Here is a list of the major developments in the coronavirus epidemic facing San Diego County, updated at 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29.
• There have been 3,432 cases and 120 deaths among San Diego County residents as of Wednesday afternoon.
• Across California there have been 46,500 cases and 1,887 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon.
• Across the United States, there have been 1,037,526 cases and 60,846 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• San Diego County health officials reported 118 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths while announcing that a key metric for re-opening has been achieved.
• The governor will reportedly close all California beaches and state parks temporarily starting Friday in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• The San Diego region’s estimated unemployment rate has risen to nearly 25% — and it will get worse as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, according to the San Diego Association of Governments.
• Stretches of four streets in San Diego will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning Thursday to increase walking and cycling space, allowing residents to get outside while maintaining social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The San Diego Superior Court will extend its COVID-19-related closures through May 22, meaning county courthouses will remain shuttered until after the Memorial Day weekend.
• The Navy announced it is extending its inquiry into the firing of Capt. Brett Crozier after his plea for help with a coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
• With stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in place indefinitely, greater levels of stress could cause an increase in domestic violence throughout San Diego County, a Sharp Health psychologist predicted.
• Researchers at UC San Diego Health have begun a portion of a global clinical trial to assess whether a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders might also have therapeutic value for COVID-19 patients.
• A survey by The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego says over half of the nonprofits in San Diego would be unlikely to provide ongoing services eight weeks from now even if conditions were to improve.
• Coronavirus pandemic or not, a digital deep clean of your computer is one major thing that will help you feel more in control while forced to work from home.
• Citing students’ lack of equipment necessary to participate in distance learning during stay-at-home orders, local company JLab Audio donated 3,000 headphones to San Diego County school districts.
• Coastal Roots Farm’s pay-what-you-can farm stand, located at 441 Saxony Road in Encinitas, will remain open on Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the pandemic.
• Molly Bowman-Styles writes that while Americans are sheltering at home, we have a rare gift of time to imagine how art can inspire new and meaningful forms of political expression in the age of COVID-19.
If your organization has relevant news to add to this daily list, please send to news@timesofsandiego.com.
