The Kern County Public Health Department confirmed Monday Morning 33 people in Kern County who tested positive for COVID-19 are no longer infectious and are no longer in isolation.
Kern County Public Health Department spokeswoman Michelle Corson said at a press conference Monday they are following the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding patients that have recovered from COVID-19. People who tested positive but are no longer symptomatic when their isolation period is over no longer need to be in isolation.
“Social distancing is so important,” Corson said. “This has the most impact on prevention.”
If Kern County increases its social distancing by 20 percent, it will decease hospitalization by 74 percent. If it increases social distancing by 30 percent, it will decrease hospitalization by 97 percent, according to Corson.
“Social distancing is something each of us can practice and can make a dramatic impact on our health care community,” she said.
As of Monday at 4 p.m., there are 252 cases of COVID-19 in Kern. This includes six non-residents who have tested positive while in Kern. Health officials also confirmed two deaths.
There have been 5,043 COVID-19 tests conducted in Kern. While 2,893 tests have come back negative, there are still 1,898 tests pending results.
Four of the confirmed cases fall in the 0-17 age group; 127 fall in the 18-49 age group; 77 in the 50-64 age group; and 38 fall in the 65 and over age group.
Corson said the CDC and California Department of Public Health are now making the recommendation that people wear some type of cloth face covering when out in public to reduce the chance of transmission of COVID-19.
Corson recommends washing the face covering frequently in hot water with launder detergent and dry in a hot cycle.
“However, out best community and individual defense is washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes and practicing social distancing,” Corson said Monday.
The Kern County Public Health Department has also received more than 300 complaints regarding non-essential businesses, and it has responded to more than 150 complaints to businesses that have remained open despite Governor Newsom’s stay-at-home order. One follow-up inspection resulted in issuing a citation to the business by the Bakersfield Police Department.
“We will continue to receive complaints and follow-up on them,” Corson said.
The Health Department has a map available of businesses on its website.
In California, there are 13,438 cases of COVID-19 and 319 deaths as of April 4, according to the California Department of Public Health.
