San Diego County public health officials reported 300 new COVID-19 infections and four deaths Thursday, increasing the region's cumulative totals to 272,494 cases and 3,592 deaths.
Three women and one man died between March 16 and April 7. Of the people who died, three were in their 70s and one was in their 50s. Three had underlying medical conditions while the other did not.
Of the 16,596 tests reported Thursday, 2% returned positive. The 14- day running average as tallied by the county is 2.3%.
Curious how the vaccine rollout is going in San Diego County? KPBS is tracking the progress.
Hospitalizations related to the virus decreased to 173 from the 181 reported Wednesday. Patients in intensive care units remained unchanged at 57. There are 61 available, manned ICU beds in the county.
More than 2.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to San Diego County, according to the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency, and 1,097,317 county residents — or 40.8% — have received at least one dose of the two-dose vaccines.
A total of 642,123 people in San Diego County — or 23.9% — are fully vaccinated.
These numbers include both county residents and those who work in San Diego County. The state's goal is to vaccinate 75% of people 16 and older to achieve herd immunity — around 2.02 million San Diego County residents.
Three new community outbreaks were reported Thursday: one in a business setting, one in a grocery/retail setting and one in a retail setting. In the past seven days, 18 community outbreaks were confirmed.
The county moved into the less-restrictive orange tier of the state's coronavirus reopening system Wednesday, and a 10 p.m. curfew for all restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and wineries was lifted.
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The county was able to move to the orange tier because the state administered 4 million vaccinations in low-income communities hardest hit by the pandemic. That goal triggered an adjustment of the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy, allowing San Diego County — which has reported fewer than 6 cases per every 100,000 residents for the last two weeks — to move up.
The orange tier includes restaurants being able to operate at 50% of capacity — or 200 customers, whichever is fewer — while bars without food service may begin outdoors operations. Museums, zoos, aquariums, movie theaters and places of worship may have 50% of capacity indoors.
Amusement parks may increase attendance to 25% of capacity for in- state visitors. Gyms, bowling alleys and family entertainment centers can allow 25% capacity indoors and indoor pools can reopen.
Sporting events, concerts and other live events can increase attendance to 33% of capacity for in-state fans. There will be no capacity limits for indoor retail shopping.
On a broader scale, California health officials said Tuesday that all state COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, gatherings and recreational activities will be lifted June 15, although a mask mandate will remain in place.
The June 15 date could be adjusted if the state begins over the next two months to experience rises in hospitalization numbers or a sudden lack of vaccine supply. Officials urged all residents to ensure the move occurs on time by continuing to practice infection-control measures.
