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Health

San Diego County Prioritizing 2nd Doses as Winter Weather Slows Vaccine Deliveries

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People with appointments line up at the Sharp Covid-19 vaccination supersite at Grossmont Center in La Mesa. Photo by Chris Stone

San Diego County’s COVID-19 numbers are headed in the right direction, even as the county reported 539 new infections of the virus and 57 deaths, according to the county’s most recent reports.

San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said Wednesday that a supply-chain issue with vaccines last weekend shows how thin the margins are for delays and mistakes in the system. The winter storm impacting much of the country has also put a damper on some vaccine appointments.

Due to delays in vaccine shipments to San Diego, the county is rescheduling approximately 1,000 first-dose appointments at its sites on Thursday and Friday. Those affected are being notified they will be rescheduled for next week.

Of 765,500 vaccine doses the county has received, 663,194 have been administered, more than 3,000 are awaiting processing and 98,000 are accounted for by appointments.

“You can see we are running very, very lean,” Fletcher said.

The county is reserving a portion of available COVID-19 vaccination appointments each day for a pilot project that aims to equitably distribute the novel coronavirus vaccine.

Scheduling Assistance for Vaccine Equity sets aside appointments for people who are in the currently eligible groups and at high risk for complications from COVID-19.

“We need to make sure that communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 have easier access to the vaccine,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer. “This project is making it easier for people who qualify to make appointments and get vaccinated.”

The county now has five vaccine super stations and 15 smaller neighborhood distribution sites according to the county Health and Human Services Agency. Despite the supply-chain problems, Fletcher said the county has allocated its vaccines efficiently enough that he believes teachers, food and agriculture workers and law enforcement officers will be able to begin receiving vaccines by as soon as the first week of March.

Additionally, the HHSA anticipates it will complete vaccinations in the county’s skilled nursing facilities this week, freeing up mobile teams to provide more shots around the county. In total, around 17.6% of the county’s population over the age of 16 have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 5% are fully inoculated.

Wednesday’s data increased the number of COVID-19 infections to 254,180 since the pandemic began, while the death toll increased to 3,099.

The 57 deaths — one of the highest daily death tolls locally — are a reminder of the deadly seriousness of the pandemic, Fletcher said, but are likely a result of lagging effects from a significant case spike in December and January.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by just four patients to 804, while intensive care patients decreased by 10 to 256 from Tuesday’s numbers. There are 57 available, staffed ICU beds in the county.

Of 13,771 tests reported Wednesday, 4% returned positive, bringing the 14-day rolling average of positive tests to 5.5%.

On Tuesday, the county’s rate of new cases dropped enough to allow elementary schools to resume in-person instruction for students in pre- kindergarten through sixth grade.

According to the state’s weekly COVID-19 update, San Diego County’s adjusted case rate is 22.2 cases per 100,000 residents. The state permits elementary schools to reopen as soon as counties reach an adjusted average new daily case rate of 25 per 100,000 residents.

In-person classes cannot resume for seventh though 12th grades until the county’s rate of new COVID-19 cases falls to seven per 100,000 residents.

San Diego County’s seven-day testing positivity percentage is 6.4%, placing the county in the red tier of the four-tiered state re-opening plan for that metric. The state uses each county’s worst metric — in this case the adjusted case rate — and assigns counties to that tier.

The county’s health equity metric, which looks at the testing positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions, is 9.7% and is in the purple tier. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive tiers, but is required to advance to a less restrictive tier.

Updated at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 18, 2021

–City News Service


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Health

Where Are Leftover COVID-19 Vaccines in San Diego County? – NBC 7 San Diego

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While the COVID-19 vaccine is in short supply in San Diego County, occasional scheduling issues, missed appointments and other factors leave a number of doses available at some vaccination sites.

NBC 7 will provide updates on the latest surplus appointments here. This story will be updated when the latest information becomes available. Keep checking back for details.

Vaccines Available:

Feb. 16: Sharp HealthCare has opened up 2,000 appointment slots at its county vaccine stations. Appointments are available for San Diego County residents 65 and older, and health care workers. Locations include: Grossmont Center Vaccination Super Station, Chula Vista Vaccination Super Station and a community site at Coronado. Find out each locations hours and availability here.

Feb. 15: San Diego Fire-Rescue says there are appointments available this week at two of their vaccination locations. Those 65 and older can schedule appointments Tuesday to Thursday through the SDFD’s portal here. On Tuesday, SDFD said they may expand appointments to Friday as well, if there is still availability.

When you finally get your COVID-19 vaccine, you may be tempted to celebrate by posting a pic of your vaccine card on social media. Resist that urge. LX Host Nik Z talked with Sandra Guile of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus about how this could make you vulnerable to identity theft and other scams.



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World

Gorillas at the San Diego Zoo made a full recovery from Covid-19

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Western lowland gorilla, Winston, at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, on February 11. Tammy Spratt/San Diego Zoo Global

Eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo have made a full recovery after contracting Covid-19 last month, the zoo said. 

The western lowland gorillas caught the West Coast variant of the coronavirus, zoo officials say, despite team members adhering to all recommended biosecurity precautions.

All eight gorillas at the zoo were secluded after the diagnosis, with some showing symptoms that included “mild coughing, congestion, nasal discharge and intermittent lethargy,” the zoo said in an online update.

Zoo officials credit the gorillas recuperation to “the highest standard of care” offered by the zoo’s veterinary team, wildlife care professionals, and a collaboration with a wide array of colleagues and partners.

“We’re so grateful for the outpouring concern and support we’ve received while the troop safely recovered,” said Lisa Peterson, executive director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “We’re thrilled to share the joy that this beloved troop brings to our community and to our guests.”

 

San Diego Zoo has committed to sharing documentation of the coronavirus in its gorillas with hopes that it will help “provide important information regarding scientific understanding of the virus and its effects on great apes.”

The gorillas are now on view for visitors.

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Health

San Diego County COVID-19 Update – 2-10-2021 | News

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Here is today’s COVID-19 update from the County Health and Human Services Agency with data through Feb. 9, 2021.

State Metrics:

  • San Diego County’s state-calculated, adjusted case rate is currently 34.2 cases per 100,000 residents and the region is in Purple Tier or Tier 1.
  • The testing positivity percentage is 9.1%, placing the County in Tier 1 or the Purple Tier.
  • The County’s health equity metric, which looks at the testing positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions, is 12.1% and it’s in the Purple Tier or Tier 1. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive tiers, but is required to advance to a less restrictive tier.
  • The California Department of Public Health assesses counties on a weekly basis. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Community Setting Outbreaks:

  • Nine community outbreaks were confirmed Feb. 9: four in business settings, two in construction settings, one in a faith-based agency setting, one in a government setting and one in a retail setting.
  • In the past seven days (Feb. 3 through Feb 9), 70 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:

  • 19,461 tests were reported to the County on Feb. 9, and the percentage of new positive cases was 4%.
  • The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 6.5%. Target is less than 8.0%.
  • The 7-day, daily average of tests is 18,772.
  • 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 are also urged to get tested.

Cases, Hospitalizations and ICU Admissions:

  • 810 cases were reported to the County on Feb. 9. The region’s total is now 248,861.
  • 11,011 or 4.4% of all cases have required hospitalization.
  • 1,529 or 0.6% of all cases and 13.9% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.

Deaths:

  • Fifty-one COVID-19 deaths were reported Feb. 9. The region’s total is 2,904.
  • Sixteen women and 35 men died between Jan. 9 and Feb. 8.
  • Of the 51 new deaths reported today, 17 people who passed away were 80 years or older, 12 people were in their 70s, 12 people were in their 60s, eight people were in their 50s and two people were in their 40s.
  • Fourty-eight had underlying medical conditions, one did not and two had medical history pending.

More Information:

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

 


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US

More than 100 students and staff quarantined in San Diego County 2 days after resuming in-person learning

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“While the quarantines so early in the reopening are frustrating and concerning, positive Covid cases and quarantines were not unexpected,” Escondido Union School District Superintendent Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra said in a statement to CNN.

The challenging environment created by Covid-19 has impacted schools nationwide as teachers and students grapple with the new reality of distance-learning models, wearing masks, and social distancing, following the recommendations of local and state health officials.
After months spent learning online, many officials are eager to reopen classrooms, which has sparked debate over whether it is safe to return to in-person learning.

In Escondido, 8,700 students across 23 campuses were enrolled in their hybrid model learning program that began Tuesday, with students divided into cohorts and attending school in-person at different portions of the day.

Yet, despite those measures, seven individuals tested positive across various Escondido school sites and attended in an infectious state, resulting in the quarantine of 81 students and 15 staff members, Escondido Union School District told CNN.

The impacted schools this week were Farr Avenue Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, Rock Springs Elementary, and Mission Middle School, according to the district. Students and employees that have been affected have returned to distance learning.

District officials said meticulous contact-tracing confirmed these positive cases were not transmitted at schools, but rather from individuals who are extended family members of those who stepped foot on the various campuses.

“Our city struggles with a high case rate, and our community includes many multi-generational families. This makes for a challenging environment,” Superintendent Rankins-Ibarra said. “It is unfortunate that individuals still come to campus while they are awaiting Covid test results or after having close contact with someone who is positive, or while they are feeling ill,” he added.

The superintendent emphasized families should keep their children at home if they are “sick in any way.” He said safety continues to be a top priority and “very strict health and safety standards” will be heightened at the school sites. He also said district officials believe they can sustain on-campus instruction in the hybrid model moving forward.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure a safe environment for our students and employees while they are on campus,” Rankins-Ibarra said. “However, we cannot control the environments off campus,” he said.

Prior to the outbreaks, the health and safety protocols in place included temperature checks and verbal questionnaires to all students about symptoms and exposure before entering classrooms, school officials said. Classrooms had portable air-filtration systems and spacing between desks. There was also a maximum of 12 students in a classroom at both the elementary and middle-school levels. It is unclear how the safety standards will be strengthened following the latest positive cases.

While data in San Diego indicates the start of a downward trend in case rates and hospitalizations, the county has reported a total of 244,069 positive cases and 2,777 deaths since the start of the pandemic. It remains in the purple tier, or the strictest tier of California’s coronavirus reporting system, which requires the closure of many non-essential indoor businesses.

On Friday, San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency marked another grim milestone, reporting its first pediatric Covid-19 death. The deceased was a 10-year-old boy with underlying medical conditions, officials said.

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Health

San Diego County reports first child COVID-19-related death

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego County reported 39 additional COVID-19 fatalities Friday including the county’s first pediatric death.

The county public health officer confirmed the child was a 10-year-old boy with underlying medical conditions, but declined to release specific details because of privacy laws.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of this child,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “This boy’s death is a somber reminder that this pandemic impacts everyone in our community, regardless of their age, and we must do everything we can to protect each other and slow the spread of the virus.”

Wooten continues to urge San Diegans to do the following:

  • Wash your hands
  • Watch your distance around others
  • Wear a mask
  • When sick, stay home and get tested
  • Get vaccinated when it is your turn

The “vaccination superstation” at Petco Park administered its 100,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.

San Diego County has the capacity to administer more than 20,000 vaccines daily and expects to raise that to 30,000 next week, but currently only has the supplies to administer around 10,000 vaccines a day.

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Health

San Diego County COVID-19 Update – 2-2-2021 | News

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Here is today’s COVID-19 update from the County Health and Human Services Agency with data through Feb. 1, 2021.

State Metrics:

  • San Diego County’s state-calculated, adjusted case rate is currently 42.5 cases per 100,000 residents and the region is in Purple Tier or Tier 1.
  • The testing positivity percentage is 10.5%, placing the County in Tier 1 or the Purple Tier.
  • The County’s health equity metric, which looks at the testing positivity for areas with the lowest healthy conditions, is 14% and it’s in the Purple Tier or Tier 1. This metric does not move counties to more restrictive tiers but is required to advance to a less restrictive tier.
  • The California Department of Public Health assesses counties on a weekly basis. The next report is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Community Setting Outbreaks:

  • Four community outbreaks were confirmed Feb. 1: three in business settings and one in a distribution warehouse setting.
  • In the past seven days (Jan. 26 through Feb. 1), 57 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:

  • 9,955 tests were reported to the County on Feb. 1, and the percentage of new positive cases was 9%.
  • The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 8%. Target is less than 8.0%.
  • The 7-day, daily average of tests is 18,691.
  • 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 are also urged to get tested.

Cases, Hospitalizations and ICU Admissions:

  • 926 cases were reported to the County on Feb. 1. The last time a daily case total was under 1,000 was Nov. 29 when 959 cases were reported. The region’s total is now 240,050.
  • 10,255 or 4.3% of all cases have required hospitalization.
  • 1,464 or 0.6% of all cases and 14.3% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.

Deaths:

  • 10 new COVID-19 deaths were reported on Feb. 1. The region’s total is 2,629.
  • Seven men and three women died between Jan. 17 and Jan. 30.
  • Of the 10 new deaths reported that day, four people who died were 80 years or older, five people were in their 70s and one person was in their 60s.
  • 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.

 

 


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