Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Merced Residents Urged to Get Frequent COVID-19 Tests as County Fears Fallback
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 4 years ago on
October 22, 2020

Share

Merced County officials are concerned about falling back to the most restrictive tier on California’s COVID-19 roadmap.

So all residents are being urged to get tested frequently.

“We are asking all County residents to assist by getting tested every 14 days if possible. Increasing our county’s surveillance testing will allow us to stay on the path to reopening and move through the tiers more rapidly,” said Rodrigo Espinoza, chair of the Merced County Board of Supervisors.

“We are asking all County residents to assist by getting tested every 14 days if possible. Increasing our county’s surveillance testing will allow us to stay on the path to reopening and move through the tiers more rapidly.”Rodrigo Espinoza,  Merced County Board of Supervisors chair

To remain in this tier and continue to advance along the state’s reopening blueprint, the County’s COVID-19 metrics must remain stable or improve, the county said in a news release.

“Increasing our COVID-19 testing rates is the main way to assist with lowering the overall case rate, thereby preventing the County from reverting back to the Purple Tier,” the release said.

CBS8 in San Diego reports that under the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy formula, counties can receive a “credit,” for conducting more testing than the state average. The state also penalizes counties that fall below the state’s median testing level by raising their case rate.

Reverting back to the purple tier means that some businesses and activities for county residents will face additional restrictions again.  This would include the closure of inside dining and many other indoor services that were recently allowed to reopen.

County’s Testing Rate Has Declined While Infection Rate Has Risen

According to county health officials, Merced County has begun to see a higher case rate of COVID-19 infections while the number of people getting tested has declined.

The county is currently experiencing a case rate of 7.4, which is above the state’s case threshold of 7.0 to remain in the red tier.

Merced County Testing Sites

The state is funding two no-cost testing sites in Merced County:

Both sites bill insurance companies directly for the cost of the test. For the uninsured, the cost is covered by the state. Officials are warning that the sites could be eliminated if public usage does not increase.

DON'T MISS

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

DON'T MISS

Live Updates: Who Will Be President? AP Calls States for the Candidates

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Road Rage Incident Leads to Violent Assault, High-Speed Chase

DON'T MISS

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

DON'T MISS

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

DON'T MISS

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

DON'T MISS

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

DON'T MISS

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

DON'T MISS

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

UP NEXT

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

UP NEXT

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

UP NEXT

Former Fresno Businessman Todd Mumma Sentenced to 21 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

UP NEXT

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

UP NEXT

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

UP NEXT

Sanger Men Arrested in Connection with Slingshot Vandalism Spree at Businesses

UP NEXT

What Is Sierra Unified’s Plan to Boost Lagging Student Achievement?

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

3 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

4 hours ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

4 hours ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

5 hours ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

5 hours ago

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

6 hours ago

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

6 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

6 hours ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

7 hours ago

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

7 hours ago

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

They might not be able to agree on who should be elected president or whether the country is headed in the right or wrong direction, but the...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

1 hour ago

Live Updates: Who Will Be President? AP Calls States for the Candidates

A road rage incident in Fresno County escalated into a violent assault and a high-speed pursuit, resulting in the suspect's arrest and vehicle impoundment. (CHP)
3 hours ago

Fresno County Road Rage Incident Leads to Violent Assault, High-Speed Chase

3 hours ago

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

The wreckage left by Israeli airstrikes in Dahieh, a predominantly Shiite suburb of south Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 2024. (Daniel Berehulak /The New York Times)
4 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
4 hours ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

5 hours ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

5 hours ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

Search

Send this to a friend