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New Statewide Report Shows Coronavirus Hotspot At Japantown Skilled Nursing Facility

Ben Margot
/
AP Photo
A sign at the entrance to the Orinda Care Center stating the center is now closed to visitors is seen on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Orinda, Calif. This San Francisco Bay Area facility had nearly 50 COVID-19 cases with one fatality.

The California Department of Public Health published a statewide reportthis weekend breaking down the number of Covid-19 cases at skilled nursing facilities. 

We’ve previously heard about the rise in Covid-19 at San Francisco’s Laguna Honda Hospital. But this latest report shows that the newest hot spot in San Francisco is at a privately run nursing home in Japantown called the Central Gardens Convalescent Hospital

As of this weekend, it had 67 cases of coronavirus, among both patients and staff.

At the city’s press conference Monday, San Francisco Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax confirmed the numbers. He said it’s really the state’s responsibility to oversee the nursing homes. But the city is working closely with the state to protect the residents and staff.

Some other counties are choosing to get more involved. Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties have all issued new guidelines so that long-term care facilities can better monitor and prevent the spread of the disease.

Sarah Lai Stirland is a freelance journalist and editor living in the South Bay. Her reporting background is in technology, science writing, law and policy. For the past few years, she's written about issues related to aging.