SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from July 16 - 18, 2020. Click here for real-time updates for July 19, 2020 and on.
Key COVID-19 facts in San Diego and California:
- There are 23,114 confirmed cases in San Diego County and 478 reported deaths.
- There are 375,363 confirmed cases in California and 7,595 reported deaths.
- View San Diego County cases by zip code or city and find local testing sites.
- Click here for previous updates.
July 18
City of Vista to allow restaurants to seat customers outdoors
The second wave of shutdown orders has left many businesses reeling. The City of Vista is trying to do its part to help by encouraging restaurant and brewery owners to take their customers outside during the pandemic.
In June, the Vista City Council voted to approve temporarily relaxing regulations related to outdoor seating for restaurants and microbreweries due to the local emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency ordinance is part of the city’s Business Economic Recovery Plan, created in May in response to the devastating impacts on the business community as a result of the crisis.
San Diego Pride Parade celebration goes virtual amidst pandemic
Pride Live, the online pride parade and festival, kicked off a day-long event on Saturday featuring elected officials, community organizations and businesses.
Because of the pandemic, organizers took the historic Pride Parade march through Hillcrest, online. It began at 10 a.m. with a slideshow of photos from 46 years of the parade, which started in 1974.
For a full rundown of events, click here.
July 17
La Mesa family has seven family members test positive, two die
The two family members who died were 88 and 90 years old. The younger members of the family did not have severe symptoms. No one knows how they all contracted it.
San Diego County sees new daily high of positive COVID-19 cases
A record 634 new cases were reported in San Diego County on Friday for a total of 22,489. Two new outbreaks were identified on July 16, both in restaurants. In the past seven days, 13 community outbreaks were identified. The county also reported seven new deaths. Their ages ranged from early 50s to mid-90s and all seven patients had preexisting health conditions.
Gov. Newsom orders California schools to stay closed to in-class instruction in counties on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced strict new guidelines that will limit which school districts are allowed to reopen for in-class instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic amid spiking coronavirus cases.
All schools, public and private, will not be allowed to physically reopen if they are located in the counties currently on the state’s COVID-19 watchlist. These districts must begin the school year with distance-learning programs.
San Diego County is one of the 32 counties currently on the list.
San Diego County reports new daily high in COVID-19 deaths with 17 fatalities
San Diego County public health officials reported a record 17 COVID-19-related deaths and 409 new cases as they opened a new testing site in Imperial Beach.
The data reported on Thursday raises the number of deaths to 465 and the number of cases to 21,855.
Of the deaths, 11 were men and six were women. They died between July 2 and July 15 and ranged in age from 51 to 90. All but one had underlying medical conditions.
July 16
San Diego Unified offers sneak peek at virtual learning plan for fall
School closures in San Diego will affect tens of thousands of students kindergarten through twelfth grade. The San Diego Unified School District announced a decision this week to return to virtual learning as the coronavirus crisis grows.
But some families are already struggling with the mere thought of it.
The district says it is unlocking brand new tools for virtual learning this fall, while parents and kids are crafting plans of their own.
Inside the final days of COVID-19, San Diego County families speak out after deaths
Officially, they are San Diego County COVID-19 death numbers 85, 97, 99, 248 and 297.
To their families, they were the teacher with sparkling eyes and a love for bocce ball. The keen student of history who had survived a U.S. internment camp for Japanese-Americans. The dad to a 9-year-old. The wife of 59 years.
Facebook group uniting teachers, parents worldwide in the time of COVID-19
When everything went into lockdown back in March, Allison Harris-Turk harnessed her fear on Facebook.
“No one knew what they were doing," she said. "I think we were mostly afraid… so I decided to just start a conversation."
What she thought would be a forum for her San Diego community, turned into a safe space for parents and teachers over the world.
San Diegans see testing delays for COVID-19 throughout county
Recent spikes in COVID-19 cases have meant the demand for testing is at an all-time high, but San Diego County officials said a supply shortage is forcing them to prioritize who gets tested affecting when and where people can get tested.
Coronado City Council approves use of outdoor for dining and fitness classes
The Coronado City Council unanimously approved the temporary use of outdoor public space for dining and fitness classes the Mayor of Coronado announced on Facebook.
Mayor Richard Bailey added, "We recognize the importance of our local businesses, their team members, and the people they serve so we are committed to doing everything we can, within the public health orders, to assist them during this time.
All existing brick and mortar fitness businesses are eligible to apply for a permit to use the newly available outdoor space. All typical commercial use permit fees are waived and approvals will be very timely.
For more information about obtaining a permit please contact the Director of Parks and Recreation, Roger Miller at rmiller@coronado.ca.us.
San Diego County reports new daily high in COVID-19 deaths with 17 fatalities
San Diego County public health officials reported a record 17 COVID-19-related deaths and 409 new cases Thursday as they opened a new testing site in Imperial Beach.
The data raises the number of deaths to 465 and the number of cases to 21,855.
Of the deaths, 11 were men and six were women. They died between July 2 and July 15 and ranged in age from 51 to 90. All but one had underlying medical conditions.
The county recorded 10,434 tests Thursday, 4% of which were positive. The rolling 14-day average for positive tests is now 6%. The state's target is below 8% positive test rate.
New COVID-19 testing site opening in Imperial Beach
The drive-up testing site will be located in the parking lot of Mar Vista High School and will offer up to 185 appointments per day.
The new location brings the total number to six testing sites in South County and is part of the county's South Bay saturation strategy. It joins testing sites in San Ysidro, two in Chula Vista and two in National City.
July 15
San Diego County COVID-19 cases top 21K with 448 deaths, officials warn of health effects
San Diego County public health officials reported 559 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths from the illness Wednesday and a wave of indoor businesses were forced to close as cases of the illness continue to spike.
The new numbers raise the total number of cases to 21,446 and the number of deaths to 448. Of the 8,436 tests reported Wednesday, 7% returned positive, bringing the 14-day rolling average to 7.2%.
Four new community outbreaks were reported Wednesday, bringing the weekly total to 14 -- well above the county's metric of no more than seven in a one-week span. The new outbreaks were reported in a laboratory, hair salon, barbershop and restaurant/bar.
"While it's true that the mortality for younger people is lower, it's also true that the rate is not zero," said Dr. Scott Eisman, pulmonologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. "The complications from this illness are far greater, much longer-lasting and far more serious than the flu."
Rite Aid opening 5 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in San Diego County
Rite Aid is expanding its COVID-19 testing capacity with 161 new drive-through testing locations opening Thursday, including five in San Diego County.
Testing will be available by appointment for people 18 years of age or older, regardless of whether the person is experiencing symptoms, according to Rite Aid. Results are expected in three to five days, a company spokesperson said.
For a list of county locations providing testing starting Thursday, click here.
Poway City Council to review plan to open parks for worship and workouts
The Poway City Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday to consider a move that would temporarily relax restrictions at city parks for houses of worship and fitness-oriented businesses.
Poway Mayor Steve Vaus proposed the SOS idea (Sharing Outdoor Spaces) which would eliminate the city restriction of parks being used commercially.
If the plan passes, gyms, churches, and other houses of worship would be able to use the open spaces as they see fit at no charge.
For a full rundown of the plan, click here.
Shut down of indoor operations in effect as San Diego County nears 21K COVID-19 cases
A closure of indoor operations at various businesses throughout San Diego County is now in effect as the county COVID-19 case total nears the 21,000 mark.
County health officials reported 539 new COVID-19 cases and 14 additional deaths on Tuesday, raising the region's totals to 20,887 cases and 436 deaths. Of the 7,246 tests reported Tuesday, 7% returned positive, slightly above the county's rolling 14-day positive test average of 6.2%.
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BACKGROUND:
On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, "CO" stands for "corona," "VI" for "virus," and "D" for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”.
There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, as with any other respiratory illness:
Know how it spreads:
- The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
- The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
Protect yourself and others
Wash your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- It’s especially important to wash:
- Before eating or preparing food
- Before touching your face
- After using the restroom
- After leaving a public place
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After handling your cloth face covering
- After changing a diaper
- After caring for someone sick
- After touching animals or pets
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
- Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
- Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
- Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
- You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
- The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.
- Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
- Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectantsexternal icon will work.
Monitor your health daily
- Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
- Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
- Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
- Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
- Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
The California Department of Public Health has issued guidance on the use of cloth face coverings to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
As of April 4, 2020, all employees in San Diego County who may have contact with the public in any grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, restaurant or food establishments, convenience store or gas station are required to wear a cloth face covering while at work as an additional measure to help “flatten the curve” in the San Diego region.
As of May 1, San Diego County requires everyone in the county to wear face coverings in many public settings. The coverings help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are part of our path to reopening San Diego. See full health order here.
While officials say these face coverings are not a substitute for practices like social distancing and handwashing, there is evidence to suggest that the use of cloth face coverings by the public during a pandemic could help reduce disease transmission. Officials do not recommend the public use N-95 or surgical masks which are needed by health care workers and first responders.