3 New Deaths Friday: Alameda County Coronavirus

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — There have been three new deaths attributed to coronavirus in Alameda County, bringing the county's total to 12, the Alameda County Public Health Department reported Friday. The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is now 443 in Alameda County, which includes statistics from the city of Berkeley.

Deaths have tripled in the past week, and confirmed cases have doubled. A week ago today, Alameda County's death toll was 4, and there were 204 confirmed cases.

Statewide, 11,159 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, as of 10 a.m. Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University, along with 249 deaths.

Worldwide, the number of cases now exceeds one million, and the number of deaths is over 56,700, also according to Johns Hopkins.

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Health officials are now recommending that people wear masks or other face coverings when going out in public. This is a reversal from previous guidance. “While there is no replacing the important role of physical distancing and handwashing, wearing face coverings is one more tool to prevent the spread of this virus in our community,”said Dr. Erica Pan, Alameda County Health Officer.

Horse racing has been halted at Golden Gate Fields in Albany. Racing had continued until this week, despite a stay-at-home order and the shuttering of non-essential businesses.

Government stimulus checks will start going out to individuals and business very soon. Make sure that you're set to get your money in the first wave of payments: Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In CA

Full coronavirus coverage: California Coronavirus: Latest Updates On Cases, Orders, Closures