KPBS obtained County Health Department records on the virus that have been withheld from the public, finally revealing where COVID-19 outbreaks have happened in San Diego County. The variant in Brazil is causing a surge in Manaus, a city where the virus previously infected huge numbers in the spring of 2020. 8,284 talking about this. In the past officials have said it is not important for the public to know detailed information about community outbreaks because they only account for about 4% of all COVID-19 cases in the county. And being the site of an outbreak doesn't necessarily mean the businesses had unsafe practices. A line of grocery carts are shown parked in front of a San Diego Target store Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. ... San Diego is getting a taste of dry hot weather this weekend, which ... kpbs.org. urging him stop the publication of this story, including Los Angeles County and the state of Oregon, the employer must notify "any employees, and contractors. County officials at first said they would "suspend enforcement activities against restaurants and live entertainment establishments," prompting many restaurants to reopen, including for indoor dining. This is the first time the public has seen this much outbreak data with this level of specificity for San Diego County. But Greg Cox, the chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, sent a letter last week to KPBS General Manager Tom Karlo, urging him stop the publication of this story. "You wouldn't say Otay Mesa Detention Center has only had one outbreak and Denny’s has had five, therefore Otay Mesa is safer," she said. San Diego County public health officials reported 3,261 new COVID-19 … The county records obtained by KPBS do show an outbreak at that location, but with three cases, not 11. (David Brooks) By … Shoppers walk into a San Diego Walmart store on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. We’ve got you covered with a mid-week check-in every Wednesday afternoon. News and program updates from KPBS, San Diego's public media station. New COVID-19 Vaccination Site In Imperial Beach Not Accepting Seniors Yet. San Diego County's health order says when an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the employer must notify "any employees, and contractors (who regularly work at the workplace), who may have been exposed.". But then the number fell to 18 for August after dining was restricted to outdoors. "Every man and woman who works for a company should be able to evaluate their own risk and come up with an idea of what's too much," he said. She added that it's likely the outbreaks at restaurants and grocery stores are occurring between employees, because they spend more time in close proximity, but it's impossible to know because the county does not keep separate records for employees and customers. ‎Show KPBS Midday Edition, Ep San Diego Community Activist Tasha Williamson Shares Experience With COVID-19 - Jan 8, 2021 The records reviewed by KPBS include all outbreak locations during the first nine months of the pandemic, but only specific case counts for the month of November. He said he thinks the county has pointed out categories with outbreaks to defend its decisions about what to close. "The county depends on voluntary disclosures to combat the pandemic here. If you have thoughts or suggestions, please send them to us in the comment box below. "It's like the wildfire analogy, where it can tell you where there are flare ups, which is useful when everything is not on fire," she said. The KPBS analysis of November outbreaks shows they accounted for about 8% of all cases during the month. Certain businesses, including gyms and salons, have faced some of the most severe restrictions from the stay-at-home order while having relatively few outbreaks. At Walmart, as well as at other big box retailers, store policy is to do temperature checks and health screenings on employees, have plexiglass barriers at checkout and limit store capacities to 20%. There are multiple large outbreaks at retail centers like Walmart and Costco, and none at Whole Foods. https://kpbs.us/2JLnOVL For example: – At least 208 outbreaks have occurred in restaurants, with popular chains like Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, Denny’s and The Broken Yolk Cafe having multiple outbreaks each. San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the numbers, but wanted to see a longer downward trend and warned the public not to become complacent. Click here to read part two and part three. "They may mention places they worked, shopped, visited, went to church, attended a gathering, etc.". News and program updates from KPBS, San Diego's public media station. "But if nine people report they happened to be in a Walmart in Chula Vista within a 14-day window because they were grocery shopping, you’d have to narrow it down to a specific window, say they were all there between 2 and 5 pm on a Wednesday. For example: – At least 252 outbreaks occurred in nursing homes, jails, rehab facilities and shelters. KPBS is releasing the outbreak locations because transparency and public health information is vital for our community. San Diego County public health officials have reported 3,027 new COVID … "I had it, there's no stigma around it, we don’t shy away from telling people we had the flu or chickenpox," he said. San Diego County Reports 1,890 COVID-19 Cases, 38 Deaths, 12 New Outbreaks Jan. 18 By City News Service. 56 tis. When someone tests positive for COVID-19, they get a call from a case investigator. Speaker 1: 00:01 An exclusive look at COVID-19 outbreak locations. We tell you more than just what is happening-we tell you why. Historically it’s made sense to trace outbreaks for sexually transmitted diseases, and for very rare diseases like measles, Fielding-Miller said. Press play to see the number of outbreaks in San Diego County change from the start of the pandemic to the end of November. Pandemic Profile: The Emotional Toll Of Caring For COVID-19 Patients. The news organizations have pointed out that other jurisdictions, including Los Angeles County and the state of Oregon, make their outbreak information public. Data updates daily around 5 p.m. Local data source: The new measures would increase testing and access to personal protective equipment for schools, and create a centralized, national database of school coronavirus cases. But El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell called that argument "a cop out.". We notify the entire store team and provide them with the appropriate CDC guidance.". – Seven casinos in the county have had outbreaks with a combined case count of more than 638. The Chula Vista COVID-19 vaccination superstation joins one at Petco Park. "But when everything is on fire, it’s not as useful.". Where COVID-19 Outbreaks Have Happened In San Diego County (KPBS Midday Edition) | KPBS kpbs.org. It starts with contact tracing. News organizations and other public interest groups have opposed the county, arguing that public health and the public interest is best served when people have the public health records of outbreak locations at their disposal. Those employees receive rapid testing and follow safety protocols, he said. Community outbreaks of COVID-19 have touched every corner of San Diego County and all types of establishments over the past nine months, but they are most prevalent in big box stores, restaurants and group living situations like nursing homes and jails, according to county outbreak records obtained exclusively by KPBS. "During this challenging time we’re working to balance health and safety concerns while still meeting the needs and expectations of our customers and associates," a Walmart spokeswoman said in a statement. The records obtained by KPBS represent a snapshot in time of an ever-changing dataset. San Diego, CA's real-time and most comprehensive local Kpbs-san-diego news. County officials refused to comment for this story. Meanwhile, 20% of the November outbreaks were in retail and grocery stores and 19% were in restaurants and bars. KPBS is the NPR and PBS affiliate in San Diego. Fielding-Miller also said considering the context in the numbers obtained by KPBS is important. Keep up with all the latest news, arts and culture, and TV highlights from KPBS. Speaker 2: 00:04 Every man and woman should be able to evaluate their own … KPBS is the NPR and PBS affiliate in San Diego. Devon Hannagan, who works as a supervisor at Vons on Balboa Avenue, said he would like more information on outbreaks at businesses. Many say they are not being adequately protected. Last month, workers at an AT&T call center in Sorrento Valley planned a walkout because they said 11 people had tested positive for COVID-19 and they didn't feel safe working there. "We’re paying these team members while they’re on leave and our thoughts are with them during this challenging time," the spokeswoman said in a statement. In November, outbreaks at houses of worship had a combined case count of at least 187, almost half of those coming from Awaken Church. – At least 205 outbreaks have occurred in businesses with services that run the gamut from car repair to pet care to banking and shipping. That doesn't necessarily mean Whole Foods is safer—it could be because lower-income people, who by virtue of their living situations are more vulnerable to COVID-19, are more likely to shop at the bigger retail chains, Fielding-Miller said. – At least 136 outbreaks occurred in five lower income ZIP codes in East and South County, where many essential workers live. KPBS, a not-for-profit media organization owned by San Diego State University, says in a report that at least 638 COVID-19 cases diagnosed since … Instead, Chris Roberts, the president of the local Communication Workers of America union, said they collect and notify union members of cases. – At least 86 outbreaks happened in the Pacific Beach and Gaslamp ZIP codes, two of the county’s biggest party spots. San Diego County COVID-19 Vaccines | KPBS kpbs.org. "That data point serves them because they have to defend the closure of bars and restaurants," he said. 7,056 talking about this. Bryan Welch, general manager at Point Loma Sports Club, said he wishes the county could close businesses based on business practices and safety, not categories. The number of restaurant outbreaks gradually increased through the fall, and rose to 60 in November, according to the numbers KPBS obtained. 5 days ago. An outbreak means three or more people with COVID-19, who aren't close contacts, were in that place over the same 14-day period. By Friday, an appeals court judge stayed the ruling, meaning restaurants had to close again, at least temporarily. Last week, a San Diego Superior Court Judge ruled that businesses "with restaurant service" could remain open. 2 days ago. But there are also trends in the data that make sense with what else we know about COVID-19. What's That Really Mean? 10 a.m. The records obtained by KPBS show 95 cases tied to 10 outbreaks at Target stores in San Diego County. But the overall records do show you're far more likely to be exposed to an outbreak based on your living circumstances and/or your behavior. Costco did not respond to a request for comment. Pages Other Brand Website News & Media Website KPBS Videos Ken Kramer's About San Diego. Being the site of an outbreak doesn't necessarily mean the businesses had unsafe practices. A higher number of outbreaks at retail chains is likely partly because they have multiple locations and more people work there and visit them. By November, even though case counts remain high in these facilities, they represented only 12% of new outbreaks for the month. KPBS news serves the people of the San Diego region with trustworthy, in-depth information that allows the community to hold its leaders accountable. KPBS Vehicle Donation Program . This is part one in a three-part series. Acrobat Reader. "If we weren't diligent in discovering the outbreak, no one would have known," Roberts said. Jan. 14By John Carroll County and federal authorities work to figure out why six people experienced allergic reactions to the COVID … I Felt Fine, But Tested Positive For The Coronavirus. This means that an increasingly large number of workers are in establishments that have experienced outbreaks. KPBS is the NPR and PBS affiliate in San Diego. KPBS and the other news organizations are appealing that decision. The yearly financial transfer from California tax-supported San Diego State University to KPBS … This is part one in a three-part series. Above:A map of San Diego showing COVID-19 outbreak locations is pictured in this undated graphic. Gyms had 14 outbreaks total since March, and salons and barber shops only had 10, according to the records obtained by KPBS. It's possible none of them caught the virus at the outbreak location. 3,497 Views. "I wish I could wave a magic wand to say each business gets evaluated on its merits, but then you would have to have 10,000 people working for the county going out to each business," he said. But with COVID-19, which is both highly contagious and widespread, tracing outbreaks isn’t necessarily practical. In addition, some businesses have refused to close or modify their operations to match county orders and have been served with cease and desist orders. Watch full episodes of your favorite PBS shows, explore music and the arts, find in-depth news analysis, and more. San Diego County public health officials reported 3,261 new COVID-19 infections and 54 deaths from the virus Wednesday as the county officially … News and program updates from KPBS, San Diego's public media station. Click here to read part two.. Community outbreaks of COVID-19 have touched every corner of San Diego County and all types of establishments over the past nine months, but they are most prevalent in big box stores, restaurants and group living situations like nursing homes and jails, according to county outbreak records obtained exclusively by KPBS. Saturday, January 23, 2021 at KPBS is the NPR and PBS affiliate in San Diego. Since the onset of the pandemic, county officials have kept outbreak locations secret, instead only listing outbreaks by category such as "bar/restaurant" or "business.". všečkov. There's no way for the county to find out if a mom and pop shop on El Cajon Boulevard had an outbreak if they don't disclose it.". KPBS. Don’t have time to keep up on the latest news? San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency. He said if the county publicly posted information about outbreaks at businesses, it would better protect workers. LATEST UPDATES: Tracking COVID-19 | Transfer Of Power | Racial Justice. San Diego County Health and Human Services recently began providing data breaking down confirmed COVID-19 cases by ZIP code. But Rebecca Fielding-Miller, an epidemiologist at UC San Diego, said given the current case surge, it would be extremely difficult for contact tracers to do all the detailed interviews required to accurately pinpoint the risk someone has of catching the virus in a specific location. Workers at Costco are "very afraid" of contracting the virus, said Jaime Vasquez, the secretary-treasurer of the Teamsters Local 542, which represents some of the region's Costco employees. If three people mention the same location within a 14 day period, it's labeled as an outbreak. Coronavirus FAQ: Should I Wash My Kid's Clothes Every Day After School? Strain of Covid-nineteen now present in San Diego County um hospitalizations again, you see a slide uptick there in coveted related IC uh slight down tick in total coveted related uh hospitalizations uh and even if we do see a decline in cases again because of the lag and hospitalizations uh it could be a little bit before we see uh any significant relief on our hospital system. KPBS, San Diego, CA. 8,284 talking about this. KPBS obtained County Health Department records on the virus that have been withheld from the public, finally revealing where COVID-19 outbreaks have happened in San Diego County. 7,054 talking about this. We show how global and local current affairs change our lives, and how San Diego changes the world. "After learning about positive cases, we also work quickly to deep clean and sanitize the store, which is the recommendation of public health experts and is in addition to the frequent disinfecting and cleaning we do at stores throughout each day. Vasquez said the stores are allowing half capacity, which can still feel packed, "especially with Christmas shopping." And you can’t do that when you have 2,000 cases a day.". Hundred of protesters crowded downtown San Diego sidewalks today. Zoom in and click the dots on the map to see the name of a location, address and how many outbreaks have occurred there.