One 12 months Since San Diego County Declared a Native Well being Emergency – NBC 7 San Diego

A year ago, on February 14, 2020, Valentine’s Day, San Diego County declared a local health emergency to fight the coronavirus.

At that time, there were two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in San Diego County and several suspected cases. As of that day, more than a quarter of a million people in San Diego County have tested positive for COVID-19 and 3,000 people have died.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher declared the local health emergency on February 14, 2020 in order to prepare the county for the fight against COVID-19. Securing local emergency funding for resources for first responders, hospitals and medical centers. This would enable the county to receive expected medical care, including hospital beds.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said, “Let me be clear that this move will not increase the risk of coronavirus in the San Diego County residence.”

At the time, fears eased after two people in the county cared for at UC San Diego Health tested positive for the coronavirus amid multiple suspected cases. Mainly with citizens who came to San Diego from Wuhan, China.

“There were 13 (people) from San Diego who were on flights alongside people who were later diagnosed in the US,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, San Diego County’s Medical Director, Epidemiology and Immunization Services.

A year later, Dr. Edward Cachay, professor of infectious diseases and global public health at UC San Diego told NBC7. Doctors quickly learned how quickly COVID-19 can spread: “A single person can infect at least 5 to 6 others. Said Dr. Cachay.

Schools across the county would cease classroom learning by mid-March, non-essential businesses and organizations closing during California’s first stay-at-home mandate.

Reopening and closing with month-long restrictions. A year later, Valerie Arroyo feels that not much has changed: “Everyone doesn’t work, everyone hurts,” said Arroyo.

At the same time, Dr. Cachay told NBC7 that there has been an intense collaboration between government, scientists and companies to quickly develop vaccines and better treatments for COVID-19, discovering there is always the potential of another deadly virus to appear: “The fight is not against each other but against the virus, “said Dr. Cachay

A year later, Brian Meek sees it this way: “I think there is light at the end of the tunnel, but I think it will take a while before everyone is comfortable.

And that Valentine’s Day, Dr. Cachay, it is also a time to remember those who have lost their loved ones to the coronavirus: “More than 3000 of our neighbors are no longer with us and we have many empty chairs at the table today.”