We're live at the County Operations Center with another update on the coronavirus. For updates, visit coronavirus-sd.com or text COSD COVID19 to 468-311.

Twelve additional COVID-19 deaths have been reported, bringing the region’s total to 31, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

The age range of the new deaths is between 23 and 100 years. Eight were women and four were men. The deaths occurred between April 3 and April 6, 2020 and all the people who died had underlying medical conditions.

“Reporting of COVID-19 deaths lags behind because people die several days to weeks after they have tested positive and we have to investigate and make sure the deaths are indeed the result of the novel coronavirus,” Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of all of the victims who have died during this pandemic.”

County health officials continue to encourage San Diegans to stay home to avoid contracting the virus and passing it to others. They are also urging people to wear a facial covering when in public conducting essential activities.

“We all need to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to help flatten the pandemic curve so that our local health care system is not overwhelmed,” Wooten said. “When you leave your place, cover your face.”

COVID-19 Cases Increase to 1,454

Through April 7, a total of 1,454 COVID-19 cases have been reported in San Diego County, including 50 new cases in the last day.

Of San Diego County’s cases, 747 (51.4%) were men and 701 (48.2%) were women. The gender of six people is unknown. Of the known cases, 289 (19.9%) have required hospitalization and 109 (7.5%) of the total number of cases had to be placed in intensive care. Thirty-one (2.1%) have died.

County officials also talked about other measures and resources to deal with COVID-19. To date:

The County has distributed over 1.8 million personal protective equipment items to local health care providers, including over 748,000 N-95 respirators, nearly 350,000 surgical face masks and more than 689,000 gloves.

A total of 2,026 hotel rooms have been secured to isolate people who have potential COVID-19 symptoms and people who have health vulnerabilities and have no place to live.

Of the 1,585 rooms for County Public Health Services use, 160 are occupied by 168 guests.

Of the 441 rooms assigned to the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, 190 are being occupied by 314 people who are at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Health Order Being Enforced

Law enforcement agencies throughout the region have been out making sure that people who are in public are conducting essential activities and to keep people from being out in groups, especially if they are not members of the same family or household.

They have issued dozens of tickets to people who refused to disperse after being found in groups in local parks, beaches and parking lots, among other places deemed non-essential.

Law enforcement agencies are investigating essential businesses that are not following the new facial covering or social distancing guidance. People are encouraged to call their local police department’s non-emergency line or visit 2-1-1 San Diego to report businesses not in compliance.

Residents who disobey the essential business guideline or who are in groups in public are subject to a misdemeanor ticket. Penalties can be up to a $1,000 fine, 6 months in jail or both.

The County’s COVID-19 webpage contains a graph showing new positive cases and total cases reported by date. The data will also be broken down by ethnic group. For more information, visit www.coronavirus-sd.com.