By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
Community outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to be a concern for the region since this “trigger” has remained in the red for the past seven days.
The County today announced eight community outbreaks have occurred in the past seven days. The outbreaks were identified in businesses, a campground, a social club, a restaurant, private homes and a federal facility.
COVID-19 community outbreaks are one of 13 metrics the County is monitoring that could trigger new restrictions. The measure stipulates that no more than seven new outbreaks can be reported over a seven-day period. A community outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households.
Also, 332 COVID-19 cases were reported June 23, a new record for the region and another indication that the virus continues to be widespread.
Given the number of COVID-19 community outbreaks being identified and the higher number of cases, the County has paused the reopening of additional sectors of the economy and won’t move forward, even if the state releases new guidance, until it is safe to do it.
Outbreak response
When a COVID-19 outbreak is connected to a business, such as a restaurant, it closes on its own to make sure all of its policies and procedures are being followed. Those include appropriate hygiene and sanitation, the use of face coverings, physical distancing and employee and customer health screenings.
“Most businesses are very responsible because they want to protect their employees and their customers,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer.
Public vigilance remains essential.
“It’s important for people to remember that the virus has not gone away,” Wooten said. “As more people interact with each other, the risk for exposure increases. People should stay home as much as possible.”
As more industries open up and San Diegans more frequently leave home, they must do the following to protect themselves and the public’s health:
Practice good hand hygiene and sanitation
Keep six feet apart
Wear a face covering
Avoid crowded places
Stay home if they are sick
man wearing face covering
San Diegans are required to wear a facial covering while in public and close to other people.
COVID-19 Tests, Cases and Deaths
Testing:
6,981 tests reported to the County June 23 and 5% were positive new cases.
The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive tests is 3.1%.
Cases:
332 new cases in San Diego County residents for a total of 11,626.
1,661 or 14.3% of cases have required hospitalization.
456 or 3.9% of all cases and 27.5% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
Six more COVID-19 deaths were reported today, and the region’s total is now 347.
Four men and two women died between June 12 and June 22 and their ages ranged from 66 to 89 years.
All had underlying medical conditions.
More COVID-19 Information
More information on COVID-19 and detailed data summaries can be found at the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website.
Related: business actionscommunity outbreakscoronavirusCOVID-19
José A. Álvarez is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office
