ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — Confirmed cases new coronavirus, or COVID-19, continue to grow at an alarming rate in Alameda County, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department. As of Tuesday afternoon, the number of county residents with coronavirus has now reached 27. Yesterday the number was 18, and last Tuesday it was only 3.

The good news is that there are still no coronavirus-linked deaths in Alameda County. In neighboring Santa Clara County, confirmed cases are 155 and the death toll is 5. The fifth death was announced on Tuesday, a man in his 50s. A shelter-in-place order went into effect at midnight in Alameda County and in most other Bay Area counties.

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Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan said in a printed release, "Limiting interpersonal interactions is a proven strategy to slow and reduce viral spread and protect the most vulnerable among us — individuals who are 60 years of age and older, peoplewith chronic and underlying medical conditions, and people experiencing homelessness. Our counties share borders and many people live in one county and work in another. It's absolutely critical for us to be aligned on COVID-19 mitigation efforts."

Read the full Alameda County Shelter-In-Place Order. The number of coronavirus cases is expected to soar when more test kits become available.