SAN DIEGO–A total of 56 San Diegans lost their lives to COVID-19 for the reporting period ending January 4, the County Health and Human Services Agency said Tuesday.
The deaths follow the record 62 deaths set last Wednesday and the 58 deaths reported on New Year’s Day.
County health officials are attributing the increasing number of deaths to gatherings over the holidays and the presence in the community of the new coronavirus variant that recently emerged in the United Kingdom, which is more contagious than the previous strain.
“Each of the 56 people who lost their lives to COVID-19 during this reporting period was someone’s parent, sibling, friend, or spouse, as well as a valued member of our community,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. County public health officer. “These deaths are a sobering reminder that we must all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
Due to the steady increase in case numbers and new strain being detected in the region, county health officials are reminding San Diegans to wear a mask, wash their hands, and keep their distance from others.
The current intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability for the Southern California region is currently 0.0 percent.
The Regional Stay Home Order is in effect and prohibits gatherings of any size with people from other households and adds restrictions for multiple sectors.
The order will last until the region’s ICU availability meets or exceeds 15 percent.
