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A record number of cases and 58 other deaths related to COVID-19 were reported on December 31, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.
With 4,478 reported cases of COVID-19, the region’s total is now 160,073. This is the first time the daily total has exceeded 4,000 cases in a single day and eclipsed the previous record set on December 17, 2020 when 3,611 cases have been reported.
In addition, 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 recorded on December 30.
“The record number of cases and the high number of deaths that we are seeing means that we need to do better by following public health guidelines, particularly in avoiding unnecessary contact with people outside our immediate homes,” Eric said. McDonald, MD, MPH, Medical Director of the County Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch. “With vaccines becoming more and more available, we plan to take the next step in our fight against COVID-19 in 2021, but it looks like it will be a very difficult January.”
With recent local detections of B.1.1.7. new strain of coronavirus first discovered in the UK, San Diegans should more than ever do the following:
- wash your hands
- Wear a mask
- Keep your distance from others and only leave your home for essential activities
- If you are sick, get tested, then stay home and isolate yourself
ICU capacity and order of stay at home:
- The current availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for the Southern California area is now 0.0% and will be updated daily by the state.
- The regional stay-at-home ordinance is in effect and prohibits gatherings of any size with people from other households and adds restrictions for several areas.
- The order will last until the region’s ICU availability reaches or exceeds 15%.
Community-based epidemics:
- Eight new community epidemics were confirmed on Dec. 31: four in businesses, two in grocery stores, one in a health care facility and one in a faith-based setting.
- In the past seven days (December 25 to December 31), 53 community outbreaks have been confirmed.
- The number of community outbreaks remains above the trigger by seven or more in seven days.
- A community-based outbreak is defined as three or more cases of COVID-19 in one setting and in people from different households in the past 14 days.
Test:
- 31,602 tests were reported to the county on Dec.31 and the percentage of new laboratory-confirmed cases was 14%.
- The daily 7-day test average is 21,726.
- People at higher risk for COVID-19 who may or may not have symptoms should be tested. People with symptoms should get tested. Healthcare workers and essential workers should also be tested, as well as people who have had close contact with a positive case or who live in highly affected communities. Those who have recently returned from travel or attended holiday gatherings are also advised to get tested.
Case:
- 5,914 or 3.7% of all cases required hospitalization.
- 1,219 or 0.8% of all cases and 20.6% of hospitalized cases required admission to an intensive care unit.
Death:
- 58 new deaths from COVID-19 were reported to the county on December 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 their late 40s to their early 100s.
- 42 had underlying medical conditions and 16 have a pending medical history.
More information:
More detailed data summaries found on the county’s coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 p.m. daily.
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