SAN DIEGO — On Friday afternoon, San Diego County gave a coronavirus update, which you can watch here.
Chairman Greg Cox thanked county employees working hard during this pandemic.
“There is a lot of work that is going on behind the scenes,” said Cox. “We appreciate the support.”
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said the county remains hopeful that it can take steps to reopen the local economy as testing, tracing, and treatment expand.
Starting on Saturday, May 15, the county’s Live Well Mobile Office will be at the Euclid Health Clinic on Euclid Avenue in Southeast San Diego each Saturday “for the foreseeable future.” It will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only. There are approximately 70 spots available, per Fletcher. To make a free appointment, call 211.
“But that Saturday testing is not enough, alone, to meet the need of the community,” added Fletcher.
Fletcher continued by saying there will be a state walk-in clinic in partnership with the state of California that opens on Tuesday, May 19 at the Tubman Chavez Community Center on 415 Euclid Avenue. Approximately 132 appointments will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. according to Nick Macchione, San Diego County's Director of the Health and Human Services Agency.
“This is a new opportunity for ongoing and sustained testing,” said Fletcher.
San Diego is working towards its goal of testing 5,200 people countywide daily. 4,055 people were tested on Thursday, May 14, which represents the single highest day of testing countywide so far. As of Friday, 96,150 people have been tested for COVID-19 countywide so far.
Dr. Wilma Wooten announced 132 new positives on Friday, as well as eight new deaths, which brings the death total to 208 countywide. Of those eight deaths, the patients ranged in age from 65 to 94. All had underlying health concerns. Earlier this week, Dr. Eric McDonald said the most common underlying health condition in people that die of COVID-19 is hypertension, both locally and nationally.
“My sincerest sympathies go out to the family and friends,” said Wooten.
The San Diego Disaster Relief Assistance Fund for Immigrant Programs starts on Monday, May 18 thanks to a partnership between the state of California and the locally-operated Jewish Family Services. Undocumented adult immigrants impacted by COVID-19 in San Diego and Imperial Counties can call (858) 206 8281 for financial assistance.