Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County crossed two major milestones in the
COVID-19 pandemic today, reporting more than 25,000 total cases and more
than 500 fatalities.
With 587 new cases and 18 deaths announced Wednesday, the region's
totals reached 25,107 cases and 505 deaths.
As a result of numbers that continue to rise, Supervisor Greg Cox
announced that San Diego County was starting a Safe Reopening Compliance Team
that will provide assistance to businesses and residents not in compliance with
public health orders.
The team's exact powers were not immediately clear.
``This is a carrot approach, not a stick,'' Cox said. ``But we still
have the stick and other tools to ensure compliance.''
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said the team would enable the county to
step up enforcement on ``egregious violations'' -- but the details on that
enforcement were also unclear. Officials were also reaching out to the various
cities and communities in the county to collaborate on solutions.
``This is out of an effort to keep our businesses open, not to close
them,'' Fletcher said.
After three days with a downward trend in cases, the 587 reported
Wednesday marked a swing back in the other direction. The 18 deaths were also
one of the largest daily numbers of the pandemic in San Diego County.
According to Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer, 95%
of the county's COVID-19 deaths had underlying medical conditions.
A total of 8,280 tests were reported Wednesday, and 7% returned
positive. The county's seven-day rolling average of positive tests is now 6%.
The state's target is below 8%.
Two new community outbreaks were identified Wednesday, bringing the
total in the past seven days to 12. The number of community outbreaks --
defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different
households -- remains higher than the state threshold of seven or more in seven
days.
The new outbreaks were reported in a business and a health care setting.
Of the total positive cases, 2,279 -- or 9.1% -- have been
hospitalized and 592 -- or 2.4% -- have been admitted to an intensive care
unit. As of Wednesday, 485 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized, 166 of them
in intensive care units.
From July 13 to July 19, the county also reported the most
hospitalizations, 163, and the most deaths, 56, in any one-week span since
COVID-19 began spreading in the United States in March.
``We implore you to not wait for someone you care about to lose the
fight against COVID-19 before you take action,'' Wooten said Monday. She said
the recent spike in cases began to occur after bars, hotels and gyms reopened
June 12.
The percentage of San Diegans testing positive rose to 154.8 per
100,000 residents, well above the state's criterion of 100 per 100,000.
Wooten said that to fall below that metric, the county would have to
record 234 positive COVID-19 cases or fewer for 14 consecutive days.
The last metric the county has failed to maintain is the percentage of
cases that have been handled by a contact investigator within 24 hours of
being reported. There are more than 500 investigators employed by the county,
and although 98% of all cases had been investigated in that time frame as
recently as June 25, that rate had dropped to 9% as of Wednesday.
Wooten said that in response, the county is attempting to hire more
contact investigators, with 97 set to come on board Friday and another 212 in
the hiring process.
The number of cases continues to rise in people between the ages of 20
and 49 and particularly in people in their 20s, prompting the county to aim
efforts at educating younger people.
Residents in their 20s account for 25.1% of the county's cases, the
highest percentage of any age group, according to county data. The next highest
group are residents in their 30s, representing 19.1% of cases.
``While it's true that the mortality for younger people is lower, it's
also true that the rate is not zero,'' said Dr. Scott Eisman, a
pulmonologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. ``The complications from
this illness are far greater, much longer lasting and far more serious than the
flu.''
Eisman also said heart attacks, strokes and serious blood clots are
increasing among younger people confirmed to have COVID-19.
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