County Launches Map of COVID-19 Case Rates as Cases Set Record | News

The county is launching a map of COVID-19 case rates that shows how cities and communities are affected by the novel coronavirus.

The interactive map allows users to identify the case rate per 100,000 inhabitants in cities and communities or by postal codes. The map also shows where each area falls within the various status levels and whether their case rate and test positivity is increasing or decreasing.

“Cities had previously requested the map to determine how they were behaving during the pandemic,” said Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, county public health official. “The map gives cities a clearer picture of the impact of COVID-19 on their residents and will help them determine whether to take more aggressive action to enforce public health guidelines to slow the spread of the virus. “

The map is a new tool the county is using to monitor COVID-19 in the region which is seeing a significant increase in cases.

COVID-19 cases set new record

On November 10, a record 661 cases of COVID-19 were reported in the county, surpassing the 652 cases reported on August 7. A total of 620 cases were reported on November 11, bringing the two-day total to 1,281.

“We haven’t seen such high cases in months and this is a clear indication that COVID-19 is widespread,” Wooten said. “These totals also show that people are not following public health recommendations which we know work to avoid catching and transmitting COVID-19. Coming in the weeks following Halloween, these results are a warning sign that we must follow public health guidelines throughout the coming holiday season. “

Daily totals of reported cases make it clear that the county, which now sits in the state’s most restrictive purple level, will likely stay there for the foreseeable future.

As the county’s case rate rose to 7.4 and then 8.9 in the past two weeks, the region must halt indoor operations at restaurants, gyms, churches and movie theaters starting Saturday November 14. Retailers will need to keep customers at 25% capacity.

The county will remain in the purple level for at least three weeks. It will not be able to reach the red level unless it posts a case rate of less than 7 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks in a row.

“The San Diegans should wear a mask, stay away from others and avoid gatherings,” Wooten said. “We do not have a vaccine yet and we must remain vigilant to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The California Department of Public Health assesses counties on a weekly basis. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17.

Other condition measurements:

• The percentage of positive tests is 2.6%, which places it in Tier 3 or Orange Tier.
• The county’s health equity measure, which examines the positivity of testing for areas with the lowest health conditions, is 6.5% and is in the red level or level 2. This measure does not shift not counties to more restrictive levels, but is necessary to progress.

Community-based epidemics:

• Seven new community outbreaks were confirmed on November 11: three in retail establishments, two in commercial establishments and two in food processing establishments.
• 16 community outbreaks were confirmed on November 10: six in commercial establishments, four in retail establishments, two in restaurants / bars, one in a restaurant, one in a TK-12 school, one in a gymnasium and one in a health care setting.
• In the past seven days (November 5 to November 11), 49 community outbreaks have been confirmed.
• The number of community epidemics 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:

• 17,908 tests were reported to the county on Nov. 11 and the percentage of new laboratory-confirmed cases was 3%.
• 13,754 tests were reported to the county on Nov.10, and the percentage of new laboratory-confirmed cases was 5%.
• The 14-day moving average percentage of positive cases is 3.7%. The target is less than 8.0%.
• The daily 7-day test average is 12,600.
• People with and without symptoms who are at higher risk for COVID-19 should be tested. Health professionals and essential workers should also be tested, as well as people who have had close contact with a positive case or who live in heavily affected communities.

Case:

• 620 new cases were confirmed among residents of San Diego County on Nov.11. The region’s total is now 62,334.
• 661 cases were reported on November 10.
• 4,130 or 6.6% of all cases required hospitalization.
• 948 or 1.5% of all cases and 23% of hospitalized cases required admission to an intensive care unit.

Death:

• No new deaths were reported in the county on November 11. The region’s total remains at 918.
• Three deaths were reported on November 10.
• Three men died between November 7 and November 10. Their ages ranged from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.
• All of them had underlying medical conditions.

More information:

The more detailed data summaries found on the County coronavirus-sd.com website will be updated around 5pm today.