SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from July 26 - 28 (afternoon), 2020. Click here for real-time updates for July 28, 2020 and on.
Key COVID-19 facts in San Diego and California:
- There are 27,507 confirmed cases in San Diego County and 533 reported deaths.
- There are 466,550 confirmed cases in California and 8,518 reported deaths.
- View San Diego County cases by zip code or city and find local testing sites.
- Click here for previous updates.
July 28
San Diego City Council president to propose extending rent repayment period
San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez on Tuesday will propose extending until March the deadline for residents to make up rent payments missed due to economic hardship brought on by the coronavirus.
Gomez will ask for council support at Tuesday's scheduled council meeting to extend the rent-payment deadline until March 31, according to a statement from her office.
July 27
Thousands gather for outdoor worship service at Cardiff State Beach
A church gathering and protest at Cardiff State Beach drew a lot of attention over the weekend. More than 1,000 people attended the gathering where there was music and people were baptized. The organizer of the event said "state officials estimated 5,000" were in attendance.
State lifeguards told News 8 the organizers did not have a permit for this event.
Video from the event was posted on organizer Sean Feucht's Facebook page and had been viewed thousands of times by Monday night.
Scripps research doctor 'optimistic' about COVID-19 vaccine
People have a lot of questions about a potential vaccine for COVID-19. News 8 sat down for a question-and-answer session via Zoom with Dr. Dennis Burton, a professor of immunology and microbiology with Scripps Research in La Jolla.
Newsom signals more protections coming for essential workers, including hotel rooms for farmworkers
As California’s COVID-19 cases surged past 435,000 on Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced more protections for the state’s essential workers, including farmworkers, truck drivers, construction workers and grocery employees. But he gave few specific details and said more information would come in the next few weeks.
KAABOO San Diego postpones 2020 edition, set to return September 2021
KAABOO San Diego is postponing its 2020 installment, organizers announced Monday. The multi-day music festival was slated to take place at Petco Park September 18 – 20, 2020. Organizers said it will return in September 2021.
"After much consultation with stakeholders in local government, artists and music industry friends, and members of the San Diego community, we know it is best and safest for everyone to look ahead and plan a bigger and bolder edition of KAABOO for September of 2021," a statement on KAABOO's website and Twitter account read in part.
Should I quit my job? California parents grapple with education in a pandemic
Parents of more than 5.9 million California K-12 children are scrambling to adapt to a new reality without schools to send their children to. Ninety six percent of the state’s total enrollment calls one of the 37 counties currently on the state’s watch list home. Many students still do not have computers and internet essential for connecting online, and research has increasingly shown the inequitable toll distance learning took on disadvantaged students who lacked opportunities to meaningfully engage in learning.
San Diego hotels booking up despite ongoing coronavirus pandemic
As San Diego businesses and hotels continue to try and stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, people are once again flocking to those that have reopened.
Local tourism officials report an increase in rooms being booked and San Diego remains one of the top five destinations, as far as capacity, in the nation.
So, even during a pandemic, San Diego continues to be a hot destination.
San Diego County sees more COVID-19 cases, reports no new deaths Monday
San Diego County is reporting 523 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the cumulative total to 27,507, but the number of deaths remains unchanged at 533.
Gov. Newsom announces new coronavirus mitigation efforts in the Central Valley
Newsom announced a new $52-million effort to help eight counties in California's Central Valley, such as Stockton. The money will fund areas where testing and strike teams are needed to combat a surge of cases. You can watch the entire update here.
San Diego County reports 283 new COVID-19 cases
San Diego County public health officials have reported 283 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths, raising the region's total number of cases to 26,984, with the death toll remaining at 533.
The county reported 7,505 diagnostic tests Saturday, 4% of which returned positive. The 14-day rolling average of positive tests is 5.6%. The target set by California is less than 8%. The seven-day daily average of tests is 9,201. Of the total positive cases, 2,391 -- or 8.9% -- required hospitalization and 614 -- or 2.3% -- were admitted to an intensive care unit.
Three new community setting outbreaks were reported Saturday in a restaurant/bar, food processing facility and business. In the past seven days, 11 community outbreaks were confirmed. The number of community outbreaks is above the trigger of seven or more in seven days. A community setting outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households.
The next pandemic briefing from health officials will be Monday.
July 26
Eviction moratorium in San Diego expires in September
The federal moratorium that protected renters from eviction during the coronavirus pandemic expired Friday. Now, experts fear a major spike in evictions. In San Diego, an eviction moratorium remains in effect through September, but renters are already worried about what will happen when it ends.
“When I see those commercials that say, ‘we’re in it together,’ it doesn't include me and my family and that hurts,” said Patricia Mendoza, a single mother of two who lives in Imperial Beach.
Americans receive final unemployment check with extra $600
Americans received their final unemployment check with an extra $600 on Sunday. Funding from the CARES Act, which was passed to help give unemployed Americans more assistance during the pandemic, applies to payments made before July 31. Unemployment benefits will return to pre-pandemic amounts after Sunday, which is capped at $450.
UC San Diego Health to take part in national COVID-19 vaccine trials
UC San Diego Health will be among the participants in a national trial of a COVID-19 vaccine set to begin Monday, officials announced Friday. UCSD Health and the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, part of UC San Diego School of Medicine, are one of three trial sites in San Diego County in addition to M3 Wake Research in San Diego and eStudySite in La Mesa, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
La Jolla businesses use street for outdoor dining space
Dining outside instead of inside has become the new normal due to coronavirus. Some San Diego County restaurants and neighborhoods have gotten creative to make outdoor dining work.
Little time, big agenda when California lawmakers return
California lawmakers are preparing to return to work after an extended summer recess because of the coronavirus. Lawmakers return to Sacramento on Monday and have about five weeks to pass bills.
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said many lawmakers want Gov. Gavin Newsom to call them back for a special session to give them more time to pass tough bills.
Lawmakers are considering proposals that would prevent landlords from evicting tenants unable to pay their rent during the pandemic and making COVID-19 infections eligible for workers' compensation claims. They are also weighing bills about police brutality and health care.
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 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 temperatureif 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.