10 new COVID-19 cases reported in Fallbrook

Coronavirus infections in Fallbrook’s 92028 ZIP code have increased by 10 since last week, giving the area the 12th-lowest infection rate in the county – down from seventh place last week.

There were 46 reported coronavirus cases in Fallbrook’s 92028 ZIP code, up from 36 a week ago. Bonsall is reporting eight cases, up from seven a week ago. 92028 – which also covers Rainbow and De Luz – now has 95.3 coronavirus cases per 100,000.

The ZIP codes with lower per capita coronavirus cases than Fallbrook at press time are:

● 92081 (Vista), 94.5 cases per 100,000

● 92129 (Rancho Peñasquitos), 85.6 cases per 100,000

● 92107 (Ocean Beach), 84.7 cases per 100,000

● 92130 (Carmel Valley), 84.1 cases per 100,000

● 91901 (Alpine), 83.9 cases per 100,000

● 92106 (Point Loma), 81.8 cases per 100,000

● 92009 (Carlsbad), 80.6 cases per 100,000

● 92008 (Carlsbad), 78.2 cases per 100,000

● 92122 (UTC), 72.2 cases per 100,000

● 92011 (Carlsbad), 67 cases per 100,000

● 92131 (Scripps Ranch), 66.8 cases per 100,000

The county did not estimate a per capita infection rate for Bonsall, as its number of cases remains too small.

Countywide, health officials reported 170 new coronavirus cases and one new death Monday, June 15.

That data raises the county total to 9,610 confirmed coronavirus cases and 320 deaths, including Monday's addition to that count: a man in his late 70s who died June 7.

Updated county health orders took effect Monday, allowing all schools – except for colleges and universities – to hold on-campus classes as long as the schools comply with measures outlined by the California Department of Public Health.

Those measures include a requirement of face coverings at all times, daily temperature checks recommended, increased emphasis on handwashing and sanitizing, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting in the classrooms and setting classrooms up to allow for increased physical distance between students.

Each school must complete and post a document detailing the actions the school is taking to comply with the industry guidance issued by the state.

Starting Monday, outdoor religious services were allowed without restrictions on the number of worshippers, so long as social distancing is maintained.

These actions follow a wild weekend in which bars reopened and hundreds of people – many not wearing facial coverings – were captured on social media, seen milling around outside bars in the Gaslamp District.

“The virus is still out there,'' County Supervisor Greg Cox warned. “We must continue to be vigilant.''

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said 13 California counties are struggling to keep metrics at a manageable level, and he does not want San Diego County to go down that path. Arizona has seen a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases – more than 7,300 new cases in the last five days – which was on the minds of health officials.

“I can't predict what is going to happen, but we will see increased cases as we open up,'' said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

The county recorded the results of 5,207 new tests Monday, 3% of which represented positive cases. The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive tests is 2.9% and the county has recorded 232,701 total tests. In the past week, the daily average number of tests has exceeded 5,200 – the county's initial goal for daily testing.

Among those testing positive, 1,530 cases in the county have required hospitalization and 429 had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.

A total of 104 outbreaks of the illness have been tracked since the pandemic reached San Diego, with 54 of those still active. Of those, 18 are in skilled nursing facilities, 22 are in other congregate facilities and 13 are outbreaks in community settings.

Health officials continue to monitor 13 potential “triggers” which could cause the county to take industry-specific actions, pause all reopening efforts, or even dial back reopenings. The county remains “green” on 12 of 13 triggers. The only one San Diego County is not meeting metrics on is the “case count” growth. The metric is 8% growth per week, and San Diego County has seen its cases increase by 18%, which Wooten said is attributable to increased testing.

Another of those 13 triggers would be having seven recorded community outbreaks within a week.

Wooten said Friday the county has recorded five community outbreaks of the illness in the past week. Past community outbreaks have included church meetings, parties and a wedding.

“We had only about three community outbreaks in the month of May,” she said.

One newly reported outbreak originated from a restaurant. The outbreak remains under investigation, and Wooten said she could not immediately share additional information.

City News Service contributed to this report.