COVID-19 cases dip, county increases protections for employees in health order

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County public health officials today

reported 282 new COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths, while amending the

public health order to increase protection for employees working during the

pandemic.

The amendment to the county's public health order, which goes into

effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, will require all employers to inform employees

of any COVID-19 outbreaks or cases at a place of business. Previously, the

county recommended employers disclose outbreak information but did not require

it.

``We are continually adjusting and making refinements,'' said county

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. ``We believe most entities are acting responsibly,

but this will ensure employers inform their employees.''

The infections and fatalities reported Wednesday raise the cumulative

caseload to 28,287 and the death toll to 522.

Of the 6,899 tests reported Wednesday, 4% returned positive, lower

than the 14-day average of around 6%. Of the total positive cases, 2,459 -- or

8.7% -- required hospitalization and 632 -- or 2.2% -- were admitted to an

intensive care unit.

According to Fletcher, the lower numbers could reflect the county's

``realignment'' to try to test more vulnerable populations who have been harder

hit by the virus.

The head of the Chicano Federation of San Diego County was critical of

the county's response, saying it had not taken actions to reflect its

demographics in contact tracers -- an inaction which could be exacerbating

cases and reporting in the county's Latino population.

``We were told repeatedly that the county was working diligently to

hire people from the community to serve as contact tracers, and that they were

being intentional about making sure contract tracers and investigators were

representative of the community. They lied,'' Chicano Federation CEO Nancy

Maldonado said in a prepared statement.

``The County of San Diego has failed Latinos at every step of this

pandemic,'' she said. ``Lives have been destroyed because of failed leadership.

The response from the county has been irresponsible -- and San Diego County's

Latino community is paying the price."

Speaking at the county's daily coronavirus briefing, Fletcher and

county Supervisor Greg Cox said the county is rapidly attempting to recruit

more Spanish-speaking contact tracers and investigators and increase testing in

the South Bay, where communities are reporting the highest rates of COVID-19 in

the county. The percentage of Latino contact tracers and investigators hired by

the county is currently 25%.

Latinos make up 61% of those hospitalized in the county from the virus

and 45% of the deaths. They comprise around 35% of the county's population.

Cox and Fletcher also said they would be bringing a plan for a safe

reopening compliance team before the full Board of Supervisors. The team would

supplement health order enforcement, including investigating egregious

violations, outbreaks and conducting regular checks of the county's more than

7,500 food facilities.

New enforcement could include a compliance hotline for tips,

additional staff for investigations and outbreaks, and coordination with cities

to send a team to conduct investigations.

Meanwhile, a half-dozen new community setting outbreaks were reported

Wednesday -- three in restaurant/bar settings, two in businesses and one in a

healthcare facility. In the past seven days, 24 community outbreaks have been

confirmed. A total of 73 outbreaks have been reported in July, more than double

the number reported in June and almost equal to the number reported from March

through June.

The number of community outbreaks is above the county's goal of fewer

than seven in a seven-day span. A community setting outbreak is defined as

three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different

households.

San Diego County's 14-day case rate stands at 139.4 per 100,000

population. To get taken off the state's monitoring list, the county would need

to lower its 14-day case rate to below 100 cases per 100,000.

As of Wednesday, there were 502 people in the county hospitalized with

COVID-19, and 149 of those patients are in intensive care units.

On Monday, the county reported 529 people were hospitalized for the

virus-- a high for the month of July -- and health officials expressed concern

about a Sunday evening outdoor church service at Cardiff State Beach that

attracted scores of unmasked worshippers.

``It really was a massive group of people gathering together without

social distancing and without wearing facial coverings,'' Dr. Wilma Wooten

said. ``We will continue to address this egregious violation as we have the

others that have been brought to our attention.''

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the re-closure of churches in much of the

state several weeks ago amid a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.

Outdoor worship services are still permitted, though attendees are required to

wear face coverings and stay six feet apart.

``If people continue to show or implement behavior in terms of

gathering and not wearing face coverings and not social distancing, it is quite

possible we will not get off the (watch) list,'' Wooten said.