Coronavirus update, May 18: Stanislaus 'positivity rate' climbs; MJC receives big grant

May 18--Here is the latest on the coronavirus outbreak from in and around Modesto and Stanislaus County.

Latest facts on COVID-10 testing in Modesto area

A total of 571 people in the county have tested positive for the virus. Its number of deaths remain at 24. Another 8,982 tested negative. The number of people hospitalized at some point is at 106, and 430 are presumed to be recovered.

The positivity rate is at 6.4%, up from 5.9% the day before.

Among the five county hospitals as of Friday, 52% of total beds are available, 45% of intensive care unit beds are available, and 81% of ventilators are available.

Of those who tested positive, 54% are female and 46% male. Seven percent are 20 or younger, 15% are 21 to 30, 14% are 31 to 40, 18% are 41 to 50, 16% are 51 to 60, 10% are 61 to 70, 8% are 71 to 80, 9% are 81 to 90, and 3% are older than 90.

Turlock has 174 positive cases, 149 are in Modesto, 71 are in Ceres, 46 are in Patterson, 14 are in Riverbank, 12 are in Newman, nine are in Waterford, seven are in Oakdale, and seven are in Hughson. Of the cases in unincorporated areas, 31 are in supervisorial District 5, 21 in District 3, 21 in District 2, seven in District 1 and fewer than five in District 4.

-- San Joaquin County has 32 COVID-19-related deaths among 689 cases.

-- Merced County had not updated its site since Friday, and remained at 200 positive cases and six deaths.

-- Tuolumne County had not updated its site since Friday, and remained at two positive cases and zero deaths.

-- Mariposa County had not updated its site since Friday, and remained at 15 positive cases and one death.

As of Monday morning, there were 80,166 confirmed cases in California and 3,240 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University. There were 1,487,447 U.S. cases and 89,567 deaths.

Here is the state tracker.

Modesto Junior College awarded CARES grand funding

Modesto Junior College reported it has been awarded $4.8 million as the first part of the federal CARES Act Grant to be delivered directly to students suffering hardships as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Read Deke Farrow's story.

Dozens turned away at Modesto reservoir

Dozens of people were turned away from Modesto Reservoir on Saturday not because of capacity but because of an apparent misunderstanding of the rules. The reservoir opened Saturday for watercraft day use only. Read Deke Farrow's story.

Tenth Street Place now open

Modesto and Stanislaus County in California's Central Valley have reopened Tenth Street Place, their government center, to the public after closing it two months ago to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Read Kevin Valine's story.

Modesto businesses struggle on rent

Two Modesto, California, commercial property managers say since the coronavirus pandemic hit, about a sixth of the Stanislaus County tenants they manage have not paid or partially paid their rent. Read Kevin Valine's story.

County puts in request to state for further reopening

Stanislaus County officials sent the state its variance application pointing out reasons why it feels it's ready to proceed with a safe reopening of the local economy while preventing a new surge in coronavirus cases. The county will need to convince the state to waive two key requirements. Read Ken Carlson's story.

At this time, we all need to show respect

It's easy to get worked up in arguments over reopening the economy in Modesto and Stanislaus County. Let's show respect on all sides. Read Garth Stapley's column.

City of Modesto is looking at furloughs, layoffs

City officials in Modesto are considering not filling two dozen open public safety jobs as well as furloughs and layoffs citywide to balance a budget ravaged by the new coronavirus pandemic. Read Kevin Valine's story.

Like heat wave 15 years ago, seniors vulnerable

Seniors are vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus, just as they were in the 2006 heat wave that killed the same number of Stanislaus County victims. Let's honor our elderly with selflessness. See what Garth Stapley has to say.

An appeal to Bee readers

The Modesto Bee is seeking donations to help cover the cost of reporting on the coronavirus pandemic and the challenge ahead for the local economy. Read Editor Brian Clark's message.

Around California, United States, world

Top Washington Republicans determined not to send federal money to states say their biggest fear is Democrats will use it to help reeling public employee pensions funds. See the story.

Salon owners across the country are reopening despite coronavirus restrictions, some risking hefty fines -- and even their licenses -- to get back behind the chair. Read the story.

As Gov. Gavin Newsom navigates one of his most vexing problems during the pandemic, supplying the state with enough tests for COVID-19, he has relied heavily on a single company: insurance giant Blue Shield of California, a generous campaign contributor and supporter. See the story.

A nail salon in Maryland was caught defying a statewide stay-at-home order when police said they found a customer's kids alone in her car. Read the story.

A return to youth sports amid the coronavirus pandemic is fraught with questions, from the health of everyone who attends to the ethics of potentially putting children in harm's way in the name of getting back to business. Read the story.

In a new study by the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Americans who said they believe in God were polled about whether COVID-19 is a message from God, if the pandemic has challenged their spirituality and how freedom of religion fits into it all. Here's what was said.

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