COVID-19 has infected 332 Berkeley residents and killed three as of July 20, 2020 -- numbers that do not fully speak to the virus' threat and the urgency for collective action to wear face coverings, be vigilant about hygiene and keep distance from those outside of one's household.

• Many who build and support our community on a daily basis live in other cities, and, in the rest of Alameda County alone, the easily spreading virus has infected nearly 9,000 and killed 161.
• Studies by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cases suggest that positive tests may be only one-tenth of the total number of people infected..
• Fatalities are only one measure, as symptoms can include kidney failure, shortness of breath and brain impairment.

"The numbers help us see the trends," said Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. "But without a vaccine or treatment, everyone -- from individuals to merchants to health care facilities -- has an active role to help keep the virus at bay."

Everyone should use face coverings, social distancing and hygiene to slow the rise of COVID-19. Merchants should implement business guidance, especially completing their site specific protocols. Government, health care officials and others continue to build public health infrastructure to manage the spread.

Indicators to measure status of COVID-19 in our community

One data tool to help see current status is to look at the City's indicators for assessing progress. 

These metrics look at numbers such as cases, hospitalizations, hospital capacity, testing, disease containment and the availability of personal protective equipment for health care providers.

These five indicators were developed by the City of Berkeley's Health Officer along with her counterparts for the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. Each jurisdiction uses these indicators, other metrics such as the percent positive as well as models on a regular basis to assess the virus' impact.

As of Friday July 17, 2020, City indicators for hospital capacity, and testing, met thresholds. Those for disease containment, cases, hospitalizations and personal protective equipment did not. Onboarding new staff, transitioning to a new data platform and the rise in cases led to delays in inputting data

COVID-19 death toll in Berkeley is now 3

Due to recent state re-classification rules, a person who diagnosed with COVID-19 during a temporary stay in Berkeley but who otherwise lived and died outside the city was also added to the total tally. That death was in May.

As state and federal guidelines for reviewing and classifying COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to evolve, changes in case counts and/or deaths are subject to change in the future.

There was also another death in a resident who was over 65 and also had underlying health conditions. Both age and underlying conditions make someone more likely to suffer severe COVID-19 illness.

Face Coverings

The power of covering your face cannot be overstated - and is encouraged across international, federal, state and local public health agencies.

Even as some activities like outdoor dining have been allowed, people must wear face coverings at all times outside of eating -- such as waiting in line, ordering, waiting for food, after eating or going to the restroom.

"This new way of life requires all of us to do our part," said Dr. Hernandez. "Wearing a face covering, keeping social distance from those outside our household and being vigilant about hygiene have the power to protect our community"