The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency is reporting a record number of new COVID-19 deaths. The 62 deaths reported today far exceed the previous one-day record of 39 deaths reported on December 22.
Meanwhile, whole-genome sequencing has discovered three new cases of the British variant of COVID-19, also known as B.1.1.7., Following yesterday’s report.
The three newly confirmed variant cases reported today were initially identified by Helix during diagnostic testing and then confirmed by whole genome sequencing by Scripps Research.
The new cases of the British type were found in men, two in their forties and one in their fifties. Contact tracing shows that two men have not traveled outside the province, while the third case has not yet been fully interviewed. None of the men had any known interaction with each other or the other confirmed case.
A household contact from the first local B.1.1.7. The strain case reported yesterday has been hospitalized for COVID-19, while whole genome sequencing is pending.
The discovery of the additional cases leads County Health Officials to believe the new strain of the virus is widespread in the community. The four persons who tested positive for the B.1.1.7. kind of live in La Mesa, Mission Beach, Otay Mesa and the Carmel Mountain / Rancho Bernardo area.
“We believe that many more cases of the B. 1.1.7. strain will be confirmed in the coming days and weeks, ”said Eric McDonald, MD, MPH, medical director of the province’s division of epidemiology and immunization services. “This strain of the virus is said to be more easily spread in the UK, so it is critical that now, more than ever in this pandemic, we follow public health regulations and protect each other.”
In light of the high number of cases and new strains being detected in the region, county health officials are urging San Diegans to:
- Wash your hands
- Wear a mask
- Keep your distance from others and only leave your household for essential activities
- If you are sick, get tested and then stay home and isolate yourself
ICU Capacity and Stay Home Order:
- Current intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability for the Southern California region is now 0.0% and will be updated daily by the state.
- The Regional home order is in effect and prohibits gatherings of any size with people from other households and adds restrictions for multiple sectors.
- The order will last until ICU availability of the region is 15% or more.
Outbreaks in the community:
- On December 30, 12 new outbreaks were confirmed in the community: three in health care facilities, two in corporate settings, two in emergency services facilities, two in faith-based agencies, one in a food / beverage processing environment, one in a TK-12 school environment and one in a daycare / kindergarten / daycare.
- In the past seven days (December 24 through December 30), 59 outbreaks were confirmed in the community.
- The number of outbreaks in the community remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
- A community outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in an environment and in people from different households in the past 14 days.
To test:
- 28,183 tests were reported to the County on Dec. 30 and the percentage of new laboratory confirmed cases was 11%.
- The moving average percentage of positive cases over 14 days is 11%. Target is less than 8.0%.
- The 7-day, daily mean of tests is 21,379.
- People at higher risk for COVID-19 who are with or without symptoms should be tested. People with symptoms should be tested. Healthcare and essential workers should also be tested, as well as people who have been in close contact with a positive case or live in communities that are heavily affected. Those who have recently returned from travel, or who have attended vacation gatherings, are also urged to get tested.
Cases:
- 3,083 new cases were reported to the County on Dec. 30. The total of the region is now 155,595.
- Hospitalization was required in 5,869 or 3.8% of all cases.
- 1,216 or 0.8% of all cases and 20.7% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- On December 30, 62 new COVID-19 deaths were reported to the County. The region’s total is now 1,534.
- 26 women and 36 men died between December 15 and December 30, and their ages ranged from mid-40s to early 100s.
- A total of 59 had underlying medical conditions, one had no medical conditions and two had a medical history pending.
More information:
The more detailed data summaries on the The county coronavirus-sd.com website are updated daily around 5pm.