San Diego County public health officials reported 2,980 new COVID-19 cases Saturday and 43 additional deaths from the pandemic disease.
Saturday marked the 54th consecutive day with more than 1,000 cases. It is the 26th time in the past 30 days with more than 2,000 new cases of the virus.
Out of 26,715 test results received in the past day, 11.2% were positive, and the 14-day rolling average of positive tests ticked down to 10.6%.
The county’s cumulative case total increased to 225,558 and the death toll is now at 2,344.
Over the past 30 days, a 10% increase in the number of hospitalizations has been recorded, along with a 21% increase in patients in ICUs. On Saturday, just 36 fully staffed ICU beds were open across the county.
The data from the county Health and Human Services Agency showing a decline in cases and overall hospitalizations, but an increase in ICU patients and deaths, might indicate a tapering off of the major wave of the pandemic.
A median two-week period between infection and first symptoms along with additional time between symptoms and hospitalization, serious symptoms and death could mean these record numbers are from people who were initially infected around the Christmas and New Years Day holidays.
City News Service contributed to this article.