Half of all county's 44 COVID-19 deaths from congregate living facilities

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The San Diego County number of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,693 and deaths increased to 44 today, county health officials said.

Half of those deaths, which rose by four Friday, have occurred in congregate living facilities such as assisted living homes and nursing homes, said Dr. Eric McDonald, the county's medical director of epidemiology.

According to McDonald, there have been 19 outbreaks in congregate living facilities, which can be traced to 180 cases and 22 deaths. The other eight outbreaks in "community'' settings could be traced to 38 cases and one death.

The county repor...