Expanded Testing Pilot, Case Updates, and more COVID-19 News

COVID-19 Updates

While there is no COVID-19 town hall today, below is the latest updates.

Case and Testing Updates

As of Friday, August 7, Berkeley has 422 confirmed cases and 4 deaths. This is an increase of 60 cases and 1 death over the past two weeks. 20,420 tests have been conducted on Berkeley residents. This is an increase of 3,374 since two weeks ago. Over the last seven days there has been an average of 235 tests per day.

On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health announced that their disease registry system (CalREDIE) is experiencing technical issues that are resulting in an underreporting in the number of cases and tests. It is not known to what extent the underreporting is. This is not impacting the number of hospitalizations and deaths being reported, and everyone who has tested positive has been notified.

Beginning today, and lasting through Friday, August 14, the second phase of a pilot program for a self-administered COVID-19 test will take place at the Berkeley Adult School at 1701 San Pablo Ave. An appointment is required, which you can register here. The test is an oral fluid test (which involves swabbing of the mouth), with results returned within 24-48 hours. A two day pilot program took place last week, in which over 500 people were tested. All slots were reserved within six hours of that announcement.

Indicator Updates

Below is the latest indicators as of August 6th. You can find a visual representation of the data and future updates on our Indicator Dashboard. Because of the statewide data reporting delays, the listed numbers for positive cases and tests completed on Berkeley residents in this week’s report are incomplete. Based on the data available, this is what we know as of today:

Indicator 1: Cases & Hospitalizations Flat or Decreasing

Current status:

Number of cases identified in Berkeley is increasing. There were 74 new cases reported in the last 14 days
Number of hospitalized patients in Alameda County has decreased slightly, with 11 fewer people hospitalized for COVID-19 than two weeks ago

Goal not currently met.

Indicator 2: Sufficient Hospital Capacity to meet community needs

Success criteria: No more than 50% of patients in staffable non-surge hospital beds in Alameda County are COVID-19 positive.

Goal currently met.

Indicator 3: Sufficient Testing Capacity

Success criteria: Sufficient COVID-19 viral detection tests are being conducted each day through private and public sites. The goal for Berkeley is 245 tests per day.

Over the last two weeks, an average of 213 tests per day have been reported for Berkeley residents, no matter where they were tested -- private hospitals, labs or our City site.

We know this testing number is incomplete due to the state’s data reporting delays, but do not know the extent of the underreporting. The information we have is insufficient to determine whether we truly missed the target.

N/A - insufficient data

Indicator 4: Sufficient Disease Containment (case investigation, contact tracing, and isolation/quarantine)

Success criteria:

90% of all cases are reached and contacts identified - currently at 79%
90% of cases that we reach are isolated safely -- currently at 74%
90% of all contacts identified -- currently at 86%
90% of identified cases can safely quarantine -- currently at 82%

Disease containment is a critical tool in this phase of the pandemic and reflects significantly increased staffing for contact tracing. This allows us to see how quickly we move to isolate or quarantine people -- essential tasks in limiting the spread of disease.

There appear to be several reasons for the shortfall. People are not answering phones and not always providing information on contacts. Delays in testing are also impacting the number of people being able to be isolated safely.

We sent a message to community members this week asking everyone to self-isolate if they have COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of whether they have received a positive test result.

Goals currently not met

Indicator 5: Sufficient Personal Protective Equipment

Success criteria:

At least 30-day supply of PPE for all health care providers - Goal Met
No hospitals, clinic, skilled nursing facility, other long term care facility, or first responder agency is struggling with obtaining PPE to submit a request for assistance - Goal Not Met
None have needed to submit a resource request for assistance in obtaining PPE to EOC in the last 14 days - Goal Not Met

Overall Goal not currently met.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people who refuse to wear a mask be fined?

The City Council will be voting on whether or not to authorize the leveraging of fines for those who do not wear a mask at the next City Council meeting, on September 15th. Several regional jurisdictions, including Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and San Mateo Counties, have recently implemented such fines. There are currently no fines in Alameda County. In the meantime, City staff have been visiting areas where there have been reports of people not wearing masks, such as in parks, and handing out masks to those who do not have one.

What happens when a business has an outbreak?

When an employee tests positive, the business must contact the Public Health Division. They must provide the exposure dates and information regarding close contacts (defined as being within six feet of someone for at least 15 minutes). The business must also notify those who have been exposed and order them to quarantine for 14 days and encourage them to get tested. If they test negative, they still must quarantine for 14 days. To protect privacy, the name of the infected employee must not be revealed. Additional information, including forms and how to communicate with the City, can be found here.

I have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and cannot pay rent. What can I do?

No one can be evicted during the COVID-19 crisis for non-payment of rent. Tenants will have one year after the state of emergency ends to repay rent. If a tenant fails to pay rent after that deadline, they still cannot be evicted for this reason, but property owners can sue for unpaid rent at that time. If you are unable to pay rent, you need to notify your landlord within seven days of when the rent is due. If you receive an eviction notice, contact the Rent Board immediately at rent@cityofberkeley.info or 510-981-7368. Additional information for tenants and landlords can be found here.

The City has partnered with the Eviction Defense Center in providing grants to tenants who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. If you need rental assistance, please call the Eviction Defense Center at 510-452-4541 to see if you qualify for the Berkeley Housing Retention Grant.

When will further relaxations of the Shelter in Place Order take place?

Further relaxations are currently on pause due to the number of cases and hospitalizations. The data from the indicators above will guide any decision making as to when it is safe to further reopen. Under the Alameda County plan for reopening, the next phase will include indoor dining (at limited capacity), salons/barber shops, pools, and schools. There is no estimated date as to when this will happen.

Next Town Hall on Saturday August 22

Join Mayor Jesse Arreguín, City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley, and Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez for a Virtual Town Hall where they will provide updates on the city’s response to COVID-19 and answer your questions.

What: Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19

When: Saturday, August 22, 12pm

Watch live at jessearreguin.com

Ask your questions by August 22 at 9am at jessearreguin.com