SAN DIEGO COUNTY, California — San Diego County officials held a last-minute news conference Friday urging people to use caution heading into the weekend as a result of rising Coronavirus numbers.
They fear if things keep going this way, we could end up in the purple tier, which means more restrictions and closures.
"Today we are here to sound the alarm," Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten said.
That alarm was triggered by an increase in Coronavirus cases throughout San Diego County over the past several days.
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"If you go back over the last 6 days and you look at our unadjusted case rates by day you will see it go from 6.9, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said. "Yesterday, it was 7.7, and today we're looking at 7.8."
A move to the purple tier would equate to tougher rules and additional closures.
"We're very concerned, which is why we're here today," Fletcher said.
Due to the high level of testing being done in San Diego County, our adjusted rate has allowed us to remain in the red tier: at least so far.
Health officials warn that even the adjusted rate, now at 7.0, is too close for comfort, and are urging everyone to use caution.
'We are here to ask for extra vigilance particularly over the course of the next few weeks," Fletcher said.
That includes staying home if you're sick and avoiding indoor gatherings. They're also asking employers to allow their staff, if possible, to work from home.
“What we're fighting for here is obviously to slow the spread not just to save lives, but also to maintain our current status," Fletcher said.
Officials say there isn't a particular event this recent rise is attributed to.
While the county had 40 confirmed COVID-19 community outbreaks in the past week, Dr. Wooten said 95% of the county's cases were not related to a marked community outbreak.
"These increased number of outbreaks occurring over the past few weeks is again a clear indication that COVID-19 is everywhere," Dr. Wooten added.
For the county to officially move into the most restrictive purple tier from the current red, it would take two consecutive weeks of having an adjusted case rate of 7.1 or above
The state is expected to release the county's most updated Coronavirus numbers on Tuesday.