2 Cases Of Brazilian Coronavirus Strain Found In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — Health officials in San Diego are monitoring two cases of a strain of the coronavirus first identified in Brazil, they said in a news conference on Wednesday.

Dr. Eric McDonald, the county's medical director of epidemiology and immunizations services said the variant is being studied to determine if coronavirus vaccines are less effective against it. He said it is also possible someone who has had COVID-19 could be reinfected with the new strain.

"The message of the vaccine is you should get it when it’s your turn," McDonald said. "That message has not changed."

The variant is not believed to cause more severe illness or risk of death, McDonald said.

One case was identified in a San Diego County resident, and another was found in a non-resident.

County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher on Wednesday said San Diego's vaccine allotment continues to grow week-over-week. Last week, he said, the number of doses provided to the county grew by 9 percent compared to the week prior.

In the week ahead, the county will receive 10 percent more doses of the vaccine than in the current week.

The county's vaccine sites, he said, have the capacity to doll out some 35,000 vaccines each day. Due to the limited supply, it is currently only administering about 12,000 a day.

The sites, he said, are "prepared for an influx of vaccines."

The county's vaccine outreach program for home-bound seniors is also ramping up its efforts.

Sharp HealthCare is currently delivering some 25 to 30 doses each day to home-bound seniors, Fletcher said. The county is also working with Tri-City Medical Center to deliver vaccines to north county residents and with CalFire to vaccinate residents in rural areas.

San Diego County is also in discussions with UC San Diego to discuss whether some vaccine efforts could be repurposed to help vaccinate home-bound seniors, he said.

Meanwhile, 100 percent of the county's skilled nursing facilities and 94 percent of its long term care facilities have received a second dose of the virus, he said.

The county, he said, is on a "good trajectory" toward orange-tier restrictions.

Officials said the county will most likely enter the tier once the state administers 4 million vaccines to residents in the top quartile of the healthy places index and once the county's case rate stays below 5.9 or less for two consecutive weeks.

The county could also enter the orange tier if its case rate remains under 4 for two consecutive weeks.

"Continue to be patient," Fletcher said. "There is a large number of San Diegans who are now eligible for the vaccine, and we will not have enough to meet the demand, but we are encouraged."