COVID-19 cases in San Diego County hit 2-month low; no new deaths

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County public health officials have reported 1,082 COVID-19 infections -- the fewest new cases in more than two

months -- and no additional fatalities.

The county's cumulative COVID-19 case total is now 239,124, and the death toll remains at 2,619, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

The 1,082 cases reported Monday marked the lowest daily total since Nov. 30, but Monday was the 62nd consecutive day with more than 1,000 new

cases.

Of the 11,027 tests reported, 10% were positive for COVID-19, bringing the 14-day rolling average to 8.5%. As recently as Jan. 13, that average

was above 13%.

Although the county reported 342 new hospital admissions on Monday, hospitalizations overall continue to decline.

County health officials said 1,303 people in area hospitals were being treated for the virus as of Monday -- with 392 of those in intensive care

units, up 12 from Sunday.

The record for COVID-19 hospitalizations -- 1,804 -- was set Jan. 12 and has declined since. In the past two weeks, the number of hospitalizations

has decreased 23%.

The record for ICU hospitalizations of coronavirus patients -- 438 -- was set on Jan. 20, but has also declined slowly since with the exception of

Monday's bump. There were 37 staffed beds available as of Monday, the 63rd consecutive day with more than 1,000 new cases.

Eleven new community outbreaks were reported Monday, six in business settings, three in day care/preschool/child care settings, one in a government

setting and one in a faith-based setting. There have been 57 outbreaks reported in the past week tied to 340 infections.

The county has received more than 497,600 vaccines and more than 320,600 have been administered. Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said there is a

normal lag in reporting the numbers, but 1.9% of the county's population over the age of 16 has been fully vaccinated and demand remains high.

San Diego County's fourth vaccination super station is scheduled to open Tuesday at the Grossmont Center shopping mall in La Mesa. The walk-up

clinic will be vaccinating people from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Up to 1,000 doses will be administered daily, but the daily capacity of the site operated by Sharp HealthCare is 5,000.

The Grossmont Center location will replace the site Sharp HealthCare that had been operating on Wakarusa Street. Appointments made for that site

transfer to the super station at the mall.

San Diego County's other vaccination super stations are open at Petco Park, the former Sears store in Chula Vista and California State University San

Marcos. Many other smaller county clinics are also vaccinating people throughout the region.

Vaccination appointments can be made at http://www.vaccinationsuperstationsd.com. The site also includes a map of where

vaccines are being distributed.

The Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District is offering free rides on buses and trolleys to get people to and from their

vaccination appointments. Riders need only show a confirmation email -- via a printout or on a smart phone -- of their vaccine appointment that day.

Fletcher said an East County super station is in the works for this week, but didn't announce a date or location.

The county's adjusted case rate is 49.6 new cases per 100,000 population. To be dropped into the more permissive red tier of the state's four-

level reopening plan, cases have to be fewer than seven per 100,000.