SD County reports 7 new coronavirus deaths, 114 new cases

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County officials have reported 114 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 4,776 and total deaths to 175.

Of the 3,401 tests reported to the county within the past 24 hours, 3% were positive new cases, the county said.

Of the seven additional deaths, two were women and five were men. All seven had underlying medical conditions and their ages ranged from 56 to 101 years old. One death previously reported was later determined to be of a non- resident, so the case was removed from the total number of deaths.

The total number of cases requiring hospitalization was 938, and 291 cases had to be placed in intensive care.

A YMCA summer camp program for youth from low-income families was announced Saturday by San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.

The program will provide childcare for parents who are going back to work during the coronavirus pandemic as more businesses reopen, said James Canning, Fletcher spokesman.

A $1 million grant from The San Diego Foundation's COVID-19 Community Response Fund will support the initiative, Canning said.

"As a parent, I understand it will not be easy for parents to go back to work without viable and safe childcare options," said Fletcher, co-chair of the county's COVID-19 subcommittee. "As we gradually open up our economy, single parent households and working families are going to need more support with watching their kids while they are at work. This new partnership is one way we're doing it."

The partnership includes the YMCA of San Diego County, one of the largest summer camp providers in the county, and is accredited by the American Camping Association, Canning said.

Details about how to sign up for camp scholarships, the locations and dates will be announced soon, Canning said.

At a news conference Saturday outside the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in southeastern San Diego, Fletcher was joined by Mark Stuart, president and CEO of the San Diego Foundation, and Baron Herdelin-Doherty, president and CEO of YMCA of San Diego County.

"As a direct result of this support from Supervisor Fletcher and the San Diego Foundation, the YMCA will be able to get summer camp up and running more quickly,'' Herdelin-Doherty said. "We're working through this new normal and finalizing the details of how to reopen our doors and run summer camp in the safest way possible."

"To get San Diegans back to work and start our economic recovery, workers must have safe, accessible, affordable childcare," Stuart said. "Thank you Supervisor Fletcher for recognizing this vital need, and to YMCA San Diego County for providing this critical program so local families can start rebuilding their lives."

San Diego County officials amended their public health orders last week for schools and childcare to ease restrictions as parents head back to work.

Meanwhile, Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine Saturday announced plans to reopen on May 18.

The casino has been closed for about two months in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but officials said that because California officials are poised to relax some of the stay-home orders and other measures, they are preparing to reopen soon.

The region's campgrounds opened Saturday with restrictions, including having every other campsite remain empty and only members of a single household allowed to share a site. Communal areas like playgrounds will remain closed.

The opening of the campgrounds applies region-wide, but campgrounds under city jurisdictions can be closed by those cities.

The county is also opening tennis and handball courts, provided participants meet social-distancing requirements. Golf carts for single riders, regardless of age, will also be permitted. Additionally, rental of outdoor equipment like bikes, kayaks and surfboards will be allowed again.

Still closed are community pools, which could be among the last places to be reopened, going by the state's guidance.

Fletcher said that as the state moves forward with "Phase 2" of its reopening plan, businesses such as dine-in restaurants, malls and swap meets, pet grooming businesses, car washes, outdoor museums and office-based businesses are next on the agenda -- with social distancing still required.

Retail stores across the region opened for curbside service provided they met San Diego County's guidelines.

The stores able to open Friday included bookstores, music stores, jewelers, shoe stores, toy stores, antique dealers, home and furnishings suppliers, sporting goods, clothing stores and florists, but those businesses will have to operate through curbside service or deliveries.

Manufacturing, warehouse and logistics businesses supporting those businesses were also able to open Friday.

Two California Department of Motor Vehicles offices — in Hillcrest and San Marcos -- are among the 25 field offices that reopened Friday throughout the state. The offices at 3960 Normal St. and 590 Rancheros Dr. in San Marcos will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Wednesday, when it opens at 9 a.m. They will handle appointments and transactions requiring an in-person visit, such as reinstating a suspended or revoked license, applying for a disabled person parking placard or paying registration for an impounded vehicle, among other things.

Encinitas announced it will reopen staircases providing beach access on Saturday, making masks mandatory while on the staircases.

Chula Vista announced the reopening of its parks and trails Friday for recreational activities, but face coverings are still required and

residents must practice social distancing. Parking lots are open, but team sporting activities, gathering in groups and picnics are still prohibited.

San Diego Community College District told students and staff Friday that it was preparing to continue its online and distance-learning classes through fall semester, with possible exceptions for labs and first-responder classes, which are difficult in an online setting.