The County Health and Human Services Agency is marking another sad milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting the first local pediatric death. The deceased was a 10-year-old boy with latent medical problems.
“Our deepest condolences go out to this child’s family and friends,” said Wilma J. Wooten, MD, MPH, county public health officer. “The death of this boy is a bleak reminder that this pandemic affects everyone in our community, regardless of age, and we must do everything we can to protect each other and slow the spread of the virus.
Wooten continues to urge san dieganos to do the following:
- Wash your hands
- Beware of distance near others
- Wear a mask
- When sick, stay home and get tested
- Get vaccinated when it’s your turn
Changes to the South Bay vaccination clinic
Next Tuesday, February 9, the county’s Imperial Beach vaccination clinic is moving from its current location at Imperial Beach City Council to the Mar Vista High School academy, located at 505 Elm Avenue. The hours will remain the same, from Sunday to Thursday, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm and by appointment.
So far, the municipality has opened four super vaccination posts and 15 smaller community dispensing points, or PODs. Combined, they have the capacity to vaccinate 20,000 people daily, although vaccine supplies remain limited and not everyone who is currently eligible to be vaccinated can get an appointment immediately.
“We are asking san dieganos to be patient and get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible and doses are available,” said Wooten.
State metrics:
- The rate of cases adjusted and calculated by the state of San Diego County is currently 42.5 cases per 100,000 residents and the region is at Purple Level or Level 1.
- The percentage of test positivity is 10.5%, placing the County at Level 1 or Purple Level.
- The county’s health equity metric, which analyzes test positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions, is 14% and is at Purple Level or Level 1. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive levels, but is needed to proceed to the less restrictive layer.
- The California Department of Public Health evaluates counties weekly. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9.
Community configuration outbreaks:
- 16 community outbreaks were confirmed on February 4: eight in commercial settings, two in daycare centers / preschools / daycare centers, two in TK-12 school settings, one in a building environment, one in a faith-based environment, one in a health setting and one in a hotel / resort / spa setting.
- In the past seven days (January 29 to February 4), 68 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:
- 23,259 tests were notified to the county on February 4, and the percentage of new positive cases was 6%.
- The 14-day moving average percentage of positive cases is 7.7%. The target is less than 8.0%.
- The daily 7-day test average is 18,354.
- People at higher risk for COVID-19 with or without symptoms should be tested. People with any symptoms should get tested. Healthcare 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 must also take the test.
ICU cases, hospitalizations and admissions:
- 1,453 cases were reported to the county on February 4. The total for the region now stands at 244,069.
- 10,517 or 4.3% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1,488 or 0.6% of all cases and 14.1% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- 39 new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on February 4. The total for the region is 2,777.
- 15 women and 24 men died between 18 January and 3 February.
- Of the 39 new deaths reported today, 21 people who died were 80 or older, nine people were 70, five people were 60, two were in their 50s, one person was 40 and one was a child.
- 37 had underlying medical conditions, one did not have any underlying conditions and one had pending medical history.
More information:
The most detailed data summaries found in the County coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5pm daily.