San Diego County public health officials reported 1,150 new COVID-19 infections, 10 deaths and 50 more hospitalizations Thursday, as the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the virus continues.
Thursday's data increased the cumulative case count to 328,276, while deaths increased to 3,869.
The 50 new hospitalizations bring the region's current total to 719, while five new patients admitted to local intensive care units bring the total in ICU beds to 175.
RELATED: Scripps Research Director Weighs In On Vaccines, Boosters And The Fourth Wave
One month ago, there were 260 people in local hospitals with the virus, 52 of which were in ICU beds.
San Diego County's case rate per 100,000 residents was 35.2, compared to last week's 28.7. That number can be further parsed to 9.3 for fully vaccinated people and 66.9 for those not fully vaccinated. Both of those numbers have increased from last week — from six and 55.7 respectively — but the rate of not-fully vaccinated people is seven times higher than those fully vaccinated.
Perhaps more tellingly, the hospitalization rate for the unvaccinated is 32 times higher than those fully vaccinated.
The average daily case rate July 20 was 4.2 per 100,000, according to county data.
The San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency began recommending all San Diegans wear facial coverings in indoor public settings this week.
While vaccinated people are no longer required to wear a face covering in most settings, the California Department of Public Health updated its guidance for those who are fully vaccinated to strongly encourage the continued use of face coverings indoors.
"Indoor masking, regardless of vaccination status, adds an additional layer of protection and reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer. "If you are not fully vaccinated yet, I urge you to get your shot now, so we can slow the spread of this more contagious strain of COVID-19."
The guidance recommends that all Californians, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in indoor public settings. People who are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19 should be particularly cautious, as well as people who share a household with someone who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease, not fully vaccinated, or not yet eligible for vaccination.
RELATED: Quarantined: A New Law Is Disrupting California School Reopenings
Indoor masking for vaccinated people is also supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which notes that individual and community- level prevention measures, in addition to vaccination, have been shown to help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
The new guidance is in addition to CDPH mandates requiring masks on public transit, in transportation hubs like airports, indoors in K-12 schools and childcare centers, emergency shelters, cooling centers, health care settings, state and local correctional facilities and detention centers, homeless shelters, long term care settings and adult and senior care facilities.
Additionally, masks are required for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses, retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers and state and local government offices serving the public.
More than 4.5 million vaccine doses have been administered in the county, with 2.38 million — or around 85% of San Diego County residents — having received at least one dose. Fully vaccinated county residents now number close to 2.09 million, or around 74.4% of the county's eligible population.
No-cost COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in the region. They can be found at medical providers, retail pharmacies, community clinics and county public health centers for people who do not have a medical provider. For a list of locations and more information, go to coronavirus-sd.com/vaccine.
RELATED: San Diego County Officials Recommend Masks For All Indoor Public Settings
A total of 25,227 tests were reported Thursday, and the percentage of new positive cases over the past week was 7.9%.
Additionally, 41 new community outbreaks were confirmed in the past seven days: 12 in business settings, six in restaurant/bar settings, five in government settings, five in TK-12 school settings, four in daycare/preschool/childcare settings, two in healthcare settings, one in a community-based organization setting, one in an emergency services setting, one in a faith-based setting, one in a hotel/resort/spa setting, one in a restaurant setting, one in a retail setting and one in a social club setting.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for people age 16 and older on Monday.
Approval is still pending for the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna coronavirus vaccines. Both remain available under and FDA emergency use authorization. The Pfizer vaccine also remains available under the emergency use order for people aged 12-15.
