Coronavirus updates: Solano County extends shelter-in-place order to May 17

FILE -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed, speaks about new measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in San Francisco, Monday, March 16, 2020. Breed announced a shelter in place order days before the rest of California and nearly a week before New York. less FILE -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed, speaks about new measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in San Francisco, Monday, March 16, 2020. Breed announced a shelter in place order days before the ... more Photo: Jim Wilson / New York Times Photo: Jim Wilson / New York Times Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close Coronavirus updates: Solano County extends shelter-in-place order to May 17 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

LATEST, April 24, 8:23 p.m. Solano County extended its shelter-in-place order through May 17, according to a statement by the county Public Health Department.

Health officer Dr. Bela Matyas cited Solano County's 199 coronavirus cases and four deaths, as well as the number of cases and fatalities in surrounding counties, as reasons to extend the order.

April 24, 3:10 p.m. During a press conference at the White House, FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn stated that over 220 labs across the country are working to develop self-validated tests for COVID-19.

The FDA approved the first such at-home test earlier this week, and Hahn is optimistic more will be on the market soon. Vice President Mike Pence stated that as testing ramps up, the country should expect to see the number of cases rise, but should not be discouraged. The vice president cited "very positive" declining hospitalization and death figures as evidence the country has hit a plateau in the pandemic.

President Donald Trump did not take questions from reporters during the very short briefing. The president has been under fire after suggesting scientists "check" whether injecting disinfectants could help combat the virus.

The president's comments prompted the maker of disinfectants Lysol and Dettol to warn against such injections.

April 24, 2:30 p.m. SFPD Chief Bill Scott reported Friday that officers have issued 17 citations — eight to businesses and nine to individuals — to those who have disobeyed the shelter-in-place and social distancing orders.

In addition, the SFPD has formally admonished 73 people, meaning an incident report was taken, and issued “hundreds upon hundreds” of informal warnings.

Chief Scott also noted an 18% increase in violent crimes, led by 11 more robberies and 2 additional assaults. There was also, however, a 31% decrease in property crime over the last week (a decrease of 154 fewer prop crimes). In all, there was a 25% decrease in total Part I crimes.

April 24, 1:40 p.m. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a press conference Friday that the public health order to socially distance and shelter in place, currently set to expire May 3, is “very likely” to be extended.

“What that means is another few weeks, or another month of asking you all to comply to remain at home and continue to follow the social distancing orders we’ve put forth.”

The mayor also addressed the ongoing challenge of securing vital PPE needed for city hospitals. As has been reported in other municipalities, Breed noted multiple occurrences of San Francisco’s PPE orders being diverted to other U.S. cities and other countries.

“We’ve had issues of our orders being relocated by our suppliers in China,” she explained. “For example, we had isolation gowns on their way to San Francisco and they were diverted to France. We’ve had situations when things we’ve ordered that have gone through Customs were confiscated by FEMA to be diverted to other locations. We know everyone is dealing with a serious challenge. Through customs we’ve had situations where those items have been taken and put out on the market for the highest bidder, putting cities against cities and states against states.”

Breed added that the fact she and other mayors and governors are still having to grapple with the issue of getting PPE “blows my mind.”

“We wanted to make sure as you hear about some of these challenges, you’re aware of why they are challenges. I know it seems as though it should be a lot simpler: We have the money to purchase the PPE, why can’t we purchase the PPE?”

April 24, 1 p.m. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced at a Friday press conference a new program with FEMA to deliver three meals a day to eligible seniors amid a stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic.

The effort is built on a partnership between local governments and restaurants that will prepare and deliver the meals.

Newsom said the hospitality industry has been “ravaged” by the crisis. He called the new program the “first in the nation” and said it has a goal of getting isolated seniors nutritious food and helping restaurants reopen and rehire workers.

The federal government will pay for 75% of the program and local jurisdictions will be required to cover 25%.

“We want to make sure we’re focused on locally produced produce,” he said. “We want to connect our farms with our restaurants.”

Seniors will need to meet certain requirements in order to receive the free meals and can call their local 211 line or visit COVID19.ca.gov

to find out if they’re eligible.

“It’s not just about the meals,” he added. “It’s about a human connection. It’s about someone delivering those meals and checking in.”

Newsom also announced the new statewide Friendship Phone Line (888-670-1360), a number older people can call for emotional support.

"Make that phone call if you need a little bit of emotional support, or if you just want to emote and communicate with the person on the other end of the line," the governor said.

Newsom has said the stay-at-home order will be relaxed in the future, but today he made clear that seniors may be required to stay home longer than others. “Our seniors remain our most vulnerable population,” he said. “We are going to be particularly sensitive to any augmentation of the stay-at-home order in regard to our seniors.”

April 24, 12:30 p.m. Top Navy officials are recommending that Capt. Brett E. Crozier be restored to command of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.

Crozier, who was ousted after sounding the alarms over a coronavirus outbreak on his ship, contacted the virus himself and has been in self-isolation. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper received the recommendation on Thursday.

Read more.

April 24, 12:00 p.m. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths rose in the East Bay on Friday.

Alameda County reported 51 new cases and two new deaths, bringing its totals for the two metrics up to 1,401 and 48, respectively. Contra Costa County reported 16 new cases, increasing its total to 786. The death toll remained at 23.

In the South Bay, Santa Clara County reported 35 new cases and three new deaths. The county, with 2,018 confirmed cases, is the only Bay Area county to cross the 2,000 confirmed case threshold. Santa Clara County's 98 deaths are also the most across the Bay Area.

April 24, 10:30 a.m. The Center for Disease Control has added six new COVID-19 symptoms to its official page.

In addition to the original three listed symptoms of fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, the CDC now identifies the following six symptoms as signs of a potential coronavirus infection:

- Chills

- Repeated shaking with chills

- Muscle pain

- Headache

- Sore throat

- Loss of taste or smell

April 24, 9:55 a.m. In a press conference from the House Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke to the recently passed $484 billion replenishing the fund intended to benefit hospitals and small businesses, and to the president’s efforts to privatize the USPS amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Asked about how much future funding might be included in a new package to benefit state and local governmental priorities, Pelosi said she wasn’t yet sure.

“[It will] probably [be] a number equivalent to what we’ve done for small businesses,” she responded. “But I don’t know, we’re asking them for an evaluation for what is the need, what is the capacity, what can you spend and the rest. A lot of the money they’re getting is money already spent on the coronavirus and again, loss of revenue. They had a number but that was a couple weeks ago — that may have changed.”

Pelosi also voiced stern opposition to the president’s interest in privatizing the US Post Office, noting it has an approval rate of 90% and that “it’s a necessary connection for the American people.”

“This is about somebody on the outside making money on the post office,” she said. “If we don’t have the postal system … at this time of the coronavirus when vote by mail is so important as a health issue, but also medicine and all the rest,[when] people are depending on so many things they’re ordering to come by mail. To be toying with this notion that they’re going to privatize by mail is something the public should be aware of and reject. We had money — it was bipartisan, we had support in the senate — they told me it came right from the president: No money for the post office. Instead, inject Lysol into your arm as we shut down the states.”

April 24, 9:45 a.m. Californians won't be charged 10 cents per bag at the grocery store and retailers can again hand out thinner, single-use plastic bags under an executive order signed Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

It's a change that retailers have wanted for weeks, as many major grocery chains have stopped letting customers bring in reusable bags over fears of spreading the new coronavirus.

Read more

April 24, 9:30 a.m. The coronavirus death toll in the United States has crossed 50,000, according to data from John Hopkins University.

Half of the country's deaths have come from New York and New Jersey, as there are at least 26,000 deaths between the two states. California has the ninth-most deaths, behind New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Louisiana.

April 24, 9 a.m. The San Francisco Department of Public Health updated its coronavirus dashboard to reflect 38 new cases and one additional death. The case total is now 1,340 and the death toll 22.

San Mateo County announced 22 new cases and two additional fatalities with its case total now at 989 and death total at 41.

April 24, 8:20 a.m. The California Department of Motor Vehicles is waiving late fees and extending deadlines for several services, including expired vehicle registrations and licenses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The DMV is waiving late fees and penalties for vehicle registration renewals due between March 16 and May 31. The requirement to have current license plate stickers is also waived for vehicles with registration expiring between March 4 and June 30, 2020. Find more details on the DMV website.

April 24, 8:15 a.m. The San Francisco-based tech company Slack said it won't open its office until Sept. 1 and employees will continue to work from home.

"Keeping offices closed and embracing remote learning for a longer period means less exposure for our employees, few evasive distancing measures in offices, less disruption for customers and greater flexibility in weathering a potential second wave of the virus," the company said in a statement.

Slack closed its offices on March 18 and said its team has successfully adapted to remote operations. Employees who can't work at home are continuing to receive pay, including contractors and people paid hourly according to the statement.

Cumulative cases in the greater Bay Area (due to limited testing these numbers reflect only a small portion of likely cases):

ALAMEDA COUNTY: 1,401 confirmed cases, 48 deaths

For more information on Alameda County cases, visit the public health department website.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: 786 confirmed cases, 23 deaths

For more information on Contra Costa County cases, visit the public health department website.

LAKE COUNTY: 6 confirmed cases

For information on Lake County and coronavirus, visit the public health department website.

MARIN COUNTY: 212 confirmed cases, 12 deaths

Fore more information on Marin County cases, visit the public health department website.

MONTEREY COUNTY: 164 confirmed cases, 4 deaths

For more information on Monterey County cases, visit the public health department website.

NAPA COUNTY: 58 cases, 2 deaths

For more information on Napa County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN BENITO COUNTY: 47 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

For more information on San Benito County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY: 1,340 confirmed cases, 22 deaths

For more information on San Francisco County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN MATEO COUNTY: 989 confirmed cases, 41 deaths

For more information on San Mateo County cases, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY: 2,018 confirmed cases, 98 deaths

Fore more information on Santa Clara County cases, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: 115 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

For more information on Santa Cruz County cases, visit the public health department website.

SOLANO COUNTY: 199 confirmed cases, 4 deaths

For more information on Solano County cases, visit the public health department website.

SONOMA COUNTY: 217 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

For more information on Sonoma County cases, visit the public health department website.

In California, 1,533 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. For comparison, New York has 20,982, New Jersey 5,426 and Illinois 1,688.





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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.