UCSD empty dorm could be used to ease strain on hospitals amid COVID-19

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County health officials today will continue working with UC San Diego to secure an empty dormitory for coronavirus patients too sick to go home, but not sick enough to remain in the hospital.

County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said Tuesday that the 200 to 250 beds the dorm will provide will "raise the bar'' on the number of beds available for any surge in COVID-19 cases. This "alternative care center'' would open sometime in the near future, he said.

County health officials confirmed 131 new cases of COVID-19 and two additional deaths Tuesday, bringing the total county cases up to 734 and nine deaths.

It is the largest jump in cases since the county confirmed its first case three weeks ago, and coincides with the highest number of overall test results since the crisis began, with 1,538 results coming in Tuesday.

The county did not provide any additional information regarding the two deaths.

Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer, said Tuesday that there was an additional death which was probably related to the illness, but it has not been confirmed and was not included in the latest numbers.

There have been 136 San Diego residents hospitalized due to the illness since the county began recording numbers, with 56 needing intensive care. The county has not provided hospital discharge numbers.

Despite the marked increase, Fletcher warned not to read too much into the numbers at this point.

"There's not a lot you can read into day-to-day reports,'' he said. "We need to look at the data week-over-week.''

A week ago, San Diego County had 232 cases.

"We believe the uptick in cases will continue and continue for the foreseeable future,'' Fletcher said.

The county reported a total of 481 ventilators in 19 of the county's 23 hospitals -- with another 75 ready to deploy in an emergency -- 69 being serviced, 600 requested from California and 125 ordered from elsewhere.

Fletcher said county health teams monitor their ability to respond to the crisis with three S's -- stuff, staff and structure. California responded to the lack of some of these in San Diego County by sending a 250-bed mobile field hospital and a 225-bed hospital unit, which Fletcher said comes with staff.

County Chairman Greg Cox encouraged residents to continue to go to grocery stores and order takeout food from restaurants while maintaining physical distancing and proper sanitization protocols, even as two employees of a Sprouts Farmers Market in northern Carlsbad tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Both employees work at the grocery store off El Camino Real south of state Route 78 in the Carlsbad Plaza South Shopping Center. One employee last worked in the store March 17, and the other last worked on March 15, according to the company.

San Diego County health officials reported Sunday that five food handlers had tested positive for COVID-19 -- four restaurant employees and a grocery store employee. The grocery store employee who tested positive is from an Albertson's store in Escondido.

"If you have a sick worker, they must stay home,'' Fletcher said Sunday, urging employers to call 858-505-6814 to report any sick workers.

Co-workers of the Albertson's employee who display any symptoms of the coronavirus infection will be sent home, but there are no tests pending in this case.

Also Tuesday, officials announced that one passenger and three crew members aboard the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship docked in San Diego tested positive for COVID-19. The passenger was evacuated from the ship Monday morning with cardio-vascular and respiratory problems before later testing positive. That passenger remains in serious condition.

Some 1,200 passengers disembarked from the ship Monday, said Dr. Eric McDonald, the county's epidemiology director. Each passenger underwent health screenings and was advised by doctors and Celebrity Cruises to maintain a 14- day quarantine once at home. The ship will be the last cruise ship allowed to release passengers in San Diego County until further notice. McDonald said the

ship was scheduled to leave San Diego early today.

County health officials announced Monday that cruise ships will no longer be allowed to disembark passengers or crew members starting today, but ships may be allowed to dock to fuel up or restock on provisions with permission from the county's health officers.

A TSA employee at the San Diego International Airport and a worker at an airport vendor have tested positive for COVID-19, 10News reported Tuesday.

The TSA employee worked the 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. shift at the airport's checkpoint 6, which is located in Terminal 2, and last worked on March 24, according to the news station. The TSA officer is at home resting and other employees who may have had contact with the officer have been notified.

Monday's diagnoses included a second San Diego Police Department officer, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. Four San Diego lifeguards and one San Diego Fire-Rescue Department firefighter have also been diagnosed with the coronavirus, according to Faulconer.

San Diego State University announced Monday that a third student has tested positive for COVID-19. The latest case at the university involves a student who began feeling ill sometime after moving out of on-campus housing, according to the university.

It was not immediately clear when the student moved off campus, although all but 200 students had left the dorms as of March 23, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Dr. Nick Yphantides, San Diego County's chief medical officer, reported that four "congregate living sites'' -- which can be assisted living facilities, prisons or anywhere where large groups of people congregate in one living location -- have tested positive for 33 cases and include two of the county's deaths from the illness. Those sites were under strict health protocols and under further investigation, he said.

The risk of contracting the coronavirus disease can increase from vaping and smoking, McDonald said.

"Any lung disease or condition would put you at risk,'' McDonald said. "We don't have specific cases so far, but our strong recommendation is to use this opportunity to quit.''

Despite concerns over hospital space, residents with cardio-vascular troubles or stroke symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical attention, Yphantides said.

"Don't be reluctant to seek care if you need it,'' he said.

The county also extended public health closure orders indefinitely that were set to expire. The closure order applies to schools, nonessential businesses, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, and anyone 65 or older should continue to quarantine themselves at home.

Parks in Vista closed Monday in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus by encouraging social distancing. The North County city announced the decision on Sunday and had 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday.

The closures include all parks, trails, public restrooms, the South Buena Vista off-leash dog area, athletic fields, basketball courts, pickleball courts, playgrounds, skate parks and tennis courts.

Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego, Solana Beach, Imperial Beach and the Port of San Diego closed all beaches, trails and parks in their respective cities early last week.