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EMC celebrates recovery of Turlock man from COVID-19
EMC COVID patient
Garcia Garnica, 50, of Turlock, is finally able to shake hands with surgeon Dr. Zhong Wang after spending 78 days in the hospital battling COVID-19. Garnica joins the 15,430 Stanislaus County residents who are presumed to have recovered from COVID-19 (Photo courtesy of EMC).

Seventy-eight days after Turlock resident Sam Garcia Garnica, 50, was admitted to Emanuel Medical Center with COVID-19, he was finally able to get a hug from his brother.

Garnica left the hospital on Thursday to great fanfare with staff lining the hallways to cheer his recovery and departure from the hospital.

“I’m so grateful, they are like my second family now,” Garnica said of the hospital staff. “I feel like I’ve earned my second chance to live. For me, it’s a pleasure and I’m so grateful for everybody. They did a very good job of making me feel like I was worth it. My family, my friends, all of you guys, make me feel like I want to stay alive. I want to keep going.”

Garnica now joins the 15,430 Stanislaus County residents who are presumed to have recovered from COVID-19, according to the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.

As of Friday, Stanislaus County has recorded 16,229 COVID-19 cases. Of those, 470 are presumed active and 329 residents have died from the virus.

In the last 24 hours the SCHSA recorded 79 new cases and four deaths.

Currently 84 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Stanislaus County, with 28 of those in ICU. The available adult ICU beds is at 11.2 percent.

“Our hospitals remain in critical condition,” said SCHSA spokesperson Kamlesh Kaur.

Those individuals between the ages of 15 to 54 have the highest number of positive cases. Those 15 to 24 make up 16 percent of the cases; 25 to 34-year olds 21 percent; 35 to 44-year olds 18 percent; and 55 to 64-year olds 12 percent.

The age range with the highest number of hospitalizations in Stanislaus County are those between 55 to 64 years old at 18 percent. They’re followed by 65 to 74-year olds at 16 percent; 45 to 54-year olds and 75 to 84-year olds at 15 percent each. Those 35 to 44 years old make up 14 percent of the hospitalizations.