Local COVID-19 cases increase again

The average number of new daily cases in the Fallbrook area has gone up again after county data last week showed it had declined for the first time since the start of the current coronavirus wave.

The weekly average case rate for the 92028 ZIP code, which also includes De Luz and Rainbow, was 88.9 cases per 100,000 for the most recent week available, Dec. 27-Jan. 2. It had been 72.0 cases per 100,000 in the previous week, Dec. 20-26, having dropped from 79.9 cases per 100,000 between Dec. 13-19.

There were 305 new positive coronavirus cases in 92028 between Dec. 27- Jan. 2, up from 247 the previous week.

Countywide, health officials are continuing to report more than 1,000 new daily cases.

San Diego County public health officials on Jan. 17 reported 1,890 new COVID-19 infections and 38 virus-related fatalities.

Jan. 17's cases marked the 48th consecutive day with more than 1,000 new diagnoses. More than 3,000 daily infections have been reported 18 times, while the 4,000-case mark has been crossed three times.

The county's cumulative case total rose to 211,787, and the number of deaths to 2,103.

The county has reported a 56% increase in the number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the past 30 days and a 42% increase in ICU admittance during that same time frame.

The number of hospitalizations rose 104 on Jan. 17 and the number of intensive care admissions increased by three.

Twelve new community outbreaks were confirmed on Saturday.

In the seven days prior to Jan. 18, 49 community outbreaks were confirmed, tied to 199 cases. The total number of community outbreaks reached 1,050.

The state of California authorized immediate access to COVID-19 vaccines for all residents aged 65 and older this week, following new guidance from the federal government. However, local officials urged patience.

“We understand older San Diegans want to get vaccinated, but right now there is a very limited number of doses for people 65 and older,'' said Dr. Eric McDonald, the agency's medical director of Epidemiology & Immunization Services.

“We're asking San Diegans to be patient; more vaccine is expected in the region soon.”

There are more than 620,000 people in San Diego County that belong in the Tier 1A vaccine distribution group. With the 65-and-older group, health officials are looking at another 500,000, for well over 1 million people eligible for vaccines.

Both available vaccines are not effective without two doses.

UC San Diego Health began administering some vaccines to older San Diegans this week, it was announced Friday.

“This means the start of hopefully the end of this COVID-19 crisis,” said Donald Crawford, one of the first to get a vaccine at UCSD Health. “I got the vaccine because hopefully it will help me and others and we can eventually get back to normal.”

The health agency hopes to have 70% of the county's population over the age of 16 – or 1,882,554 people – vaccinated by the end of June.

UCSD reported Friday 245 of its students have tested positive for COVID-19 since the winter quarter began Jan. 4.

Of the 245 positive cases, 109 live at UCSD and the other 136 live off campus in the San Diego area, according to university data. Sixty-one employees have also tested positive for the virus.

The university has recorded 92 cases among students returning after winter break, 14 among students who remained in on-campus housing and four among students who live off-campus.

About 7,300 students live on campus, with just 2% of class sections held in person during the winter quarter.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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