Santa Cruz County Confirms Second COVID-19 Related Death

Santa Cruz County, CA – The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division regrets to announce that a second resident with COVID-19 has died. The individual was an adult male in his late 60s with an underlying health condition. He was admitted to a local hospital on April 9th with symptoms including fever, cough and fatigue, and was confirmed by laboratory testing to be positive for COVID-19. He died in a local hospital early on April 14th.

“This man was a father and grandfather and I want to express my deepest sympathies to his family,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said. “This second death shows how serious the virus is and how necessary it is for our community to continue to shelter in place.”

The patient lived in South County and was employed by a local university. The Public Health Division has determined that this case was community-acquired.

Santa Cruz County now has 91 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Those aged 65 and older and with underlying health conditions are the most at risk. The Public Health Division thanks Santa Cruz County residents for their diligence in following the Shelter in Place order and physical distancing guidelines,

which are critical to protecting vulnerable residents.
For local information on COVID-19, go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text
“COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call (831) 454-4242 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.,
seven days a week.
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