SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from Aug. 23 - 25 (afternoon), 2020. Click here for real-time updates for Aug. 25, 2020 and on.
Key COVID-19 facts in San Diego and California:
- There are 36,994 confirmed cases in San Diego County and 665 reported deaths.
- There are 668,615 confirmed cases in California and 12,152 reported deaths.
- View San Diego County cases by zip code or city and find local testing sites.
- Click here for previous updates
Aug. 25
San Diego County reports 267 new COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths
San Diego County health officials on Tuesday reported 267 new COVID-19 cases and 5 new deaths bringing the totals to 36,994 and 665 respectively. The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 3.6%.
The county's state-calculated case rate is 81.0. The County was removed from the state’s monitoring list Aug. 18. The County will now need to report a case rate below 100 cases per 100,000 population for an additional six days before schools grades K-12 can reopen.
No other businesses can reopen until the state provides further guidance.
With school online, San Diego Blood Bank asks for donations to make up lost blood drives
With schools and colleges moving online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Diego Blood Bank put out a call to the public Tuesday asking for more blood donations as campus blood drives are canceled or put on hiatus.
According to the blood bank, it is working with schools on creative avenues to support blood donation, such as community drives. However, high school and college blood drives would normally start this week -- meaning the loss of hundreds of pints of blood.
For the full story, click here.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors to vote on $6.4 billion budget
The $6.4 billion recommended budget for fiscal year 2020-21 will go before the Board of Supervisors for deliberations and adoption starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The budget addresses COVID-19, the economic crisis and calls for social justice and racial equality.
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, after listening to input from the 16 community organizations that represents the Invest In San Diego Families Coalition and others, is making recommended changes to the $6.4 billion County of San Diego budget.
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher held a media conference Tuesday morning. You can watch the full video here.
Aug. 24
Call for better protections after San Diego County social worker dies from COVID-19
Calls for better protections were made at a vigil Monday after a San Diego County social worker died from COVID-19.
Ronda Felder, 60, died from the virus in August. Her colleagues said she contracted the virus during fieldwork and spent a month in the hospital before she died.
During a vigil for Felder, her colleagues said she gave her heart and soul to help children.
Company visualizing increased travel from Las Vegas to Southern California amid pandemic
Health experts continue to monitor Las Vegas for coronavirus outbreaks after its casinos reopened in June. A new analysis of anonymous cell phone data compiled by X-Mode and visualized by Tectonix showed an ever-increasing number of people traveling to the Las Vegas Strip from Southern California.
In May, analysts found roughly 13,000 users near the Strip between a Friday and Monday in mid-May with some travel to cities in the Southwestern U.S. The number of devices nearly doubled to 24,000 during a similar four-day period in mid-June after casinos reopened with a significant number then traveling to Southern California.
Up to 26,000 devices were recorded on the Strip in July with visitors coming from almost every state in the continental U.S. Although the bulk of interstate visitors traveled from Southern California.
San Diego councilman requests live entertainment be allowed to operate outside
San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate sent a letter Monday to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking for the city to be allowed to restart some entertainment industry events, such as live comedy shows that would be held outdoors.
With San Diego's removal from the state's COVID-19 watch list, Cate also requested that the County of San Diego re-evaluate its public health orders to allow entertainment venues to safely operate outdoors in a socially distant setting for performances lasting no longer than one hour.
San Diego County still awaiting state guidance after being removed from watch list
San Diego County gave a COVID-19 update Monday afternoon, which you can watch here. There have been 20 community outbreaks over last seven days. San Diego County is reporting 187 new COVID-19 infections, raising the cumulative caseload to 36,727, but the number of deaths remains unchanged at 660.
California fighting wildfires and COVID-19
A red flag warning is still in effect in much of the state. California is currently battling 625 fires statewide. Additionally, California reported 111,456 tests on Monday from the previous day, with 4,946 people testing positive. Learn more here.
Qualcomm begins small business accelerator program with 33 businesses
San Diego-based Qualcomm Technologies announced Monday the selection of 33 businesses for a program designed to help small businesses coping with the global pandemic to transition to a mobile-first digital work environment.
The Small Business Accelerator Program began in June, and Qualcomm received more than 375 applications across 38 states and the District of Columbia.
For the full story, click here.
SeaWorld San Diego launches 'Zoo days' Friday
SeaWorld San Diego announced Monday the launch of a new park 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.
For the full story, click here.
Worship and workouts begin at San Diego city parks
People will officially begin worship and workouts at parks owned by the City of San Diego City Monday. It’s part of an executive order that’s giving local businesses another option to operate.
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."
For the full story click here.
Aug. 23
San Diego County reports 337 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths
San Diego County health officials on Sunday reported 337 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths bringing the totals to 36,540 and 660 respectively.
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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 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.