Bay Area coronavirus updates: CA positivity rates for 7, 14 day average under 4 percent

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact across the world and also in cities across Northern California. The latest number of confirmed cases in the U.S. can be found at the CDC's 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the U.S. page. (The CDC updates the webpage on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.)

Join anchor Kristen Sze for ABC7's daily interactive newscast about the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area and other hot topics. You can check here to stream the show Monday-Friday at 3 p.m.

• GET HELP: Resources and information about COVID-19


• CA WATCH LIST: California counties where COVID-19 is getting worse


• COVID-19 RISK CALCULATOR: Quiz yourself on the safest, most dangerous things you can do as CA reopens


• LIFE AFTER COVID-19: Here's what restaurants, gyms, schools, sports will look like when they reopen


• LATEST LOCAL CASES: Updated number of COVID-19 cases, deaths in San Francisco Bay Area

Here are the latest developments on the respiratory illness in the U.S.:

Sept. 12, 2020

1p.m.
Positivity rates for 7- and 14- day average under four percent
Some good news, the seven and fourteen day- positivity rates for California are both under four percent for the first time in a while.

California COVID cases for today:
New: 4,107 (750,298 total)
7-day average: 3,294
14-day average: 4,033
Deaths: 162 (14,251 total)
7-day positivity rate: 3.6%
14-day positivity rate: 3.9%

10a.m.
AstraZeneca to resume vaccine trial after pause due to reported side-effect
Oxford University says trials of a coronavirus vaccine that it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will resume, days after being paused due to a reported side-effect in a patient in the U.K.
In a statement, the university said in large trials such as this "it is expected that some participants will become unwell and every case must be carefully evaluated to ensure careful assessment of safety."

Sept. 10, 2020

4 p.m.
Indoor nail, hair salons to open Monday in San Francisco, mayor says
Businesses like hair salons, nail salons and gyms will soon be able to operate inside in San Francisco at limited capacity, Mayor London Breed announced late Thursday. Beginning Monday, hair salons, barbershops, massage services, nail salons, gyms and fitness centers can resume operation indoors with limited capacity.

Hotels, outdoor family entertainment centers, outdoor movie theaters will also open Monday, but under specific "rules for outdoor gatherings," the mayor's office said.

The mayor also said Thursday indoor museums and galleries may also be able to open as soon as Sept. 21, but will require safety plans beforehand.

State health officials give update on COVID-19 in California
Despite smoky skies covering much of the state, California health officials encouraged people to refrain from gathering with extended family and friends in higher risk situations.

"Poor air quality is not a reason to gather indoors," said State Health Officer Erica Pan.

The state is also working on improving COVID-19 test turnaround times, said Pan. Sixty-six percent of test results are reported within one day, and 88% are reported within two days.

Sept. 9, 2020

2 p.m.
Newsom: CA 'getting closer' to issuing reopening guidance for Disneyland, other theme parks
Gov. Gavin Newsom says California is "getting closer" to issuing guidelines for theme parks, which have been closed since mid-March and are pushing the state to tell them when they can reopen. Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California and other theme parks remain closed indefinitely while they await safety guidance from the state. Get the full story here.

8 a.m.
15 schools in Marin County reopen for in-person learning
Fifteen schools in Marin County are back open for in-person learning. Lycee Francais in Sausalito is one of the schools that was granted a special waiver. It's now becoming the model for other schools in the county, after working all summer to refine its safety protocols. They include masks, temperature checks, and frequent hand washing. Younger students are kept in pods of about 10 to 12 kids. The older students are kept six feet apart and for families who aren't comfortable with all that, the school is still offering remote learning. Teachers will continue to be tested on a monthly basis.

Sept. 8, 2020

1:15 p.m.
Santa Clara Co. officials give update on reopening
Santa Clara County moved from "purple" to "red " or Tier 2 on California's reopening blueprint. Officials gave more details on which businesses can reopen. Watch the full briefing here.

The following businesses and activities are now allowed to resume under the State's framework as well as the County's Risk Reduction Order:

• Personal care services: allowed to open indoors with modifications


• Museums, zoos, aquariums: allowed to open indoors at 25% capacity


• Gyms and fitness centers: allowed to open indoors at 10% capacity


• Shopping malls: allowed to open indoors at 50% capacity (previously open at 25% capacity)


• Schools: K-12 schools can open after the County has been in the Red Tier for 14 days. All schools must follow mandatory guidance set by the County of Santa Clara and the State of California

INTERACTIVE: Here's the reopening status of every Bay Area county

7 a.m.
Marin County to stay in Tier 1
It could be a little longer before gyms, movie theaters, and other businesses can reopen in Marin County. The county will stay in Tier 1 of California's new reopening plan. It was set to move into Tier 2, but it was delayed while the state conducts a further review. This means businesses like indoor dining, indoor gyms, movie theaters, churches, and malls could be closed a while longer. Marin Public Heath has requested an adjudication process with state officials before a final determination is made. A final determination of the status regarding Marin's tier standing is anticipated before the end of the week. Read the full story here.

Sept. 7, 2020

10 a.m.
Santa Clara County supervisors discuss COVID-19 health order violation fines
The Santa Clara County supervisors discussed health order violation fines related to COVID-19, emphasizing the education part of the ordinance which was passed in August. The county has started to educate the community on ways to stay safe and social distance through outreach programs.

7:15 a.m.
Health experts concerned about Labor Day surge
Health experts are worried Labor Day celebrations across the nation could spell more trouble for the fight against the coronavirus. This comes as the number of states are seeing an increase in cases tripled in just one week -- going from 10 to 30 states. Experts say it could take weeks to determine how activities over this holiday weekend affect the number of coronavirus cases across the country.

Sept. 6, 2020

10 a.m.
Parking to close at Ocean Beach after large gathering

Parking lots at San Francisco's Ocean Beach will be closed Sunday after more than 1,000 people crowded at the beach Saturday for a Burning Man event.

Mayor London Breed called the actions of the beachgoers "reckless and selfish."

The mayor said the crowd put people's lives at risk and putting the city's COVID-19 progress at risk.

"We've heard people may return tonight. Don't do it," Breed tweeted. "We will be closing the parking lots at Ocean Beach. Law enforcement will be patrolling."

The mayor asked that San Franciscans stay home and stay safe, despite people wanting to get together during the Labor Day Weekend.

Sept. 5, 2020

11 a.m.
California COVID-19 cases top 727,000
California has a total of 727,239 cases of COVID-19, according to latest data released Saturday morning. The state reported nearly 5,000 new cases Friday. The seven-day positivity rate stands at 4.1 percent. A total of 13,643 Californians of died of the virus, the state reported.

9 a.m.
Bay Area cases approach 92,000
Alameda, Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties reported new COVID-19 cases Saturday as the Bay Area approaches a total of 92,000 cases across the region. As of Friday morning, California had a total of 722,283 cases of COVID-19 and 13,490 people had died.

September 4, 2020

5:45 p.m.
Marin County approved to move to 'Tier 2' of reopening
Marin County has been approved to move into 'Tier 2' of reopening on Sept. 8. That means indoor malls are allowed to open at 50% capacity, personnel care services are allowed to open indoors and places of worship are allowed to open with 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. To find out what else can reopen under 'Tier 2' click here.

12 p.m.
California reports more than 5,000 new cases today
California reported 5,106 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 163 more deaths related to the virus. The average number of new cases over the past seven days in the state is now at 4,775, with today's numbers being slightly higher. California has a total of 722,283 cases and 13,490 people have died. More than 11 million Californians have been tested so far, according to state data.

11:25 a.m.
Officials encourage social distancing on Golden Gate Bridge with one sidewalk closed Labor Day
The Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District said its west sidewalk will be closed on Monday, September 7 due to operational needs over the Labor Day holiday. People biking across the Bridge will be redirected to the east sidewalk, which will remain open for bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the weekend. Officials are warning you to be careful with social distancing.

11 a.m.
Bay Area tops 90,000 COVID-19 cases
The Bay Area has now reached 90,701 cases and the death toll stands at 1,206. There have been 773 new cases and 31 more deaths in the past 24 hours.

6:30 a.m.
15 Marin Co. schools to reopen for in-person classes next week
Fifteen schools in Marin County have been granted waivers to reopen for in person learning on Tuesday. The assistant superintendent said they've had great experience with reopening already. They ran programs all summer long in their special education and alternative education programs, which they've been able to learn from. They'll have to follow 30 guidelines to reopen. Learning hubs are being set up in the community for kids that will not being going back. The hubs will provide an environment for connectivity or just having a place in to do work.

"Classrooms look very different. Desks are spaced and we have in some cases areas delineated to let students know that's their area. There's a six foot separation between the teacher and the students that will be maintained. A separation between students will also be maintained. And so all those protocols are in place. It makes the classroom look a little different. In some cases, partitions, clear plexi-glass partitions are being utilized, so students can continue to work in a group environment to be protected from each other. And, outdoor for sure. Schools have really taken a long, hard look about how to utilize the outdoor spaces that we have for instruction, and that's really been a strong recommendation from public health," said Ken Lippi, Asst. Superintendent, Marin County Office of Education.

5:30 a.m.
Marin County might move into next tier of reopening
Today, Marin County will find out if it can move on to the next tier of the state's reopening plan. New virus cases have dropped enough for the county to qualify for Tier 2 starting next week. If it remains there for two weeks all schools can reopen for in-classroom instruction. There are

September 3, 2020

2 p.m.
Alameda County is set to allow hair salons and barbershops to reopen for indoor services starting Friday, as long as the businesses follow strict safety protocols. The change comes after Gov. Newsom's announcement that hair salons can open indoors in any county -- even those classified as "purple" -- as long as local health officers give them the green light to reopen.

We're closely tracking what can and can't reopen in the Bay Area. See the latest county-by-county here:

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11:15 a.m.
Santa Clara Co. gives tips to stop spread of COVID-19 ahead of holiday weekend
The Santa Clara County Health Department is holding a press conference on how residents can stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the Labor Day weekend.

6:30 a.m.
Researchers call for more testing of Latinx community
UCSF researchers are calling for more COVID testing of essential workers, especially among the Latinx community. A new study conducted at the Mission's 24th Street BART station reinforces what researchers have been saying for months - that Latinx people are testing positive at higher rates that other groups. Demographic data collected during the six-day study revealed the majority of people affected are low-wage earners who live in high-density housing.

September 2, 2020

6 a.m.
Beaches in Santa Cruz, Monterey counties to close for holiday weekend
A warning if you're thinking about spending the holiday weekend on the beach. Officials are reminding everyone beaches in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties are closed to try and stop the spread of coronavirus. The closure is from 5 a.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Monday with the exception of a few hours on Saturday and Sunday evening. As with previous closures, you're still allowed to walk across the sand to participate in water activities, but sunbathing and beach walks are off-limits.

September 1, 2020

12 p.m.
CA Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly gives COVID-19 update
California's Public Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly is giving an update on the state's COVID-19 response and testing. Dr. Ghaly said the state is creating a standalone COVID-19 data reporting system, with details announced later Tuesday, which will be ready to go in October. He also discussed the new framework for counties to reopen amid the pandemic. Officials also say they're working with communities in the Central Valley, where they're seeing a higher rate of transmission, increasing capacity, supplies and testing for staff at hospitals. Ghaly also said, "We are continuing to learn how to address this broad geography in our response around COVID-19. I'm sure we'll have some counties that experience increased transmission in the months to come. We feel better equipped... to address those."

Dr. Ghaly is also urging the public to stay home and not join large gatherings on Labor Day Weekend, as beach closures may push more people to have inside gatherings. "We encourage people to have small experiences that are short and outside," he said.

7:15 a.m.
Personal services reopen outdoors in SF
Personal services like hair salons, barbershops and nail salons have approval to open outdoors in San Francisco starting today. Mayor London Breed is hinting at a big announcement about future plans at 11:30 this morning.

12 a.m.
CA eviction moratorium extended
State lawmakers and Governor Newsom beat a midnight deadline to extend a bill on eviction moratoriums. The state's moratorium on evictions expired Wednesday and now new protections are in place for renters that will last thru February 2021. Get the full story here.

Aug. 30, 2020

2:30 p.m.
California surpasses 700,000 COVID-19 cases
On Monday, California reported 4,147 new cases with a seven-day positivity rate of 4.9%. The state's total now adds up to 704,085 cases. The seven day average of new cases is 5,067 cases and the two-week average is 5,432 cases. Nationally, the United States has surpassed six million cases according to data from Johns Hopkins University. See the latest Bay Area numbers here.

12:30 p.m.
SF small businesses to receive delivery of personal protective equipment from state
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced face shields, masks, and sanitizers from the state will be distributed to thousands of small businesses and their workers in neighborhoods most impacted by COVID-19.

5 a.m.
21 schools in Contra Costa Co. apply to bring kids back
Several private schools in Contra Costa County have applied for waivers to bring elementary-aged students back into the classroom. The East Bay county is designated as a purple county - which means it has widespread COVID transmission and must keep schools online. Schools are allowed to apply for waivers, although only two waivers have been granted in the Bay Area so far.

Aug. 29, 2020

1 p.m.
Enrollment drops at SF State, City College of SF
Enrollment at City College of San Francisco dropped 18% from last fall, according to the Examiner. A spokesperson says it's because of the "uncertainty" surrounding the pandemic and challenges with distance learning. San Francisco State saw a decrease of 8% this fall. The pandemic is also affecting housing at SF State; only 364 students are living on campus out of 4,500 available beds.

Aug. 29, 2020

11 a.m.
California surpasses 690,000 cases of COVID-19
California has a total of 693,839 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 4,981 cases in a 24-hour-period, according to latest state date released Saturday morning. The seven-day positivity rate is at 5.5 percent. California saw an increase of 144 deaths related to COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the death toll to 12,834. More than 4,000 patients are hospitalized with the virus and nearly 1,300 are in the ICU, the data shows.

Aug. 28, 2020

7:30 a.m.
SF restaurant sales down 91%, study finds
A new study finds restaurant sales are down in San Francisco by 91 percent since the pandemic began in Mid-March. Eater SF reports: the chamber of commerce received data from credit card companies on city businesses. The data does not include cash sales, although most businesses now accept credit cards because of concerns of spreading the virus.

4:30 a.m.
Specific businesses reopening in Alameda County
A round of new reopenings is set for Alameda County today, including hair salons, nail salons and wineries -- with a big asterisk. The county is only allowing businesses to reopen for very limited outdoor activities. What that means is hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, waxing services, skincare services and massage shops can all offer services outside, as long as they follow the rules laid out by Gov. Newsom earlier this summer.

Aug. 26, 2020

12 p.m.
Gov. Newsom denounces new CDC guidelines
Gov. Newsom denounced the new guidelines set by the CDC which now says people do not have to get tested if they came into contact with someone who contracted COVID-19. "I don't agree with the new CDC guidance, period, full stop. It's not the policy in the state of California. We will not be influenced by that change. We're influenced by those who are experts in the field who feel very differently." See more on today's press conference here.

10:30 a.m.
23 more COVID-19 deaths in Bay Area
Health officials say there have been 23 more deaths and 1,518 new COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area in the past 24 hours.

9:15 a.m.
UCSF gives update on COVID-19
UC San Francisco professors and health experts are giving an update on COVID-19 and the flu season.

Aug. 25, 2020

1:30 p.m.
Alameda Co. to allow outdoor hair salons, nail salons, barbershops to open
The Alameda County Public Health Department has issued a new health order that will allow several outdoor activities and services to resume on Aug. 28. Those include outdoor swimming pools and outdoor hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, waxing services, skin
care and non-medical massages. However, services that would require a person to remove their face mask like eyebrow threading and waxing and eyelash treatments are excluded from this order. For more information click here.

12:30 p.m.
CA gets federal funds to pay additional $300 per week in benefits
Millions of out-of-work Californians will soon be able to receive an additional $300 in unemployment benefits. The announcement comes after the federal government approved the state's application for funding for the Lost Wages Assistance Program. Get the full story here.

12 p.m.
Dr. Mark Ghaly gives COVID-19 update in CA
Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly gives an update on the coronavirus pandemic in California. Watch live here.

11 a.m.
49ers to hold season opener without fans at Levi's Stadium
The 49ers will begin the season on Sept.13 against the Arizona Cardinals without fans in attendance at Levi's Stadium. See details here.

6 a.m.
Positive tests after SF police academy
Several people have tested positive following the most recent San Francisco Police Academy graduation. First, a class member tested positive on Friday, then members of the staff. More tests have come back positive since then, and those who are infected are self-quarantining. There are two other academy classes in session and so far there are no positives in those classes.