San Diego County Reports Record Of 1,087 New COVID-19 Cases

Speaker 1: 00:00 On Sunday, San Diego reported over 1000 newly diagnosed cases of Corona virus. That number 1087 is a record daily total for the County, but it marked the fifth consecutive day that more than 600 new coronavirus cases were reported by the County. These high numbers do not indicate that San Diego will be able to move out of the purple tier anytime soon. And for public health officials, the numbers are an indication that San Diego may not be doing all. They can to stop the spread of the virus yesterday County supervisor Nathan Fletcher, pleaded with the public to wear masks and observe social distancing, even as the upcoming holiday season poses, more challenges to maintaining strict adherence to those guidelines. Joining me is San Diego County supervisor Nathan Fletcher, and a supervisor. Fletcher. Welcome. Speaker 2: 00:55 Thank you for having me. Are Speaker 1: 00:56 These numbers surprising to you? Speaker 2: 00:59 Uh, they're concerning? Uh, I think a lot of us were concerned. We would see an increase. I think, uh, what is, what is surprising is the severity of the scope of increased. We went from 300 cases a day to 400 to 600 to a thousand, and it's likely to continue to increase in. And that really is the alarming call to action. Speaker 1: 01:19 How is the County monitoring adherence to COVID safety measures by local businesses in particular? And I asked that question, because for instance, there are multiple gyms that are already telling their members. They won't be shutting down indoor operations. So has the County visited any of those businesses already and started the process of enforcement? Speaker 2: 01:43 Uh, we have, uh, we have, and we're in the process of issuing a series of cease and desist in public health closure notices. Uh, but one of the, one of the most challenging and frustrating things of COVID is that there's only, there are limitations to what you can enforce. Uh, we have individual law enforcement jurisdictions, and we have cities, uh, such as alcohol and that have, have proudly proclaimed. They will not enforce any public health orders, uh, or hold anyone accountable for egregious or blatant violations as, so we're going to continue to do everything we can within our power. But the reality is our effectiveness in responding to COVID is community-wide, uh, there is community-wide spread and that's where we need every city egg and to make an individual decision determination, uh, that we're going to come together and fight this thing, despite all of our political differences and partisan differences and ideological differences, whether you want business to be open or you want to save lives, we do the exact same thing and that's slow the spread. And so my hope is, uh, the overwhelming majority of San Diego will we'll hear that message will receive that message. And we'll really come together in a spirit of service, uh, to help us slow the count and benefit our whole County. Speaker 1: 02:45 Now, according to County numbers, 34% of cases in San Diego result from household exposure. Now that's about three times as many cases that come from exposure in bars and restaurants. So my question is, how is it possible? It's not a rhetorical one. I really would like to know how is it possible to be more careful at home? Speaker 2: 03:05 Well, that's where everyone has to make an individual determination. For example, Thanksgiving is certainly one of my favorite holidays and we have a large family and an extended family, and we really look forward to getting together. We've made the decision as a family. We're only going to celebrate with our household, uh, the individuals who we live with every day. And it's not every Thanksgiving. It's just right now, it's just this time. And those are the decisions that, that everyone has to make, uh, around. What can you do to slow the spread. And that is limiting contact with individuals who do not live with you on a regular basis, uh, utilizing face coverings, you know, moving things outdoors. Um, and, and those spreads that are happening in individual households are, are, are virtually impossible to enforce other than getting the community to buy in that this is something we have to do and we have to do it together. Um, and we have to all do it. And so my hope is that we can really see, uh, more vigilance and more intentionality in what everyone is doing. So we can bend this curve. Speaker 1: 04:03 There's a protest today by businesses who are impacted by the new shutdown orders, the purple tier. What do you say to those businesses? Oh, who are opposed to what some call a one size fits all approach? Speaker 2: 04:18 Well, I look, none of us want to be doing the things that we're doing. Uh, none of us want to have closures or restrictions or requirements. Um, but the, the unfortunate reality of the situation we face is that if we don't take action, uh, to limit those higher risk settings, those settings that are, are more likely to, to create super spreading events and increasing cases. Uh, and we overwhelm our healthcare system. Uh, the economic negative impact will be far greater than the impact we face now. And so what you're faced with is a series of choosing the least bad option. Uh, no one is suggesting that that what we're doing is good or positive, and certainly not what we want to do, but we don't have a choice. When you look around the country, you see States and regions that are, that are getting their healthcare systems to the point of collapse. Speaker 2: 05:02 And, and you have to take action early. COVID has a significant delay factor. There's a delay between, uh, an unhealthy gathering. And when those cases happen, there's a delay of three to three weeks. Plus between that case and hospitalization, there's a delay between hospitalization and death. And so it forces us. Now we have all the warning signals, uh, all the reason to be concerned. We have to take this action, uh, for the betterment of the entire County. And so my heart hurts for them. I feel terrible for them. We want to provide help and assistance, uh, but we have to look out for the entire County. And this is a moment we have to come together and get through this. Speaker 1: 05:37 Now we heard good news last week about the Pfizer vaccine today, we hear more good news about the effectiveness of the Madrona vaccine in clinical trials. What is your hope about when Corona virus vaccines may become available to San Diego ones? Speaker 2: 05:53 I've been really encouraged by the news. Uh, there was some uncertainty about how effective these might be. And I think this is very encouraging and should tell all of us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Uh, we don't know exactly when those vaccines will start being distributed. We're working tirelessly to put in place plans, procedures, to be able to distribute them equitably and, and, and help us move forward. Uh, but I still think that we're all looking at first quarter of next year, and that should give us hope and encouragement that what we're going through now is, is not going to be forever. Uh, but between now and the end of the year, uh, we really have to focus, uh, to slow the spread and get it down, uh, so that we can remain in a stable position while we await that vaccine. Uh, and while we look forward, uh, with joy to the day at which we are through this, uh, that day is not here yet, uh, is certainly on the horizon, but, but we really have to deal with where we are and what we have right now. Speaker 1: 06:46 I've been speaking with San Diego County supervisor, Nathan Fletcher. Thank you very much. Speaker 2: 06:52 Thank you.