SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Saturday, San Diego County reported a record 1,478 new coronavirus cases and six additional deaths, bringing the county's totals to 70,709 cases and 966 fatalities.
Saturday's new cases yielded a 7% positivity rate out of 21,947 tests reported. The new daily case report marks the third time in a week that the county has reported more than 1,000 new cases. It was also the 11th-straight day the county reported at least 600 new cases.
Eleven new community outbreaks were also confirmed on Friday: Three in business settings, three in faith-based settings, two in childcare settings, one in a TK-12 school setting, one in a restaurant/bar setting, and one in a gym setting. A community outbreak is three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households over the last two weeks.
County businesses saw purple tier restrictions go into effect on Saturday, further limiting reopening of the county due to the surge in coronavirus cases seen over the last couple of weeks.
California's limited stay-at-home order is also set to begin Saturday night, limiting non-essential businesses between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for one month in counties under the state's purple tier.
County public health officials are worried that fatigue is setting in on San Diegans and urged residents to avoid large gatherings this week for Thanksgiving,
"The virus is widespread and every element of our community is impacted," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. "Now more than ever it is vital that San Diegans avoid gatherings and crowds, wear a face covering when they are out in public and stay home if they are sick."
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continues to rise as well, with 440 hospitalized and 127 in intensive care. Those numbers are nearly double the amount recorded a month ago.
The county is reminding residents that gatherings should be limited to three households, held outdoors if possible, and be two hours or less. They also recommend wearing face coverings when not eating or drinking.