The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is reporting a record number of new COVID-19 deaths. The 62 deaths reported today surpass the previous single-day record of 39 deaths reported on December 22.
Meanwhile, sequencing the entire genome has detected three new cases of the UK variant of COVID-19, also known as B.1.1.7., In addition to yesterday’s report.
The three cases of recently confirmed variants reported today were initially identified by Helix during the diagnostic test and then confirmed by sequencing the complete genome by Scripps Research.
New cases of the UK strain have been found in men, two in their 40s and one in their 50s. The contact tracking shows that two men have not traveled outside the county, while the third case has not yet been fully interviewed. None of the men had any known interaction between themselves or the other confirmed case.
A home contact from the first location B.1.1.7. strain case reported yesterday was hospitalized for COVID-19, with pending complete genome sequencing.
The discovery of additional cases leads county health officials to believe that the new strain of the virus is widespread in the community. The four individuals who tested positive for B.1.1.7. pedigree living in La Mesa, Mission Beach, Otay Mesa and the Carmel Mountain / Rancho Bernardo area.
“We believe that many more cases of B. 1.1.7. the strain will be confirmed in the coming days and weeks, ”said Eric McDonald, MD, MPH, medical director of the county’s Epidemiology and Immunization Services branch. “It has been reported that this strain of the virus spreads more easily in the UK and therefore it is crucial that now, more than ever in this pandemic, we follow public health orders and keep us safe.”
In view of the high number of cases and the detection of a new strain in the region, the county health authorities recommend that the San Diegans:
- Wash the hands
- Wear a mask
- Stay away from other people and leave the house only for essential activities
- If you are sick, get tested and then stay home and isolate yourself
ICU capacity and order of stay at home:
- The current availability of beds in intensive care units (ICUs) for the Southern California region is 0.0% and will be updated daily by the state.
- O Regional home stay order is in place and prohibits meetings of any size with people from other families and adds restrictions for various sectors.
- The order will last until the availability of ICUs in the region reaches or exceeds 15%.
Community configuration outbreaks:
- 12 new outbreaks in the community were confirmed on December 30: three in healthcare settings, two in business settings, two in emergency service settings, two in religious agency settings, one in a food / beverage processing environment, one in a TK-12 school environment and another in a daycare / preschool / daycare center.
- In the past seven days (December 24-30), 59 community outbreaks have been confirmed.
- The number of outbreaks in the community remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
- An outbreak in a community setting is defined as three or more cases of COVID-19 in an environment and in people from different households in the past 14 days.
Test:
- 28,183 exams were notified to the county on December 30, and the percentage of new laboratory confirmed cases was 11%.
- The average continuous percentage of positive cases over 14 days is 11%. The target is less than 8.0%.
- The daily 7-day test average is 21,379.
- People at higher risk for COVID-19 with or without symptoms should be tested. People with any symptoms should get tested. Health professionals and essentials should also be tested, as well as people who have had close contact with a positive case or live in communities that are being highly affected. Those who have recently returned from a trip or who have participated in festive events should also take the test.
Cases:
- 3,083 new cases were reported to the county on December 30. The total for the region now stands at 155,595.
- 5,869 or 3.8% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1,216 or 0.8% of all cases and 20.7% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- 62 new COVID-19 deaths were reported to the county on December 30. The total for the region is now 1,534.
- 26 women and 36 men died between 15 and 30 December, and their ages ranged from 40 to 100 years.
- A total of 59 had underlying medical problems, one had no medical problems and two have pending medical history.
More information:
The most detailed data summaries found in the County coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 pm daily.