A record number of cases and another 58 deaths from COVID-19 were reported on December 31, the province’s health and human services agency announced today.
With 4,478 COVID-19 cases reported, the region’s total is now 160,073. This is the first time that the daily total exceeds 4,000 cases in a single day and obscures the previous record on 17 December 2020 when 3,611 cases logged in.
Furthermore, 58 additional deaths were reported on December 31, and the total now stands at 1,592. This is the second highest daily total reported after a record 62 deaths were registered on December 30.
“The record number of cases and total deaths we see means we need to do better to follow public health guidelines, especially to avoid unnecessary contact with those outside our immediate households,” said Eric McDonald, MDH, MD director of the Provincial Branch for Epidemiology and Immunization Services. “With the availability of vaccines, we expect to make a comeback in our fight against COVID-19 in 2021, but it looks like it’s going to be a very difficult January.”
With the recent local detection of the B.1.1.7. new coronavirus strain first found in the UK, San Diegans must now, more than ever before, do the following:
- 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 Stay Home Order is in effect 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:
- Eight new community outbreaks were confirmed on December 31: four in business environments, two in grocery environments, one in a healthcare environment and one in a faith-based environment.
- In the last seven days (25 to 31 December), 53 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:
- 31,602 tests were reported to the province on 31 December, and the percentage of new cases confirmed by laboratory was 14%.
- The 7 day daily average of tests is 21 726.
- 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:
- 5,914 or 3.7% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1 219 or 0.8% of all cases and 20.6% of the hospital cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- 58 new COVID-19 deaths were reported to the County on Dec. 31. The region’s total is now 1,592.
- 37 men and 21 women died between December 14 and December 31, and their ages ranged from late 40s to early 100s.
- 42 had underlying medical conditions and 16 had medical history pending.
More information:
The more detailed summaries of the data found on the coronavirus-sd.com website are updated daily around 5pm.