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Health care, public health, mental health and access to medical services.

Today’s COVID-19 and Vaccine Updates for the Sacramento Region

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — 3,900 vaccines heading to Stanislaus County possibly by Thursday

Stanislaus County is expecting the arrival of 3,900 coronavirus vaccines, possibly by Thursday, health officials confirmed.

Bobby Moser, spokesperson for Stanislaus County Health Services, said major hospitals like Kaiser Permanente, Doctors Medical Center, and Sutter Health would be getting their own shipments while the county handled distribution for the smaller clinics. 

The vaccine comes at time when hospitals are being overwhelmed with surging COVID-19 cases. Moser said that the vaccines won’t do much to mitigate the holiday surge of cases in the near future. However, he did say it was a glimmer of hope for the county at this time.

Continue Reading on ABC 10

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County to Receive 3,900 COVID Vaccine Doses

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Stanislaus County will be getting the initial allotment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines within days and will start administering it to frontline healthcare workers soon.

The county’s first shipment will be 3,900 doses of the vaccination and is going to be given to frontline healthcare workers in the county, said Stanislaus County Health Services Agency spokesperson Kamlesh Kaur. The vaccine requires two shots for the highest level of protection, so the first shipment will not be enough to vaccinate all frontline healthcare workers, Kaur said.

The state received the first 33,000 doses from Pfizer on Monday. About 300,000 more doses are scheduled to be distributed this week and nearly 400,000 additional doses are expected next week, according to the Associated Press. Subsequent doses will also be set aside for healthcare workers, as well as residents and workers at long-term care and skilled-nursing facilities, who can expect to receive doses of the vaccine through local pharmacies.

Essential workers as well as those with medical conditions that leave them vulnerable to severe cases of the virus, will be among the next groups prioritized for vaccination, said Dr. Erica Pan, the acting state public health officer. The general public can expect to be vaccinated in the spring and summer.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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Stanislaus State Donates Medical Freezers for COVID-19 Vaccines

in Education/Health

TURLOCK, Calif. — The Central Valley is preparing to receive vaccines. Cal State University Stanislaus donated two medical-grade freezers to help store the vaccines in the county.

The university freezers are four times colder than a normal freezer, used to store plant and animal samples, as well as microorganisms for long-term storage.

“They are rare. They are expensive,” Dr. Jim Youngblom with Stanislaus State said. “Most freezers are at minus 20 degrees Celsius. And these are minus 80 degrees Celsius. And I think they’ve become really hard to come by with the vaccines now starting to be distributed.”

The university said it was approached by the Stanislaus County Public Health Department on Friday and the freezers were picked up Monday afternoon.

“We were just contacted recently, and they’ve already picked up the freezers,” Youngblom explained. “I think that suggests to me that the vaccines are coming.”

Continue Reading on KCRA

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Free Money Is Back. Get COVID Relief Funds to Shop at Stanislaus Restaurants, Stores

in Health/Business & Economy
The RAD Card is a mobile gift card app that automatically doubles people's money up to $100 as part of COVID-relief funding in Stanislaus County.

Dec. 13—Everyone could use a little free money this time of year. And now the RAD Card is going to give Stanislaus County residents even more just in time for the holidays.

The mobile app, which stands for Relief Across Downtown, is getting another $1 million boost from Stanislaus County’s allocation of CARES Act federal funding for COVID-19 relief. That money will then be used to double users money, up to $100, for purchases made at local restaurants, retail shops and more.

The RAD Card has been available since August, when the Downtown Modesto Partnership launched the gift card app as an easy and contactless way to help local restaurants survive during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The app is free to download for anyone with a smartphone from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The first release this summer was funded by private donor dollars, and also allowed users to receive up to a $100 match.

Continue Reading on MSN

Turlock Nursing Facility Sees 4th Highest COVID Resident Deaths in CA, According to State Data

in Health

TURLOCK, Calif. —

Forty residents are currently sick with COVID-19 at Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and 40 residents have died since the pandemic started, according to the California Department of Public Health.

The Turlock facility has had more residents die of the novel coronavirus than any other another nursing facility in the area, and the fourth most in the state, according to CDPH data.

The facility reported different statistics saying 28 residents have died.

“On behalf of our entire community, we join these families in mourning the loss of their loved ones to this insidious virus,” said a message posted on the facility’s website.

The facility and state’s statistics are most closely aligned when it comes to the total number of residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic started. Both reported at least 155 residents have tested positive for the virus. The facility added that half of the residents have recovered.

Continue Reading on KCRA

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Closed for Now and Unemployed: Fresno Businesses, Workers Feel Pain of New COVID Lockdown

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On the final day that salons and barbershops in Fresno County were allowed to remain open before the latest coronavirus stay-at-home orders went into effect, a local business owner reminded his employees to file for unemployment as soon as they could.

“Hopefully, they’ll get their funds by Christmas,” said Matt Kneeland, a franchisee of six Sports Clips Haircuts in the central San Joaquin Valley.

“But I don’t know,” added Kneeland, who has 41 employees. “Unemployment takes about three weeks before the funds come in.

Continue Reading on The Fresno Bee

EMC Health Foundation Addresses Central Valley’s Behavioral-Health Needs with the Creation of the Linda M. Stuhmer Behavioral Health Fellowship

in Health

TURLOCK, Calif., — Mental health services often are challenging to obtain, which is why the EMC Health Foundation has decided to launch a scholarship program designed to expand access to mental health services for residents of the 19 zip codes in Stanislaus and Merced counties the foundation serves.

The Linda M. Stuhmer Behavioral Health Fellowship was created to honor Linda Stuhmer, President and CEO of EMC Health Inc. Her contributions to the communities across the Central Valley have been significant, and her leadership with Jessica’s House has helped ensure that grieving families and individuals have a place to call home.

Linda is being recognized for her commitment to ensuring that no one with a mental health challenge is ever left behind. The scholarship program will draw on the diversity and unique culture of the valley, which will be best served by future providers who are committed to being part of the community

Continue Reading on PR Newswire

California Introduces Regional Stay-at-Home Order Based on ICU Capacity

in Health

With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations passing the peaks set this summer, California introduced a new regional stay-at-home-order based on intensive care capacity to try and slow the spread moving into the winter holidays.

The new public health order, released Thursday, affects regions of California that have less than 15% of ICU capacity remaining. None of the five regions designated by the state currently meet that criteria, but some are expected to as early as this week.

“The bottom line is if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

Continue Reading on Cap Radio 

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December 4, 2020: Operation Blue Santa, Turlock Dry Cleaners, Pho 7 Anh

in Health/Podcast Archive

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Hey everyone! You are listening to the Local Turlock Podcast for the week of December 4th. Giving you some of latest scoops, news, stories, and business spotlight for the week. Let’s start with our first story, despite the pandemic, the city and community offering Christmas cheer to kick off the Christmas season throughout Turlock this weekend. Next on our list, Gym owner, Alec Schmitt, a Stanislaus State graduate decided to leave his job with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to pursue personal training full time which led him to open XX Functional Fitness in Turlock. More of the latest news, Stanislaus County offering free flu vaccines at drive-thru clinic on Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Johansen High School. Moving on, a can-do attitude among the Turlock Police Department is bringing the jolly ol’ elf back to the community as Operation Blue Santa gets the green light in Turlock. Good news, Life-Saving Insulin is now available at free or no cost to people living in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Wondering where to cut your own Christmas tree or buy one in Northern California? Stay tuned as we give you locations on where to go to cut your own Christmas tree or if you are looking to pick up one in Stanislaus County. This is the best time to show our support to our local businesses especially during this pandemic as I give you 2 business spotlights this week. Also sharing the latest updates about COVID 19 in Stanislaus County. All that and more today in this week’s Local Turlock podcast.

Despite pandemic, City and community offering Christmas cheer

The holidays may look and feel different this year, but there are still countless ways to kick off the Christmas season throughout Turlock this weekend.  First, a decades-old tradition will be replaced with a socially-distanced spectacle this Friday as the City of Turlock hosts its first-ever Christmas Cruise at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4, carloads filled with community members will have the chance to drive through “A Night of Lights on Display” — an event that Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Director Allison Van Guilder hopes will fill the void left behind by the cancellation of Turlock’s annual downtown Christmas parade due to COVID-19.  The Turlock Firefighters Local 2434 is sponsoring the event, which saw the City partner with the fairgrounds in order to provide spaces for participants to decorate in lieu of floats. Rather than organizations and businesses driving through a crowded Main Street as part of a parade, the community will instead drive through their displays on Friday from a safe distance. The firefighters will also be on site collecting unwrapped toys and canned food to donate to Turlock Together.  Turlock Transit will be hosting shuttle tours to cruise through the event while following all COVID health guidelines, and more information on this option can be found at www.turlocktransit.com/cruise.

Gym owner pursues passion in Turlock

Name of business: XX Functional Fitness

Type of business: Gym

Location: 1420 Freitas Park, Turlock

Contact information: 209-447-8885

Specialty: Kettlebell workouts

In October 2019, the stars aligned for Alec Schmitt. The Stanislaus State graduate realized last year that his job with the California Department of Food and Agriculture wasn’t making him happy, and decided he’d like to pursue personal training full time. On the same day that Schmitt turned in the keys to his now-former job, the owner of the Turlock gym where he had helped train people for the past few years called him and said they were looking to sell the business.  Today the location is known as XX Functional Fitness — the name Schmitt gave his first business endeavor when he bought the gym last fall.  He was inspired to chase his dreams after losing a close friend who had done the same. His friend, an artist, had chosen to forgo a “normal” job and fulfill his desire to do what he loved for a living. Schmitt’s friend was just beginning to realize his dream when he passed away unexpectedly, leaving his comrade behind to ponder the meaning of life. Coincidentally, the same day Schmitt turned in his keys and received a call about purchasing the gym was the anniversary of his friend’s death. Now, just over a year later, Schmitt has had to overcome hurdles of his own — from remodeling and marketing to a full-blown pandemic — in order to transform XX Functional Fitness into the gym it is today. The gym has adapted, however, with Schmitt making home visits for one-on-one personal training and even Facetiming clients to ensure they stay up-to-speed while absent.  Those who are still able to make it into Schmitt’s socially-distanced classes find a wide array of equipment to work with, from Olympic weightlifting racks to a massive number of kettlebells. Schmitt is a certified expert with the latter, which offers a unique, full-body workout with one small — but heavy — workout tool. He’s also using his position in the community to give back through the XX Holiday Shoppe, which will feature over 20 small businesses at the gym to provide a holiday shopping destination for the community and collect donated toys from attendees for Westside Ministries. The XX Holiday Shoppe will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13.

Stanislaus County offering free flu vaccines at drive-thru clinic on Friday

With local hospitals full of COVID-19 patients, Stanislaus County Health Services Agency wants to minimize any additional burden of influenza by offering free drive-thru influenza vaccines on Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Johansen High School. Stanislaus County has had two cases of influenza this fall and nationwide, influenza activity has been minimal, so it is not too late to get immunized. Seasonal influenza usually arrives in the Northern Hemisphere in late fall lasting through spring, and multiple strains of the flu virus can occur in the same season. Influenza infections typically start with abrupt onset of fevers, chills and body aches, with associated congestion, cough or sore throat. These findings are also common with other respiratory viruses, including coronavirus. However, COVID-19 may have a wider spectrum of symptoms, including having no symptoms and the loss of smell and taste, which are rare with influenza. Flu vaccines are recommended for anyone 6 months of age and older, but are especially important for people at high risk for serious complications from the flu including including: infants at least 6 months old and young children, individuals age 65 and older, pregnant women, caregivers of seniors, infants and other high risk individuals, those with underlying chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or a chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease or with immunocompromise due to illness or medications, such as chemotherapy. At the drive-thru clinic, free flu shots will be provided to anyone 6 months of age and older on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment required. Additional information about influenza and flu vaccines can be found at: Stanislaus County website, http://schsa.org/publichealth/pages/flu/ from the California Department of Public Health flu website, at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/Influenza.aspx and from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

Operation Blue Santa gets the green light in Turlock

Between budget constraints, staff shortages and the coronavirus pandemic it seemed all but certain that Blue Santa would have to be shelved for the holiday season, but instead a can-do attitude among the Turlock Police Department is bringing the jolly ol’ elf back to the community. Operation Blue Santa started in 2012 with the mission of providing toys and donated items to children and families in need. Key components of the operation were school and home visits by Blue Santa and presentations on crime prevention and safety. It also relied heavily on volunteers to go out on shopping blitzs and gather for gift wrapping sessions. But this year, COVID-19 safety protocols made all of that impossible. The program is operating a bit different this year. Instead of using volunteers to gift wrap, the program purchased gift boxes to put presents in. And instead of the delivering of gifts using overtime, officers will be making deliveries during their normal shifts, as time allows. Blue Santa will be making a few appearances around town, mostly at stores during sponsor drop-off events. Blue Santa will be donning a mask to go with blue uniform. Those who are interested in sponsoring a family can contact Grace at egrace@turlock.ca.us. Those wishing to make a monetary donation either by cash or check can mail them to the police department at 244 N. Broadway, Turlock, CA. 95380. Checks should be made out to the City of Turlock, with Blue Santa in the memo line. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at the police department, but people must call ahead first. Grace can be reached at (209)216-6879 Monday through Thursday. On Friday, people can contact Sgt. Steve Crawford at (209) 668-6503.

Life-Saving Insulin Now Available at Free or No Cost to People Living in Stanislaus and Merced Counties

Thousands of people in Stanislaus and Merced counties can now access free or low-cost insulin through a groundbreaking partnership. Building upon a program created by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company, Legacy Health Endowment and locally owned Boies’ Medical Center Pharmacy have teamed up to provide Lilly insulin to any qualifying person who lives within one of 19 eligible zip codes and struggles to afford this life-saving medicine. To receive Lilly insulin through this initiative, patients must have either a high co-pay, no insurance coverage, or be enrolled in Medicare Part D. Patients will pay just $35 for their insulin; if they’re unable to afford the $35 co-pay, free insulin is available by enrolling at usfreemeds.org.  Enrolling in the program and accessing insulin is easy. Simply fill your prescription at Boies’ Medical Center Pharmacy or have your existing prescription transferred there. This independent pharmacy in Turlock has a long history of providing cost-effective, reliable services to the community. The pharmacy will also provide free diabetes testing supplies to people enrolled in the program. The insulin program is not available outside of Boies’ Medical Center Pharmacy. For contant: Jeffrey Lewis jeffrey@legacyhealthendowment.org 209-250-2315.

Where to cut your own Christmas tree or buy one in Northern California

So you’ve had your fill of Thanksgiving leftovers and are ready to venture out to cut your own Christmas tree this year or pick one up from a local farm? Below is a guide for where to go in Northern California, if you’re looking for a fresh-cut tree. For those hoping to score a permit to chop down a tree within designated areas of the Eldorado National Forest or Tahoe Basin, you’re out of luck. Permits for the 2020 season are already sold out. Here is where you can find information on where to secure a permit to chop your own tree in other forests:

Here are options on where to buy a tree in Stanislaus County:

Business Spotlight:

Turlock Dry Cleaners

Providing professional service over 20 years In Turlock and surrounding cities, Turlock Dry Cleaners is focusing on quality and customer service and that’s their number one goal always Now even better with the additional services that they provide including:

  • Professional dry-cleaning laundry and spot clean.
  • Starch and shirts or jeans per customer request.
  • Wedding gowns clean and preservation.
  • All size comforters bed sets and blankets.
  • All size area rugs.
  • Hats of any type.
  • Professional alteration hemming, sizing, fixing.
  • And now adding free pick-up and delivery within 30 miles from Turlock.

Location: 1581 Geer Rd Turlock, CA 95380

Contact Number: (209) 669-0244 

Operational Hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 6pm) Saturday 8am to 2pm Sun Closed

Pho 7 Anh

If you are in the mood for some pho, the place to be is Pho 7 Anh. This place is a gem! Don’t let the name fool you. They serve authentic Vietnamese, Thai, and Lao dishes. Plus, the food is consistently delicious and always comes out in a timely manner.  Pho 7 Anh is the real deal! 

Location: 503 N Golden State Blvd Turlock, CA 95380

Phone Number (209) 620-8022

Operational Hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 9pm

Coronavirus update, Dec. 3: Hospital patients reach 215 in Stanislaus; 225 new cases

Hospitals in Stanislaus County had another jump in COVID-19 patients Wednesday, to a level not seen since the midsummer surge. Meanwhile, the county reported 225 new positive tests, more than five times the level that would help loosen restrictions on business and gatherings. The death toll rose to 430 with the two announced Wednesday by the county Health Services Agency. The county has 22,624 people who have tested positive, 228,763 who tested negative and 20,234 who are presumed recovered. The state reported a 16.27% positivity rate in Stanislaus on Tuesday, based on 1,481 tests. That figure is released a day later than the county agency’s data. The rolling seven-day average was 11.91%. The 14-day average was 12.24%. The state requires a positivity rate of under 8 percent to advance to the next less restrictive tier in its system. That means an average of 40 or fewer new cases in Stanislaus. A total of 215 people were hospitalized Wednesday with confirmed cases of COVID-19, up from 198 on Tuesday. The number topped 220 at times during summer but hovered around 40 earlier this fall.  Geographically: Modesto has 8,121 positive cases, Turlock has 3,090 and Ceres has 2,520.Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode. Don’t forget to visit our website, localturlock.com, to stay up-to-date on our local news. You can always email me at turlock@localturlock.com and visit our Facebook at Facebook.com/localturlock and leave us some comments! Stay tuned for next week’s exciting episode! Have a great weekend and always stay safe!

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Merced County Reports Nearly 200 New COVID-19 Cases, One Death Thursday

in Health

The Merced County Department of Public Health reported one new COVID-19 related death and 195 new cases Thursday.

A total of 186 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported in Merced County since the start of the pandemic.

The latest death was a woman over 65 years old. It was unknown if she had underlying health conditions.

Merced County has now had 12,622 laboratory confirmed cases. New daily infections are now regularly tallying over the 100 case threshold in Merced County. The growing number of positive test results are climbing toward the record-setting days reported during the summer case spike, when new daily infections sometimes came to more than 200 and 300.

Continue Reading on Merced Sunstar

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