COVID surge continues unabated in Fallbrook, San Diego region

Reported coronavirus cases are continuing to surge in the Fallbrook area and San Diego County, with the top four highest numbers of new daily infections since the start of the pandemic being reported in the last week.

San Diego County public health officials on Sunday, Dec. 20, reported 3,493 COVID-19 infections and no new deaths, bringing the county's total to 126,465 cases and the death toll remaining at 1,280.

Prior to that report, a record 3,611 COVID-19 infections were reported Friday, Dec. 18. The cases surpassed the previous record set one week ago – 2,867 the previous Friday – by 744 new cases.

The weekly average case rate for the 92028 ZIP code – which also includes De Luz and Rainbow – was 43.4 cases per 100,000 for the most recent week available, Nov. 29-Dec. 5. The rate had been 20.7 cases per 100,000 the prior week, and 17.8 cases per 100,000 the week before that, marking a massive spike this week and continuing a trend in the wrong direction.

There were 149 new positive coronavirus cases in 92028 between Nov. 29-Dec. 5, significantly up from the 71 new positive cases the week prior. The numbers look even worse, as they have for weeks, in the county’s Fallbrook “jurisdiction,” which includes just the smaller Census-designated place definition of Fallbrook. That jurisdiction was reporting a case rate of 71.1 per 100,000 between Nov. 29-Dec. 5, according to county data, having reported 34.2 cases per 100,000 the week prior.

In the wider county, the Dec. 20 numbers mark the second time the number of daily infections has surpassed 3,000 as well as the 19th consecutive day with more than 1,000 cases and the 12th day overall with more than 2,000 new cases.

The county also reported 1,264 hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients and an additional 320 COVID-19 patients in ICUs.

There were seven new outbreaks reported, which brings the total number of outbreaks within the last seven days to 40.

On Dec. 18, an appeals court stayed a judge's decision to halt enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions against San Diego County restaurants, meaning eateries must again abide by the state's regional stay-at-home order, at least for now.

Lawyers for the state filed the emergency challenge to San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel R. Wohlfeil's preliminary injunction, which was issued Dec. 16 in a lawsuit filed by two San Diego strip clubs Wohlfeil ultimately ruled could remain open.

Wohlfeil's ruling also encompassed all restaurants in the county and all businesses that provide "restaurant service."

Three justices from the Fourth District Court of Appeals, District One, read and considered the order and stayed the injunction "pending further order of this court." The court ordered any opposition to the state's filing to be submitted by noon Dec. 23, according to an appeals court docket.

Lawyers from the state argued that Wohlfeil overreached in his ruling, as no restaurants were parties in the suit initially filed in October by Cheetahs Gentleman's Club and Pacers Showgirls International.

County supervisors met in closed session Dec. 18 to appeal the ruling made by Wohlfeil.

"The board voted to appeal the order," said County Supervisor Greg Cox. "But the board directed county counsel to only argue that the order is incorrect as it relates to the continued operation of strip clubs and the allowance of indoor dining.''

"We support outdoor dining with appropriate safety protocols that have been previously established. We remind everyone that the virus is still out there,'' Cox said.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher concurred.

"I vehemently disagree with the recent judicial decision allowing strip clubs and all restaurant activities to resume, and I support appealing the entirety of the recent court ruling," he said. "It is a positive step that our board voted unanimously to join the state in the appeal as it relates to strip clubs and indoor dining."

In the San Joaquin Valley, ICU beds are said to also be full. In Greater Sacramento, the estimate is 14.5% of ICU beds available; in the Bay Area, it's 12.8%.

Only Northern California remains outside the Gov. Gavin Newsom-directed stay-at-home order with 21% of ICU beds available. That order applies to regions with fewer than 15% ICU beds remaining.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now approved a vaccine developed by Moderna to join the 28,275 Pfizer vaccines already in the region available for civilian acute health care workers.

San Diego County is home to 82,623 health care workers toiling in hospital or psychiatric facilities, 39,755 of whom are considered "highest risk" and will receive vaccines first.

The 28,000-plus vaccines will cover about 72% of those slated to be inoculated until more vaccines arrive in California.

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

City News Service contributed to this report.