Hard-hit California reports nearly 1,000 coronavirus cases in childcare facilities
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Nearly 1,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at California day care facilities since mid-March, reported NBC Bay Area on Thursday.

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File photo: Agencies

The report said there were 998 positive cases reported at childcare facilities across California between March 11 and July 12, according to the California Department of Social Services.

The cases included staff, children and parents.

According to the department, the total number of positive cases in licensed childcare facilities statewide increased by 12.1 percent from July 9 to July 12.

Some childcare services told the outlet that a "cohort system" was maintained during the pandemic. 

Mandatory temperature checks and questionnaires upon entry were in place. Kids were limited to small groups and parents were barred from entering facilities.

However, even facilities implementing these precautions were not immune, the report found.

The data comes in the middle of a spike in California's coronavirus cases, as well as a push by the White House for children to return to in-person classes in the fall, citing the low risk to children from the virus.

California now has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in US states. As of July 16, 2020, California had a total of 366,164 positive cases, according to California Department of Public Health. 

(Compiled by Liu Xiaochi)