New COVID-19 related death reported as confirmed cases surpass 500 mark in Merced County
Resident was a male, 35-50, with no underlying health conditions.
Today, Wednesday, July 17, the Merced County Department of Public Health confirmed the eighth death related to
COVID-19.
The Merced County resident was a male between the ages of 35 and 50 and did
not have underlying health conditions.
No further information related to the case was immediately available Wednesday night.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, there have been 509 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Merced County since reporting began earlier this year.
Of that number, 182 cases are considered “active,” and 319 have recovered and
eight have died.
• On Monday, Public Health reported that eight employees at the Hughson Nut Company in
Livingston tested positive for COVID-19. Hughson Nut Company is working together with
Public Health officials to investigate the outbreak. The affected portion of the plant has been
closed and is being disinfected. Employees with close contact to the individuals that have
tested positive have been ordered to quarantine at home, and all employees have been
advised to test for COVID-19. If you visited the Hughson Nut Company between the dates of
May 18 and June 12 and are experiencing symptoms that you feel might be due to infection
from COVID-19 (shortness of breath, fever, and cough), please call your medical provider.
• A total of 9,437 tests have been performed in Merced County: 8,830 negatives, 509 positives,
and 98 still pending. These figures include testing through both the commercial and public
health lab systems.
- *Total confirmed cases include total recovered and total deaths.
- **Recovered defined as symptom free with no medication for 72 hours.
- ***Healthcare exposure includes exposure in and out of jurisdiction.
- East Merced County includes: Atwater, Ballico, Bear Creek, Calpack, Cressey, Delhi, El Nido, Hilmar, Irwin, Le Grand, Livingston, Merced, Planada, Snelling, Stevinson, Tuttle, and Winton
- West Merced County includes: Dos Palos, Gustine, Los Banos, Santa Nella, and Volta
- Based on information provided by individuals who test positive, Public Health staff will continue to assess risks of exposure and contact any affected individuals.
- Due to privacy laws, the Public Health Department cannot release identifying information related to positive cases.
- In California, there are 157,015 confirmed cases and 5,208 deaths.