Fallbrook reports 304 coronavirus cases

Fallbrook has now recorded more than 300 coronavirus cases since March, and San Diego County public health officials reported the number of total COVID-19 cases in the region has crossed 30,000, even as other numbers appear to be improving.

The total number of recorded cases in Fallbrook’s 92028 ZIP code – which also includes De Luz and Rainbow – now sits at 304, or a rate of 620.3 cases per 100,000.

As of Aug. 4, the 92028 ZIP code was roughly in the middle of the county’s distribution of

coronavirus infection rates – it has the 39th-highest number of cases per 100,000, and the

41st-lowest, out of the ZIP codes the county estimates infection rates for.

The total number of coronavirus cases recorded in Fallbrook and surrounding areas since the

start of the pandemic is about half a percent of the area’s population. Countywide, the

number of cases is about 1% of the total population.

Bonsall’s 92003 ZIP code saw a slight increase in coronavirus cases. It is now reporting 34

positive cases, up from 31 a week ago. The county still cannot estimate an infection rate for

Bonsall because of the low number of cases and low population.

A total of 343 new cases countywide Monday, Aug. 3, raises the county total to 30,226. No new deaths were reported Aug. 3, keeping that number at 565.

Of 6,536 tests the county recorded Aug. 3, just over 5% of them returned positive, bringing the 14-day rolling average of positive tests down to 5.3%. The state’s target is fewer than 8% of tests returning positive.

County supervisor Nathan Fletcher described July as a “roller coaster,” but the end of the month showed promising trends which he hopes will carry on into August and beyond.

The rate of the population testing positive has dropped to 118.2 per 100,000 people. The state’s goal is below 100 per 100,000. A week ago, that number was above 140 per 100,000.

Additionally, the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 continues to drop, with 390 in regional hospitals including 124 in intensive care units – the fewest in several weeks.

The percentage of people testing positive for the illness who are contacted by a county contact tracer in the first 48 hours has increased from a dismal 9% in late July to more than 48% now. The county’s target for this metric is more than 70%.

The only metric the county appears to be getting worse on is the spread of community outbreaks. An additional four outbreaks were reported Aug. 3 – two in businesses, one in a higher education setting and one in a government setting – raising the number of community outbreaks in the county in the past week to 39.

Of the 132 outbreaks reported since June 1, 48 of them have occurred in restaurant/bar settings, 27 in other businesses, nine in health care settings and eight in restaurants.

Of the total positive cases, 2,599 – or 8.6% – required hospitalization and 656 – or 2.2% – were admitted to an intensive care unit.

According to county data, 57% of adult San Diego County residents have underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. These conditions put such people at higher risk for serious illness should they contract COVID-19.

Of the total hospitalized during the pandemic due to the illness, 71% have been 50 or older. The highest age group testing positive for the illness are those 20-29, and that group is also least likely to take precautionary measures to avoid spreading the illness, a county statement said.

“Some San Diegans think they’re not going to get sick and therefore are not following the public health guidance,” Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county’s public health officer, said. “What they don’t realize is that they could get infected and pass the virus to others who are vulnerable.”

County residents ages 20-29 have accounted for 25.5% of COVID-19 cases thus far, the highest of any age group, according to county data. The age group with the second highest number of infections – residents ages 30-39 – represent 18.9% of the county’s COVID-19 cases.

County supervisors Greg Cox and Nathan Fletcher said they would bring a plan for a safe reopening compliance team before the full board of supervisors at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 4, after press time. 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.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Will Fritz can be reached by email at [email protected].