A San Diego man without travel outside the county tested positive for the COVID-19 variant first identified in the UK, the county’s Health and Human Services Agency announced today.
The man was tested on December 29, after two days of symptoms, and the results showed a characteristic pattern that indicated it could be the new strain of the United Kingdom. The sample was sent immediately to Scripps Research and the sequencing of the complete genome determined on December 30 that it is the United Kingdom variant, also known as B.1.1.7.
The patient is not hospitalized and is currently isolated. The county case investigation identified household contacts being quarantined and tested for the new coronavirus. The man had little interaction with people outside his home, although it was potentially contagious.
“The B.1.1.7 strain is here and San Diegans can protect themselves against it by doing the same things they have been asked to do since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Eric McDonald, MD, MPH, medical director of County Epidemiology and Immunization Services branch. “Everyone should stay home and avoid meetings during the New Year’s holiday. The best way to celebrate is to make sure everyone stays healthy in 2021. ”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the UK strain is one of multiple variants of COVID-19 that have been identified worldwide.
There is some evidence that the new strains are more easily spread, but these variants are not believed to cause more serious illness or increase the risk of death.
Currently, it is also believed that vaccines currently available will offer protection against new emerging variants. Scientists continue to study new strains of the new coronavirus to determine its potential impact.
As the new strain has a higher transmission rate, this may lead to an increase in cases in the region. With New Year’s Eve tomorrow, county health officials say the San Diegans must do the following now more than ever:
- 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.
- The regional residence order is in effect 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:
- 11 new outbreaks in the community were confirmed on December 29: four in commercial settings, four in daycare centers / preschools / daycare centers, one in a TK-12 school setting, one in a food / beverage processing environment and one in one hotel / resort / spa setting.
- In the last seven days (23 to 29 December), 55 community outbreaks were 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:
- 23,957 exams were notified to the county on December 29, and the percentage of new laboratory confirmed cases was 10%.
- The 14-day moving average percentage of positive cases is 10.8%. The target is less than 8.0%.
- The daily 7-day test average is 21,645.
- 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:
- 2,448 new cases were reported to the county on December 29. The total for the region is now 152,512.
- 5,826 or 3.8% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1,213 or 0.8% of all cases and 20.8% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- 37 new COVID-19 deaths were reported to the county on December 29. The total for the region is now 1,472.
- 21 men and 16 women died between December 17 and 28, and their ages ranged between 50 and 100 years.
- 30 had underlying medical conditions and seven had an outstanding medical history.
More information:
The more detailed data summaries found on the county’s coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5pm daily.