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Coronavirus in San Diego and California: Aug. 18 - 19, 2020

This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from Aug. 18 - 19, 2020.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from Aug. 18 - 19, 2020.  Click here for real-time updates for Aug. 20, 2020 and on

Key COVID-19 facts in San Diego and California:

Aug. 19

Nearly 20 elementary schools, districts in San Diego County granted waivers to reopen

As of Wednesday, 92 elementary schools and districts have applied for a waiver to reopen physical classrooms. As of Wednesday night, 19 had been granted permission to do so.

The schools and districts approved for waivers can be found here

San Diego County gives a COVID-19 update

San Diego County is reporting 214 new cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths on Wednesday, raising the county totals to 35,376 cases and 638 deaths. You can watch the briefing here.

Governor Newsom addresses major issues in California

Governor Newsom addressed Californians on Wednesday on the state’s response to the heatwave, wildfires and COVID-19. The governor said the state has seen nearly 11,000 lightning strikes over the last three days. He went on to say that Death Valley could reach 130 degrees over the next few days.

To watch the full speech, click here.

San Diego County unemployment drops to 14.2% in major improvement over may

The estimated unemployment rate in San Diego County has fallen to 14.2%, nearly 11 points lower than the region's peak in May, a report released Wednesday by the San Diego Association of Governments found.

Unemployment has slowly but fairly consistently declined from the high of 25% the week of May 9, with a noticeable spike from 15.1% to 17.4% in early July in part due to closure of indoor businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full story here.

Aug. 18

San Diego County removed from state monitoring list

San Diego County was removed from California's monitoring list on Tuesday. The county will now need to report a case rate below 100 cases per 100,000 people for an additional 14 days. Then, all schools grades K-12 can reopen with safety modifications. 

The county reported 15 community outbreaks over the last week, which is still above the predetermined trigger of seven outbreaks in a week. The county reported 202 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven new deaths on Tuesday, meaning the 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 4.1%.

Read the full story here. 

Mayor Faulconer signs executive order allowing worship and workouts in city parks

As the region waits for clarity on when it is coming off the state’s COVID-19 watchlist and seeks guidance on how falling off the list will affect existing bans on local activities, Tuesday morning Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer will move forward with new solutions to help struggling San Diegans. 

Mayor Faulconer said, "Being outdoors is practically a birth rite for every San Diegan, and we know from public health experts that being outdoors is safer than being inside in crowded environments. Let me tell you there is no better city than San Diego to take advantage of this fact. The executive order eases permitting."  

The executive order comes as public health experts continue to promote outside settings and physical distancing as two key tools to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Watch the news conference and read the full story here

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 

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.
  • 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.

Violations can be reported online.

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. 

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