SAN DIEGO — On Friday, May 8, Dr. Wilma Wooten, Chairman Greg Cox, Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, Dr. Eric McDonald, and Director of Health and Human Services Agency Nick Macchione gave a coronavirus update for San Diego County. You can watch the entire update here.
“I know that this crisis has continued and it’s started to feel a lot like Groundhog Day,” said Cox.
Campgrounds will open up in limited capacity for people in the same household. Any campground playgrounds will be closed and only half off campsites will be available. Cox urged people to be patience, as there will be less campsites to reserve.
“I’m really excited to share this news with you today,” said Cox.
Reservations for June will open in a few weeks, according to Cox.
“Let’s enjoy the upside of outside,” said Cox.
There are even more recreation changes coming to San Diego County. Cox said single riders can now use golf carts. Fletcher said the county is now allowing people to rent certain recreation items, like bikes, boats, and kayaks.
Tennis courts and handball can open if there is proof people will comply with physical distancing. Again, these activities are only allowed for people from the same household. Fletcher said the owner-operators of the recreational areas need to publicly post health guidelines and any applicable employees have to go through temperature checks. Per the state health order, community swimming pools are still closed.
While Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that certain California counties may qualify for a regional variance that will allow their county supervisors and health officers to move through phase two of reopening faster than the state's pace, Fletcher said San Diego will not qualify for regional variance due to its large population. That exception is for primarily rural counties with no deaths for 14 consecutive days.
Wooten said 3,572 people were tested for coronavirus on May 7, which the county said represents the most people tested in a single day. Keep in mind, the goal is to test 5,200 people per day countywide. 72,634 people have been tested as of May 7.
On Friday, Wooten announced 233 new positive test results, bringing the total to 4,662 people that have tested positive in San Diego County. 387 people are in the hospital due to COVID-19 countywide.
169 people have died of COVID-19 in San Diego County. The four deaths announced on Friday include three women and one man.
There will be free coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in South East San Diego County this weekend for 80 patients:
1). 50 appointments are available on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Euclid Health Center at 292 Euclid Avenue.
2). 30 appointments are available on Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jacobs Center at 404 Euclid Avenue.
"Bottom line, we continue to look for more ways to increase our testing sites, and it's done with our partners," said Macchione.