SAN DIEGO — Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in San Diego and California from May 17 - 19 (midday), 2020. Click here for real-time updates for May 19, 2020 and on.
Key facts in San Diego:
- There are 5,946 confirmed cases in San Diego County and 211 reported deaths.
- View San Diego County cases by zip code or city.
- San Diego County is following California's stay at home order.
- Most San Diego schools have moved to distance learning and students can still receive meals while schools are closed.
- Find testing sites in San Diego county
- Text COSD COVID19 to 468-311 to get updates from San Diego County.
- Click here for previous daily updates.
Key facts in California:
- California governor issued a statewide stay at home order on March 19.
- There are 80,430 confirmed cases in California and 3,302 deaths, according to the CA Department of Public Health.
- 3,037 Californians are hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 1,076 are in the ICU, according to the CA Department of Public Health.
- 1,292,672 tests have been conducted as of May 17, according to the CA.gov.
- A senior hotline has been set up to answer questions at 833-544-2374.
May 19
Online training program available for teachers to recognize exploitation amid pandemic
The San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collective, formed last year, is now providing online training to help teachers take notice of signs of potential exploitation, even while distance learning is the only way to monitor students.
For more information on the course, click here.
Supervisors Fletcher and Jacob to present $34 million stimulus package Tuesday
San Diego County Supervisors Nathan Fletcher and Diane Jacob say they will introduce a $34 million economic stimulus package designed to assist local businesses struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic to the full Board of Supervisors Tuesday at 9 a.m.
The proposed Economic and Humanitarian Stimulus Package from federal CARES Act funding would also be used for more behavioral health and child welfare services. You can watch it live here.
The Old Globe postpones 2020 Summer Season productions to 2021
The Old Globe Tuesday announced that it is moving the productions in its 2020 Summer Season to the summer of 2021, although exact dates have not been settled upon. The season’s titles include a classic American musical, a new adaptation of a 20th century thriller, and two of Shakespeare’s masterworks on the Globe’s outdoor stage.
Harrah's Resort Southern California to reopen beginning Friday
Representatives of Harrah's Resort Southern California announced Monday that the casino and other areas of the resort will begin their first phase of reopening Friday, May 22 at noon.
“The health of our guests, employees and surrounding community remains to be our top priority. It is due to this commitment to our patrons and staff, that we are pleased to reopen the doors of our gaming facility,” stated Rincon Tribal Chairman Bo Mazzetti.
Resort officials said they are implementing safety procedures and sanitization protocols. More info can be found online here.
May 18
San Diego-based Navy ship sailors have recovered from COVID-19 only to test positive again
After more than 1,100 of its nearly 4,900 crew members tested positive for the coronavirus, the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, based out of Coronado Island in San Diego, has been tirelessly working to clear the health of sailors and clean the massive ship.
Now nearly two months after the ship docked in Guam, to try and control the spread of the virus, News 8 has learned 14 sailors who previously tested positive, recovered and returned to the ship, have since re-tested positive.
California gov.: Pro sports without fans possible in June
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks pro sports could be back playing in his state — without fans — in early June. The Democratic governor said during a news conference Monday that the state continues to make good progress against the coronavirus.
And if the progress continues, he said sports could return in the “first week or so of June without spectators and modifications and very prescriptive conditions.”
That is extremely welcome news for California teams that have wondered if they would have to make contingency plans to play elsewhere.
University of California imposes pay freeze as losses mount
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The University of California is imposing a system-wide freeze on salaries of its non-unionized employees due to enormous financial losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
President Janet Napolitano announced the pay freeze in a statement Monday that also said she and the UC's 10 chancellors would take a 10% voluntary pay cut.
The country’s largest public higher education system estimates financial losses of nearly $1.2 billion from mid-March through April and those losses are expected to increase in the months ahead.
California eases more restrictions; restaurants may open
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is relaxing some of its reopening criteria and that could mean most of the state may soon be offering services such as dining at restaurants.
The criteria announced Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom applies to counties that want to reopen faster than the state.
Twenty-four mainly rural counties already have won approval under the old standards. The changes eliminate requirements that a county have zero deaths and no more than 10 cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days.
Now counties do not have to meet a threshold for deaths. They can have no more than 25 cases per 100,000 residents.
Supervisors Fletcher and Jacob to present $34M stimulus package to assist San Diego businesses Tuesday
San Diego County Supervisors Nathan Fletcher and Diane Jacob announced Monday they will introduce a $34 million economic stimulus package designed to assist local businesses struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed Economic and Humanitarian Stimulus Package from federal CARES Act funding would also be used for more behavioral health and child welfare services.
Coronavirus takes a bite out of San Diego's taxi industry
The number of San Diego taxi drivers who called it quits rose faster than the average unemployment rate as the hospitality and tourism industry continued to bear the economic brunt of the pandemic.
The Metropolitan Transit System, which issues taxi medallions for nine of the county’s cities, said 522 of the region’s 850 permits have been temporarily surrendered. Of those, 425 were surrendered between March 1 and May 9, including 144 in the last week of April. By comparison, just 42 permits were surrendered during the same eight week period of 2019. You can read the full story here.
California increases number of COVID-19 testing sites
Here's where to get tested for COVID-19 in San Diego County for free.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors to review plan for accelerated Phase 2 reopening
County of San Diego officials announced an additional 110 cases of COVID-19 and two additional reported deaths Monday bringing the local totals to 5,946 and 211 respectively.
San Diego Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Cox said the board will discuss plans to reopen additional businesses in the region at Tuesday's meeting following Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement Monday that many California counties have the health data and plans necessary to further reopen their economies. Cox said the board will get a report from county staff on where the region is in the fight against the novel coronavirus and the governor's latest updates.
"I don't want to jump ahead of our staff report, but I have to tell you, I'm very optimistic," Cox said.
$75M in federal COVID-19 funding to aid North County San Diego, South Orange County hospitals
More than $75 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds will assist health care providers in North County San Diego and South Orange County to help cover costs incurred as a result of the pandemic, it was announced Monday by Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano.
The funding includes $39.2 million for the University of California San Diego Medical Center, $6.75 million for Tri-City Hospital, $6.14 million for Scripps Green Hospital and $6.45 million for Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.
California giving many counties more control with reopening
Newsom announced that some California counties have the health data and plans necessary to further reopen their economies if their local health leaders so choose. Newsom estimated that 53 of 58 counties statewide meet the qualifications, but stressed that the number is “fluid” based on the virus and incoming data. Read more here.
4 San Diego casinos set to reopen to the public this week
Four San Diego casinos will be opening their doors this week to the public, despite Governor Gavin Newsom's request they reconsider.
On Friday, Governor Newsom sent a letter to the tribal governments asking them to reconsider. The Los Angeles Times reports that the governor told them he understands that partial reopening of casinos is crucial to tribes raising government revenue to take care of their communities.
May 17
Sycuan Casino plans to reopen Wednesday, utilize new cleaning tool
The product is a non-toxic surface coating that the cleaning company said is proven in other countries as a disinfectant against coronaviruses. You can learn more about it here.
County sees 174 new positive cases of COVID-19
As of Sunday, San Diego County resident total cases are now at 5,836, an increase from Saturday of 174, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. 1,104 or 18.9% of cases have required hospitalization. The countywide death total remains at 209.
Of 4,363 tests reported to the County yesterday, 4% were positive new cases. The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive tests is 4.2%.
Chula Vista and Oceanside churches hold in-person religious services
Despite health orders, a church in Chula Vista and a church in Oceanside held in-person services on Sunday morning. You can read more here.
May 16
2020 graduation ceremonies held differently amidst pandemic
From live streamed commencements to a parade of cars commencement, schools are graduates are celebrating differently. To see how schools celebrated, click here.
City of San Diego reopens three lakes after COVID-19 related closures
As of Friday, Lake Miramar, Lake Murray and Lower Otay opened during regular business hours for jogging, cycling, fishing, and boating.
For a full list of the new protocols that will need to be followed, click here.
San Diego to open additional COVID-19 test sites next week
n addition to the County’s site at SDCCU Stadium, state-run walk-up test sites will open at the Tubman-Chavez Center at 415 Euclid Avenue and at the San Diego County Assessor Office at 200 S. Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon.
The state-run sites open on Tuesday, May 19, and are in addition to state sites already operating in Escondido and Chula Vista. To make an appointment at any of the state-run locations, visit www.lhi.care/covidtesting or call (888) 634-1123.
Additionally, the County’s Live Well on Wheels Mobile Office tomorrow will once again offer COVID-19 testing at Euclid Health Center, located at 292 Euclid Ave. An appointment is required and can be set up by calling 2-1-1. The mobile test site will continue to operate at Euclid Health Center each Saturday for the foreseeable future.
For a full rundown on sites, click here.
Petition launched to reopen boardwalk for popular rollerblader 'Slomo'
With local boardwalks closed due to COVID-19, SanDiegoVille created a petition to ask San Diego County and city officials to reopen the boardwalk for Slomo. For a full interview with Slomo and to see an interview with him, click here.