The County of San Diego Agency for Health and Human Services reports a record high number of new deaths in COVID-19. The 62 deaths reported today surpass the previous one-day record of 39 deaths reported on December 22nd.
Meanwhile, the sequence of the entire genome has detected three new cases of the British variant of COVID-19, also known as B.1.1.7., Beyond yesterday’s report.
The three newly confirmed variant cases reported today were initially identified by Helix during diagnostic tests and then confirmed by Scripps Research throughout the genome sequence.
The new cases of the British strain were found in men, two in their 40s and one in his 50s. Contact detection shows that two men did not travel outside the country, while the third case has yet to be fully investigated. None of the men had a known interaction with each other or the other confirmed case.
A domestic contact of the first local B.1.1.7. tension reported yesterday was admitted to hospital for COVID-19, with complete genome sequence 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 individuals who tested positive for the B.1.1.7. tension lives 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. stress will be confirmed in the coming days and weeks, ”said Eric McDonald, Managing Director, MPH, Medical Director of the Epidemiology and Immunization Services branch. “After reporting that this virus strain is more easily spread in the UK, it is therefore important that we now, more than ever before, follow public health orders and keep each other safe.”
In view of the large number of cases and the new tension being detected in the region, the health officials of the province of San Diegans request:
- Wash your hands
- Wear a mask
- Keep away from others and leave your household only for essential activities
- If you are ill, you should be tested and then stay at home and be isolated
ICU capacity and stay at home order:
- The 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 force and prohibits meetings of any size with people from other households and adds restrictions for various sectors.
- The order will last until the ICU availability of the region reaches or exceeds 15%.
Community Institutions:
- 12 new community outbreaks were confirmed on December 30: three in health care institutions, two in business institutions, two in emergency services institutions, two in faith-based institutions, one in a food and beverage processing institution, one in a TK-12 school environment and one in a day care / preschool / child care institution.
- In the last seven days (December 24 to 30), 59 community outbreaks have been confirmed.
- The number of community outbreaks remains within seven days above the trigger of seven or more.
- An outbreak in a community over the past 14 days is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in an area and in people from different households.
Test:
- On December 18, 28,183 tests were reported to the province, and the percentage of new cases confirmed by laboratory was 11%.
- The current average percentage of positive cases of 14 days is 11%. The target is less than 8.0%.
- The daily average of 7 days is 21,379.
- People at higher risk for COVID-19 who are with or without symptoms should be tested. People with any symptoms should be tested. Healthcare and essential workers should also get a test, as well as people who have had close contact with a positive cause or live in communities that are greatly affected. Those who have recently returned from travel, or who have participated in holiday events, are also requested to be tested.
Incidents:
- 3,083 new cases were reported to the County on Dec. 30. The total of the region is now 155,595.
- 5,869 or 3.8% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1 216 or 0.8% of all cases and 20.7% of the hospital cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- 62 new COVID-19 deaths were reported to the county on Dec. 30. The total of the region is now 1,534.
- 26 women and 36 men died between 15 December and 30 December and their ages ranged from mid 40 to early 100 ‘.
- A total of 59 had underlying medical conditions, one did not have medical conditions and two had medical history pending.
More information:
The more detailed summaries of the information are on the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website is updated daily around 5pm.