As COVID-19 transmission and infections increase in Berkeley, city officials are working on multiple initiatives to mitigate its spread, as discussed during a town hall Saturday.

The city of Berkeley’s case count has risen to 363 cases, an almost 40% increase over the past two weeks. Two additional deaths have also been reported in the past two weeks, bringing the city’s COVID-19 death count to three.

According to city health officer Lisa Hernandez, the rising number of cases among UC Berkeley students is contributing to the city’s case count, but the student body does not bear sole responsibility for the city’s increase. She added that individuals younger than 30 and those between 50 and 70 years old make up the age demographics with the highest proportions of positive tests.

“I am concerned with that level of transmission in our community,” Hernandez said during the town hall. “We are seeing a lot of what we consider community transmission, where we are not sure exactly where people are getting the disease.”

The city is still struggling with people not following public health orders, according to Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín, although Deputy City Manager Paul Buddenhagen said a majority of the people he sees are complying.

According to Buddenhagen, the city has received 120 noncompliance complaints against Berkeley businesses as of press time, all of which have been addressed. Of those businesses, none were shut down.

State law prevents the city from issuing fines or other forms of enforcement in response to citizens or businesses not complying with face covering or physical distancing policies, although breaking a public health recommendation is considered a misdemeanor, according to Buddenhagen.

Buddenhagen added that the city manager’s office is preparing to bring an item to the City Council in September that would grant it the authority to levy civil fines in response to noncompliance.

“For now, we’re not issuing citations to people that are not wearing the face coverings,” Arreguín said during the town hall. “We are encouraging people to be good citizens and to follow this requirement because it’s important to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Alameda County’s rise in positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations, insufficient data entry on contact tracing and shortage of personal protective equipment have put it on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s monitoring list.

Because of this, Berkeley is prevented from reopening further for at least three weeks and will therefore not be restarting any additional economic activity, according to Hernandez.

“I know how challenging it is, not just for residents but also for businesses, but it is essential to keep our community safe and to get through this pandemic,” Arreguín said during the town hall. “Until we have wide and massive availability of a vaccine, the risk still continues.”

The next town hall will be held Aug. 15.