San Bernardino County is again slipping further away from a less-restrictive coronavirus risk tier. Based on state data released Tuesday (Oct. 13), the county’s numbers worsened in all three metrics the state uses to determine the tier. The number of new cases per day per 100,000 residents, adjusted for testing volume, climbed from the 9.6 announced last Tuesday to 10.3. The percentage of tests that come back positive went from 6.4 to 6.5., and the positivity rate in socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods rose from 8.1% to 8.7%. The data from the state is based on results from the week ending Oct. 3, which allows the state to account for reporting delays. On a positive note, the county is testing more people than it had the previous week. San Bernardino County conducted 197 tests for every 100,000 residents the week ending Oct. 3. That’s up from 190 the previous week. The state median is 239. If a county does not meet the state median, that county’s case rate is adjusted upwards, putting them further away from a lower, less restrictive tier.
Here are the latest San Bernardino County numbers
Confirmed cases: 58,579 total, up 454 from Monday, Oct. 12, averaging 294 reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 986 total, no change from Monday, averaging 2.9 reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 186 confirmed and 50 suspected patients hospitalized Monday, including 42 confirmed and 8 suspected patients in the ICU, with 22 of 25 facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is unchanged from a week earlier.
People tested: 694,275 total, up 3,617 from Monday, averaging 5,627 reported per day in the past week
Resolved cases (estimate): 55,606 total, up 256 from Monday, averaging per day in the past week
Reopening plan tier: Purple (widespread risk level, many non-essential indoor business operations are closed) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 9.6
Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 10.3
Test positivity rate: 6.5% (8.7% in socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods)
What’s next: San Bernardino County is not meeting the criteria to move to a less-restrictive tier. When it has met them for two consecutive weeks, it can advance. The state updates numbers and tiers on Tuesdays.
