MADERA — Madera County reported 42 new cases of COVID-19 last week, making it the single-worst week for new cases since the pandemic began.
On Friday, Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) confirmed 10 new cases of COVID-19, raising the total of cases countywide to 198.
MCDPH Director Sarah Bosse also announced Friday that the County will shift its reporting of new cases to a Monday-through-Friday schedule. New cases confirmed over the weekend will be “reported out” in the Monday update, Bosse said — so its likely total cases countywide will surpass 200 when next week’s first report is issued.
Last week, MCDPH also unveiled a new data dashboard on its website that provides additional demographic information about virus victims, including more specific locations within the county where cases have been confirmed.
Friday’s report from MCDPH confirmed that the recent spike in new cases continues. Since May 26, the number of cases in Madera County has more than doubled — with this past week ending with back-to-back reports of 10 new cases Thursday and today. Up until mid-May, the county had been averaging zero to two new COVID-19 cases per day.
All but one of the cases reported Friday were contracted via person-to-person transmission, according to MCDPH. The lone case not transmitted by a known source is being attributed to “community spread.”
According to MCDPH’s latest report, the county currently has 61 active COVID-19 cases, with the majority of those victims in home isolation. Four of the active cases currently are being treated in the hospital, with one man in his 70s hospitalized while battling COVID-19 since late March.
So far, Madera County has recorded three COVID-19-related fatalities, including a woman in her 80s who died last week (June 1) at Saint Agnes Hospital.
To date, 134 local virus victims have made full recoveries.
To check the most recent update from MCDPH, click here.
According to the new data dashboard, 23 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Reporting Area D — which includes the eastern Madera County communities. (The total number of cases for Reporting Area D did not increase from Thursday to Friday.)
Mariposa County has reported just 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases — and one fatality. Neighboring Fresno and Madera counties have seen far greater impact from the virus, with Fresno County reporting 2,547 cases and 52 deaths and Tulare County seeing 2,564 cases and 98 deaths.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, the number of virus victims statewide passed 150,000. According to the latest report from John Hopkins, there have now been 150,055 confirmed COVID-19 cases across California, with the total number of deaths statewide now at 5,060.
Nationwide, there have now been more than 2.12 million confirmed coronavirus cases, with the U.S. death toll on Sunday rising above 117,000.
