Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
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.
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