SD Reports Record 1,546 New COVID-19 Cases In One Day

SAN DIEGO, CA — As coronavirus cases surge across California, San Diego County public health officials reported a record 1,546 COVID-19 infections Tuesday. Tuesday is the 14th consecutive day that more than 600 new cases were reported, along with 16 additional deaths.

Some 984 San Diego residents have now died from coronavirus. The cumulative case total rose to 74,361 and has been on an upward trajectory with the rest of the state.

San Diego County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten advised that San Diego residents take caution as the Thanksgiving holiday looms.

"There should be a small number of people and gatherings should be short in duration," she said. "We are asking people to please follow the public health guidance to provide a safe experience for everyone attending the gathering."

The previous one-day case record was last weekend, when 1,478 new COVID-19 cases were logged Saturday, topping the previous record of 1,091 set Friday. On Sunday, 939 new cases were reported.

San Diego County fell deeper into the most restrictive reopening purple tier of the state's four-tiered COVID-19 plan Tuesday with an unadjusted 21.5 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population. But even with the adjusted rate of 13.1 per 100,000 due to significant testing increases within the county, that number far exceeds the strictest tier's baseline of seven daily cases per 100,000.

A total of 17,329 tests were reported Tuesday and 9 percent of those came back positive, raising the 14-day rolling average of positive tests to 5.3 percent.

California Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly announced that hospitalization in the state had risen by 81 percent. In San Diego the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to rise, with 518 hospitalized in the county and 151 in intensive care, more than double the amount of patients last year.

Of the total number of cases in the county Tuesday, 4,435 — 6 percent — have been hospitalized and 1,002 patients — 1.3 percent of all cases — had to be admitted to an ICU.

A total of 15 new community outbreaks were confirmed Tuesday. Over the previous week, 73 community outbreaks were reported.

The City News Service contributed to this report.

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