Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County health officials have reported 551
new COVID-19 infections and seven additional fatalities, raising the county's
totals to 32,330 cases and 593 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.
The new deaths reported Friday -- four men and three women -- occurred
between July 29 and Thursday, and ranged in age from 49 to 90. All had
underlying medical conditions, according to the health department.
The county reported 9,472 tests Friday, 6% of which returned positive.
The 14-day running average of daily positive results is 5.1%. The state's
target is fewer than 8% testing positive.
Of the total positive cases in the county, 2,730 -- or 8.4% --
required hospitalization and 682 -- or 2.1% -- were admitted to an intensive
care unit.
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said Wednesday that because of
problems with the state's electronic reporting system, which has led to a
backlog in test results, additional cases might be retroactively added to both
local and statewide case totals in coming weeks.
The county's case rate per 100,000 residents is 109.9. The state's
goal is fewer than 100 per 100,000. The case rate is a 14-day average and is
based on the date of the actual onset of the illness in each patient, not the
date the illness was first reported by the county. Lags in reporting often lead
to delays in new confirmed cases being reported to and announced by health
officials.
The percentage of people testing positive for the illness who have
been contacted by a county contact tracer in the first 48 hours has increased
from 7% on July 18 to 84% Friday. The county's target for this metric is more
than 90%.
Another two community outbreaks were reported Friday, bringing the
number of community outbreaks in the county in the past week to 20. The latest
outbreaks were reported in a business and a government facility.
There have been 172 community outbreaks reported since stay-at-home
orders were issued in March. A community outbreak is considered to have
occurred if three or more people from different households contract COVID-19
from one location.
Officials say declining case numbers and other important metrics show
positive trends, leading some lawmakers to begin looking at ways to move
forward with further reopening of the economy.
The Board of Supervisors over the past week opened county-owned parks
for worship and fitness activities; approved spending $48 million in federal
pandemic-related funding to help child care providers, testing in schools and
meals for senior citizens; added a pilot walk-up testing program at the San
Ysidro Port of Entry for essential workers and U.S. citizens; and approved a
plan that adds 22 members to a ``safe reopening compliance team'' to crack down
on businesses refusing to follow public health orders.
The compliance team will focus on three types of violators, starting
with the most blatant cases -- such as those who host mass gatherings. The next
level of enforcement would focus on businesses or groups that have experienced
community outbreaks. Last, the team will check on less serious violations
reported by concerned individuals, including businesses not requiring social
distancing protocols or mask wearing.
A compliance call center has been established so county residents can
submit complaints of violations. The number is 858-694-2900.
Of the total hospitalized during the pandemic due to the illness, 71%
have been 50 or older. But county residents ages 20-29 have accounted for 25.5%
of COVID-19 cases, the highest of any age group, according to county data. That
age group is also least likely to take precautionary measures to avoid
spreading the illness, officials said.
``Some San Diegans think they're not going to get sick and therefore
are not following the public health guidance,'' said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the
county's public health officer. ``What they don't realize is that they could
get infected and pass the virus to others who are vulnerable.''
The age group with the second-highest number of infections --
residents ages 30-39 -- represent 18.9% of the county's COVID-19 cases.
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