County coronavirus cases top 29,000, community outbreaks keep climbing

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — San Diego County public health officials reported 13 new community outbreaks of COVID-19 Friday, raising the number of outbreaks in the past week to 38.

Three of the outbreaks were reported in business settings, three in restaurants, two in restaurant/bar settings, two in hotel/resort/spa settings, one in a health care facility, one in a faith-based setting and one in a grocery store.

The number of community outbreaks far exceeds the county's goal of fewer than seven in a seven-day span. A community setting outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households.

A total of 91 outbreaks have been reported in July, more than double the number reported in June and more than the number reported from March through June.

The county reported 380 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths, raising the region's totals to 29,048 cases and 561 fatalities.

On June 30, the county reported a total of 14,623 cases. It has nearly doubled its total in 31 days.

Of the 9,066 tests reported Friday, 4% were positive, dropping the 14- day rolling average of positive test cases to 5.4%. The state's target is fewer than 8% of tests returning positive.

While these numbers appear to be steps in the right direction, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said Wednesday that since the county has "realigned" to focus testing on more vulnerable populations due to dwindling testing supplies, it may not reflect the true extent of the pandemic in the region.

Of the total positive cases, 2,521 -- or 8.7% -- required hospitalization and 642 -- or 2.2% -- were admitted to an intensive care unit.

The three people whose deaths were reported Friday were a woman and two men who died between July 20 and July 29, and their ages ranged from 69 to 79. All had underlying medical conditions, as have 95% of those who have died from the illness.

According to county data, 57% of adult San Diego County residents have underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. These conditions put such people at risk for serious illness should they contract COVID-19.

Of the total hospitalized during the pandemic due to the illness, 71% have been 50 or older. The highest age group testing positive for the illness are those 20-29, and that group is also least likely to take precautionary measures to avoid spreading the illness, a county statement 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."

An amendment to the county's public health order, which went into effect Wednesday morning, now requires all employers to inform employees of any COVID-19 outbreaks or cases at a place of business. Previously, the county recommended employers disclose outbreak information but did not require it.

"We are continually adjusting and making refinements," Fletcher said. "We believe most entities are acting responsibly, but this will ensure employers inform their employees."

Speaking at the county's daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Fletcher and county Supervisor Greg Cox said the county is rapidly attempting to recruit more Spanish-speaking contact tracers and investigators and increase testing in the South Bay, where communities are reporting the highest rates of COVID-19 in the county.

The percentage of Latino contact tracers and investigators hired by the county is currently 25%.

The head of the Chicano Federation of San Diego County was critical of the county's response, saying it had not taken actions to reflect its demographics in contact tracers -- an inaction which could be exacerbating cases and reporting in the county's Latino population.

"We were told repeatedly that the county was working diligently to hire people from the community to serve as contact tracers, and that they were being intentional about making sure contract tracers and investigators were representative of the community. They lied," Chicano Federation CEO Nancy Maldonado said in a statement Wednesday.

"The County of San Diego has failed Latinos at every step of this pandemic," she said. "Lives have been destroyed because of failed leadership. The response from the county has been irresponsible -- and San Diego County's Latino community is paying the price."

Latinos make up 61% of those hospitalized in the county from the virus and 45% of the deaths. They compose around 35% of the county's population. Cox and Fletcher also said they would be bringing a plan for a safe reopening compliance team before the full Board of Supervisors.

The team would supplement health order enforcement, including investigating egregious violations, outbreaks and conducting regular checks of the county's more than 7,500 food facilities.

New enforcement could include a compliance hotline for tips, additional staff for investigations and outbreaks, and coordination with cities to send a team to conduct investigations.