Health

Record COVID-19 Cases, 33 More Deaths Reported in Region

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Another record number of COVID-19 cases and an additional 33 deaths were reported in San Diego County, the Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

The new daily record now stands at 4,550 COVID-19 cases, reported Jan. 7, bringing the region’s total to 185,062. The overall total includes 28 confirmed and 13 suspect cases of the variant of the novel coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom, known as B.1.1.7.

This is the third time the daily total has surpassed 4,000 cases in a single day since the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The previous high totals were set Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, when 4,478 and 4,427 cases were reported respectively.

Additionally, 33 COVID-19 deaths were reported, and the total now stands at 1,771.

“We anticipated that cases would spike after the holidays and they did. We need to do a better job following the public health guidelines, especially now that the more contagious variant of COVID-19 is in our communities,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “San Diegans should not be gathering with people outside their household and should stay home as much as possible.”

San Diegans should do the following now more than ever:

  • Wear a mask
  • Keep your distance from others and leave your household only for essential activities
  • Wash your hands
  • If you’re sick, get tested, and then stay home and isolate yourself

For more information about COVID-19, testing locations and vaccine distribution, visit www.coronavirus-sd.com.

ICU Capacity and Stay Home Order:

  • The current intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability for the Southern California region is 0.0% and will be updated by the state daily.
  • The Regional Stay Home Order is in effect and prohibits gatherings of any size with people from other households and adds restrictions for multiple sectors.
  • The order will last until the region’s ICU availability meets or exceeds 15%.

Community Setting Outbreaks:

  • 10 new community outbreaks were confirmed on Jan. 7: four in business settings, three in health care settings, two in distribution warehouse settings and one in a daycare/preschool/childcare setting.
  • In the past seven days (Jan. 1 through Jan. 7), 40 community outbreaks were confirmed.
  • The number of community outbreaks remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
  • A community setting outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households over the past 14 days.

Testing:

  • 28,952 tests were reported to the County on Jan. 7, and the percentage of new positive cases was 16%.
  • The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 14.3%. Target is less than 8.0%.
  • The 7-day, daily average of tests is 23,341.
  • People at higher risk for COVID-19 who are with or without symptoms should be tested. People with any symptoms should get tested. Healthcare and essential workers should also get a test, as well as people who have had close contact to a positive case or live in communities that are being highly impacted. Those recently returned from travel, or who participated in holiday gatherings, are also urged to get tested.

Cases:

  • 6,177 or 3.3% of all cases have required hospitalization.
  • 1,268 or 0.7% of all cases and 20.5% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.

Deaths:

  • 33 new COVID-19 deaths were reported to the County on Jan. 7. The region’s total is now 1,771.
  • 23 men and 10 women died between Dec. 13 and Jan. 6.
  • Of the 33 new deaths reported, 13 people who passed away were 80 years or older, six people were in their 70s, nine people were in their 60s, three people were in their 50s, one person was in their 30s and one person was in their 20s.
  • All had underlying medical conditions.

More Information:

The more detailed data summaries found on the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 p.m. daily.

José A. Álvarez is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact