Skip Navigation LinksNR21-130

office of communications

Contact :

Office of Communications

CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov

ā€‹
 

State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts

Date: April 18, 2021
Number: NR21-129

Contact: CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov


SACRAMENTO ā€“ Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the most recent statistics on COVID-19 and updates on the stateā€™s pandemic response. 

Statewide COVID-19 Data as of Today

  • California has 3,618,695 confirmed cases to date. Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed.
  • There were 1,916 newly recorded confirmed cases Sunday.
  • The 7-day positivity rate is 1.4%.
  • There have been 57,934,087 tests conducted in California. This represents an increase of 200,627 during the prior 24-hour reporting period.
  • There have been 59,772 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

  • As of April 19, providers have reported administering a total of 25,790,401 vaccine doses statewide. The CDC reports that 31,625,990 doses have been delivered to entities within the state. Numbers do not represent true day-to-day change as reporting may be delayed. For more vaccination data, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard.


Updated Activity & Business Tiers Chart

The Addendum to Blueprint Activity & Business Tiers Chart has been updated to shorten the distance between fully vaccinated-only sections and any other section in a venue to at least 6 feet (previously 12 feet). The chart also aligns with current guidance to allow outdoor food and drink concessions if physical distancing is maintained at all times. Indoor concessions must be closed unless otherwise permitted in Orange and Yellow Tiers.

Increased Transparency and Updated School Reopening Maps

The school reopening maps on the Safe Schools Hub have been updated with self-reported data from school districts, charter schools, and private schools throughout the state. Schools are required to submit this data on the second and fourth Monday of each month. This is the first update with data pursuant to AB 86 and includes:

  • School-Level Data. Reopening status can be searched for and viewed not only on a district-wide basis, but also a school-by-school basis.

  • Enrollment Data. The maps display data not only on the instructional modes offered, but also on the number of students enrolled in different instructional modes: full time in-person, hybrid, and distance learning.

Note: The self-reported data may include some gaps in data and errors. The maps will be routinely updated to reflect new data, and the state will continue to improve data quality and visualizations.

Vaccine Eligibility Update

As of April 15, individuals 16+ will be eligible to make an appointment to be vaccinated. To sign up for a notification when you're eligible for a vaccine, please visit myturn.ca.gov. For more information on the vaccine effort, visit Vaccinate All 58.

Tracking Variants

Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been identified globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. These genetic mutations are expected, and some emerge and then disappear, while others persist or become common. Most variants do not have a meaningful impact. Public health becomes concerned about a variant when it affects COVID-19 transmission, severity, testing, treatment or vaccine effectiveness. Get more information on the variants CDPH is currently monitoring.

Blueprint for a Safer Economy

All counties are under the rules and framework of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. As always, local public health departments may implement policies that are more restrictive than the state. 

After a request for a review of its data, Merced County was moved today from the Purple (widespread) Tier to Red (substantial) Tier. No counties in California remain in the Purple Tier, a significant milestone in the stateā€™s use of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Blueprint Summary (as of April 13)

  • 0 counties in the Purple (widespread) Tier

  • 22 counties in the Red (substantial) Tier

  • 33 counties in Orange (moderate) Tier

  • 3 counties in the Yellow (minimal) Tier

Blueprint tiers are updated weekly on Tuesdays. Find the status of activities in specific counties.

ADDITIONAL DATA & UPDATES

Tracking COVID-19 in California

State Dashboard ā€“ Daily COVID-19 data

County Map ā€“ Local data, including tier status and ICU capacity

Data and Tools ā€“ Models and dashboards for researchers, scientists and the public

Blueprint for a Safer Economy ā€“ Data for establishing tier status

COVID-19 Race & Ethnicity Data ā€“ Weekly updated Race & Ethnicity data

Cases and Deaths by Age Group ā€“ Weekly updated Deaths by Age Group data

Health Equity Dashboard ā€“ See how COVID-19 highlights existing inequities in health

Safe Schools for All

Governor Gavin Newsom launched the Safe Schools for All Hub as a one-stop shop for information about safe in-person instruction. The state has updated its schools reopening maps to include outbreak data by school district. View the data for public schools by selecting a specific district on the School Districts Reopening Map. The map includes reported outbreaks since January 1, 2021.

Travel Advisory Updated

California updated its travel advisory on April 2. CDPH and the CDC recommend delaying travel until persons are fully vaccinated, because travel increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Unvaccinated persons should postpone travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, and unvaccinated Californians should continue to avoid non-essential travel outside of the state. Unvaccinated non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California and should follow CDC travel guidance related to testing and self-quarantine.

Health Care Workers

As of April 18, local health departments have reported 106,056 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 451 deaths statewide.

Testing Turnaround Time

The testing turnaround time dashboard reports how long California patients are waiting for COVID-19 test results. During the week of April 4 to April 10, the average time patients waited for test results was just under one day. During this same time period, 83% of patients received test results in one day and 97% received them within two days.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

As of  April 12, there have been 470 cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) reported statewide. MIS-C is a rare inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 that can damage multiple organ systems. MIS-C can require hospitalization and be life threatening.

Your Actions Save Lives

Protect yourself, family, friends and your community by following these prevention measures:

  • If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches), call your health care provider.

  • If you believe you have been exposed, get tested. Free, confidential testing is available statewide.

  • Get vaccinated when it's your turn.

  • Limit interactions to people who live in your household and follow state and local public health guidance.

  • Wear a mask and get the most out of masking - an effective mask has both good fit and good filtration.

  • Avoid non-essential travel and stay close to home; self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival if you leave the state.

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home from work, school and other people if you feel ill.

  • Add your phone to the fight by signing up for COVID-19 exposure notifications from CA Notify.

  • Answer the call or text if a contact tracer from the CA COVID Team or your local health department tries to connect.

Page Last Updated :