold powerful interests accountable to protect your quality of life. But it’s not free to produce. It depends on donors like you.
Become a Supporter

DISCUSSION:

Have an opinion on this story? Join the conversation... In lieu of comments, we encourage readers to engage with us across a variety of mediums. Join the open conversation on our Facebook page. Message us via our website form or staff page. Send us a secure news tip. Share your thoughts in a community opinion piece.

ABOUT US: Mission | Editorial Policies | Contact Us | Funding | Privacy Policy

CORONAVIRUS: The latest Orange County news and information.

SUBTOPICS:
  • Countywide
  • Emergencies & Disasters
  • Top Stories
  • County Government
  • Orange County Coronavirus
  • Orange County Health Department

RELATED STORIES:

  • Orange County Hospitals Brace for Coronavirus Surge Mode

    OC hospitals are preparing to enter surge mode as the county saw another bump in coronavirus hospitalizations, while the virus continues to spread.

  • OC Hospitals at Risk from Virus Surge, Health Officials Say, Urging Masks and Physical Distance

    OC health officials are issuing a dire warning about an ongoing surge of coronavirus patients at local hospitals they expect to worsen in the coming weeks.

Orange County's Nonprofit & Nonpartisan Newsroom

 

© Copyright 2021, Voice of OC

Voice of OC is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑