Number of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop locally

The number of new coronavirus cases is continuing to drop in San Diego County, though the county was facing a vaccine shortage as of press time Feb. 15 due to a delayed Moderna shipment.

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported 13,700 tests Sunday, Feb. 14. The 14-day rolling average of positive tests was 4%.

The total number of cases was reported to be 252,250 on Feb. 14 and the death toll rose to 3,037.

Eight community outbreaks were reported Feb. 14, bringing the total over the past week to 62. There were 255 cases associated with the recent outbreaks.

Hospitalizations were up 27 and patients moved to an ICU unit were up four.

In the 92028 ZIP code, which includes Rainbow and De Luz, county data shows a case rate of 42.0 coronavirus cases per 100,000 during the week of Jan. 24-30, the most recent week for which data is available – down from 50.4 coronavirus cases per 100,000 during the week of Jan. 17 to Jan. 23, the most recent week for which data was available. That is down from 59.8 per 100,000 the week prior. County

data is showing 3,311 all-time coronavirus cases in the 92028 ZIP code as of Feb. 15.

The county combines Bonsall’s 92003 ZIP code with neighboring Vista, given Bonsall’s low population; that combined area showed a case rate of 60.2 per 100,000 as of Jan. 24-30, down from 67.6 the week prior, and was showing 4,671 total cases as of Feb. 15.

The delayed Moderna vaccine shipment, now expected on Tuesday, Feb. 16, after press time, forced some vaccination sites to dramatically slow the pace of inoculations or reschedule appointments altogether.

The interruption was expected to affect the region's largest vaccination site, the UC San Diego Health Petco Park Super Station, with no vaccinations taking place through Feb. 16. Petco appointments will be automatically rescheduled through UCSD MyChart.

The Chula Vista and La Mesa super stations have supplies sufficient to get through Monday. The county's distribution sites and superstation in San Marcos have sufficient supplies to meet second-dose appointments, along with a limited supply of first doses, county officials said.

It was unclear how long the superstation that opened Friday, Feb. 12, at the

Del Mar Fairgrounds will be able to maintain its appointments. The Scripps Del Mar Fairgrounds Vaccination Super Station was expected to provide drive-thru and walk-thru services on an appointment-only basis to anyone eligible to receive a shot under county guidelines.

For those who may experience a delay in second doses, the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has advised that people can wait up to 42 days between doses and still achieve maximum immunity.

A new COVID-19 vaccination site opened Sunday in Vista, capable of providing up to 500 doses daily.

The new clinic will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sundays and Mondays at the Linda Rhoades Recreation Center, 600 North Santa Fe Ave.

San Diego County coronavirus inoculation sites have received 703,200 doses of vaccine and administered 597,945 doses, according to the HHSA.

A total of 16.44% of San Diego County residents age 16 and over have received at least one of the two shots required to develop antibody protection against the virus. Around 4.02% of the population over the age of 16 is fully vaccinated.

State health officials notified COVID-19 vaccine providers across California on Friday that effective March 15, vaccines can be provided to anyone aged 16-46 with severe underlying health conditions such as cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, heart conditions or kidney disease that put them at risk of severe illness or death if they contract the virus.

The new guidance also allows vaccinations for people with developmental or severe disabilities that leave them at high-risk if they are infected.

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

City News Service contributed to this report.