BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A glimmer of hope came out of the Kern County Public Health Department Thursday, as officials announced the number of daily new cases in Kern County showed a decline for the first time in several weeks.
Public Health unveiled their new updated COVID-19 dashboard Thursday and now we are finally get a clearer picture of the counties curve, but officials say only time will show if we are actually slowing the spread here locally.
Epidemiologist, Kimberley Hernandez said, “We are hopeful that we are flattening the curve it is unfortunately still too early to know."
Even though Kern County recorded the lowest number of daily new cases since mid march on Thursday, with only four new residents testing positive, health officials say the numbers are still too sporadic to indicate that any real change is happening. “We’re continuing to see wide variability on any given day, and so until that is more stable it’s difficult to say."
The department said the new update tracker provides more accurate information and provides a bigger scope of the pandemic locally, “We have also added the number of recovered residents which you see is 203.”
The updated tracker also shows some good news for residents, more than half of all of the tests that have been conducted have come back negative for COVID-19. 90 residents who previously tested positive just a week ago have now since recovered either at home or in hospital isolation.
However, new charts are also showing people who fall between the ages of 18 to 49 are the most impacted so far. The newest data showing more than half of the county residents who tested positive are all under the age of 50.
Health officials concluded their briefing by explaining that they have already responded to more than 1,000 complaints of business that are remaining open despite the order. They say they have only issued one citation to a local gym. Officials are encouraging everyone to still call 661-321-3000 if you see a business that's operating that shouldn’t be.
