SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from Aug. 27 - 29, 2020. Click here for real-time updates for Aug. 30, 2020 and on.
Key COVID-19 facts in San Diego and California:
- There are 38,047 confirmed cases in San Diego County and 679 reported deaths.
- There are 693,839 confirmed cases in California and 12,834 reported deaths.
- View San Diego County cases by zip code or city and find local testing sites.
- Click here for previous updates
Aug. 29
New tier structure for reopening California businesses rolls out
California will begin using a new tier structure and case rate to evaluate the spread of coronavirus in counties this week. Each tier has different rules about what businesses can be open and what restrictions they must abide by.
State health officials calculated San Diego County had a case rate of 5.8 on Friday, which places it in Tier 2, colored red on state maps when the system takes effect on Monday.
Unlike the previous case rate, the new metric is calculated daily and reviewed weekly. It also contains provisions for businesses and schools while the previous case rate was only tied to education.
San Diego County to allow some indoor businesses to open Monday
On Monday, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters and museums will be allowed to maintain up to 25% occupancy or 100 people -- whichever is less. Gyms may operate with 10% occupancy. Hair salons, barbershops and nail salons may operate indoors with normal capacity. Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer, said the county would follow state guidelines that indicate retail businesses are to be restricted to 50% occupancy.
For the full story, click here.
Aug. 28
San Diego County shares guidelines for businesses beginning on Aug. 31
To watch Dr. Wooten's full briefing, click here. Certain businesses, such as places of worship and gyms, can reopen with limited capacity. The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 3.6% countywide.
Governor Newsom announces new reopening plan for California counties
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday a new process for reopening businesses that is slower and more gradual than what the state tried earlier this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The new rules create a four-tier, color-coded system that counties will move through based on their number of cases and percentage of positive tests. It will rely on two metrics to determine which tier a county is in: case rates and the percentage of positive tests.
For the full story, click here.
SeaWorld San Diego reopens with 'Zoo days' Friday
SeaWorld San Diego makes a splash Friday as it welcomes guests back to the park for a new experience called Zoo Days: Bayside BBQ & Brews. The limited capacity, ticketed and reservation required event will provide guests with craft brews and BBQ.
Guest will be able to explore 40 acres of the park’s expansive property to enjoy outdoor animal exhibits and fan-favorite marine life animal presentations with physical distancing measures in place.
Aug. 27
Boulevard Fitness in University Heights temporarily closes after long defiance of health orders
A University Heights gym that remained open for months in defiance of county public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily closed, citing the financial burden of mounting, potential fines from the city.
Boulevard Fitness announced to its members in an email dated Wednesday that it would shutter its doors for the foreseeable future, but is working to get in compliance with the county in order to reopen soon.
A letter sent to the gym this week by the San Diego City Attorney's Office states that the gym was out of compliance for more than 45 days, and that it could be subject to fines of $2,500 per day for each health order violation, in addition to being ordered to close.
AMC not reopening California locations yet
No theatres in California have reopening dates scheduled as of now, but when they do, expect these changes.
2 more coronavirus cases reported at SDSU, 4 cases since last week
San Diego State reported two students who tested positive on Thursday, making four cases in the last two days and five total after 2,600 students moved to campus last week.
The university said the campus risk is still low, according to SDSU officials.
Renters rally for California to extend eviction moratorium
Renters without jobs said they are definitely feeling the pain and uncertainty as they fear the first of the month, saying they don't know if they'll even have a place to live. A couple dozen people rallied Thursday at the Hall of Justice, calling upon Governor Newsom to step in and extend the eviction moratorium.
Some SD County businesses still awaiting reopening guidelines
California is expected to give San Diego County guidelines on reopening some businesses come Friday.
This comes as San Diego County public health officials reported 277 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths from the illness Thursday, raising the region's totals to 37,499 cases and 673 deaths.
Three women and two men died between July 28 and Aug. 26, and their ages ranged from their early 40s to their early 90s.
Of the 5,235 tests reported Thursday, 5% returned positive, raising the 14-day rolling average of positive tests to 3.7%, well below the state's 8% guideline. The seven-day average number of tests performed in the county is 6,946.
Of the total positive cases in the county, 3,040 -- or 8.1% -- have required hospitalization since the pandemic began, and 738 -- or 2% -- were admitted to an intensive care unit.
COVID-19 Community Response Fund surpasses $50 million in grants to help San Diegans in need
The San Diego Foundation Thursday announced the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has granted more than $50 million to over 160 nonprofit organizations helping San Diegans impacted by the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
Organizers said the grants include $675,000 to 14 nonprofits delivering food assistance, healthcare and financial support to local communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
The funding also includes $25 million through the San Diego County Childcare Provider Grant Program, a partnership between the County of San Diego, The San Diego Foundation, Child Development Associates and YMCA of San Diego County that will distribute $25 million in CARES Act funding to childcare providers impacted by COVID-19.
View all News 8 coverage of coronavirus / COVID-19
News 8 has joined forces with The San Diego Foundation to raise immediate, emergency funds for our most vulnerable neighbors in need. Here is how you can help.
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 distancingmeasures 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 disinfectants 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.
