By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
Feb. 23, 2021 | 5:58 PM
Nearly 80,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped to San Diego County have begun arriving in the region, allowing for the rescheduling of all missed second doses and the widespread resumption of first dose appointments.
The vaccines represent the doses expected this week and those delayed last week by severe winter storms elsewhere in the United States.
To date, over 828,000 COVID-19 doses have been delivered to the region with nearly 752,000 administered. The difference between the two numbers represents approximately what is expected to be administered the next seven days and doses still to be entered in the record system.
Those vaccinated to date include nearly 185,000 San Diegans who are fully vaccinated, while 19.1% of the population over age 16 has received at least one dose.
More information about vaccine distribution can be found on the County’s vaccination dashboard.
State Metrics:
San Diego County’s state-calculated, adjusted case rate is currently 15 cases per 100,000 residents (as of Feb. 23) and the region is in Purple Tier or Tier 1.
The testing positivity percentage is 5%, placing the County in Tier 2 or the Red Tier. While the testing positivity rate for the County qualifies it for the Red Tier, the state uses the most restrictive metric – in this case the adjusted case rate – and assigns counties to that tier. Therefore, the County remains in the Purple Tier or Tier 1.
The County’s health equity metric, which looks at the testing positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions, is 7.4% and is in the Red Tier or Tier 2. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive tiers but is required to advance to a less restrictive tier.
The California Department of Public Health assesses counties on a weekly basis. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday, March. 2.
Community Setting Outbreaks:
One new community outbreak was confirmed Feb. 22 in a daycare/preschool/childcare setting.
In the past seven days (Feb. 16 through Feb. 22), 23 community outbreaks were confirmed.
The number of community outbreaks remains 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 over the past 14 days.
Testing:
10,900 tests were reported to the County on Feb. 22, and the percentage of new positive cases was 4%.
The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 4.6%. Target is less than 8.0%.
The 7-day, daily average of tests is 14,444.
Cases, Hospitalizations and ICU Admissions:
454 cases were reported to the County on Feb. 22. The region’s total is now 257,805.
13,040 or 5.1% of all cases have required hospitalization.
1,578 or 0.6% of all cases and 12.1% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
29 new COVID-19 deaths were reported Feb. 22. The region’s total is 3,218.
20 men and nine women died between Dec. 7 and Feb. 21.
Of the 29 deaths reported Feb. 22, 11 people who died were 80 years or older, five were in their 70s, nine were in their 60s and four were in their 50s.
All had underlying medical conditions.
More Information:
The more detailed data summaries found on the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 p.m. daily.
Related: coronavirusCOVID-19delayed dosesupdateVaccines
José A. Álvarez is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office.
