FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2020
Santa Clara County, CA – As COVID-19 transmission surges across our community, County of Santa Clara officials are seeing alarming spikes in cases at congregate settings, including homeless shelters and long-term care facilities. These upticks are unfortunate indicators of the rapid and exponential rise of COVID-19 in our community, reaching our most vulnerable residents. High community prevalence of COVID-19 means that despite safeguards and regular surveillance testing in congregate facilities, there is significantly increased risk that COVID-19 infections will come into a facility from the community.
“These outbreaks are an unfortunate reminder that increases in community transmission of COVID-19 threaten our most vulnerable communities,” said Dr. George Han, Deputy Health Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “Along with rising cases and increasing hospitalizations, this should serve as an alarm bell for each of us to take every possible step to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
Since March, there had been relatively few cases of COVID-19 in the unhoused population, but in late November, positive cases began emerging, coinciding with the sharp spike in community transmission. At the Boccardo Reception Center (BRC), an emergency shelter in San Jose for unhoused individuals, 20 positive tests were reported on November 23rd, 26 positive tests were reported on November 29th, and 14 positive tests were reported on December 2nd. Of the 60 total cases at BRC, four are staff and the rest are clients. At South Hall, another homeless shelter in San Jose, two positive tests were reported on November 18th, two positive tests were reported on November 30th, and three positive test results were reported on December 2nd. Of the seven total cases at South Hall, one is a staff member and the rest are clients. Frequent testing is continuing at both sites and results are continuing to be reported.
Shelter intakes were immediately suspended, and no new clients were referred to the shelters after the results of the first positive tests were received. All individuals who tested positive were contacted by the COVID-19 Shelter Hotline staff and placed in isolation hotel rooms for the duration of their isolation period. At BRC, County officials took the additional step of placing most clients, even those who tested negative for COVID-19, in hotel rooms as a precaution. The few clients who remain at BRC have all completed their isolation or quarantine period.
The County is actively working with community partners and shelter operators to reinforce safety procedures, including prohibiting gathering at the shelters, including at mealtime and recreation, improving ventilation, enforcing mask wearing at all times, informing all residents of the scale of the outbreak, and otherwise taking any steps to prevent residents from coming near any other person especially when indoors.
The significant recent uptick in cases across congregate settings also includes long-term care facilities. This is not unexpected given the widespread level of COVID-19 in the community. Since the outset of the pandemic, the County has actively investigated and responded to all concerns about potential cases of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, including licensed skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, and board and care facilities in the county. There are multiple investigations underway into outbreaks, including two significant outbreaks at facilities in San José. One facility has 151 total positive cases as of December 2nd, including 81 among residents and 70 among staff. The other facility has 86 total positive cases, with 66 among residents and 20 among staff as of December 2nd.
The County has specialized teams dedicated to investigating outbreaks and providing guidance and support to affected facilities. This includes assistance with testing and facilitating mutual aid requests for staffing support. Given the extremely vulnerable health status of these residents, the County is devoting extensive resources to controlling these outbreaks, but it is not enough without substantial efforts by every community member to do their part to reduce transmission by wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and avoiding contact with people outside their household.
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