County COVID-19 cases near 8,000, deaths rises to 288

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The number of COVID-19 cases in San Diego County approached 8,000 today as public health officials reported 142 new cases and five deaths.

The new data raises the total county cases to 7,940 and the deaths in the region to 288.

A total of 3,714 tests were reported today, with around 4% of those testing positive for the respiratory illness. The county's rolling 14-day

average of positive tests is 2.9% and has been trending slowly downward for several weeks.

Of those testing positive, 17.4%, or 1,383, have been hospitalized and 5%, or 395, have been admitted to an intensive care unit.

Of the five deaths reported Thursday, four were men and one was a woman. Their ages ranged from 38 to 91, and all but one had an underlying medical condition.

On Wednesday, San Diego County public health officials gave residents a glimpse of actions the county could take if COVID-19 cases begin to spike as a result of public demonstrations and newly opened industries, up to and including dialing back reopenings.

The county's rolling average of positive tests has hit a plateau over the last several weeks, and other numbers are ``trending in the right direction,'' according to Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County's public health officer.

But with thousands taking to the streets protesting last week's in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and with restaurants and other industries continuing to open locally, health officials revealed a backup plan Wednesday.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher identified 13 ``triggers'' that could cause the county to take industry-specific actions, pause all reopening efforts or even dial back reopenings. These triggers are divided into three categories:

epidemiology and public health, with four triggers each -- and healthcare, with five.

According to Fletcher, the county is currently in ``green'' in all 13 measurements.