Santa Barbara County Public Health officials reported 184 new cases of novel coronavirus and one COVID-19-related death on Thursday as the number of active cases, hospitalizations, and intensive-care admissions continue to climb.
The person who died was over the age of 70, had underlying medical conditions, and lived in Santa Maria. The death was not associated with a congregate care site, according to Public Health.
There have been seven COVID-19-related deaths reported over the past two weeks, and the county’s cumulative death toll rose to 468 on Thursday.
There were 736 active cases countywide on Thursday, which means 736 people in the county have recently tested positive and are currently infectious. That is an increase of 80 from the day prior.
COVID-19 hospitalizations jumped to 46 on Thursday, and the number of patients requiring intensive care climbed to 12, up from nine on Wednesday. The number of daily hospitalizations is 48% higher than the two-week average of 31, according to Public Health.
There have been 800 new cases reported over the last seven days, averaging just over 114 new cases per day. This is a nearly 44% increase when compared to the week prior, according to data tracking done by Noozhawk.
Residents between the ages of 18 and 29 account for the highest percentage of the new cases reported over the last two weeks at nearly 32%, and residents between the ages of 30 and 49 make up nearly 30%, according to Noozhawk’s data tracking.
The 50 to 69 age group accounts for 17% of the new cases reported over the last two weeks, children under 18 represent about 16% of those cases, and people over the age of 70 account for 5.1% of those new cases.
Of the 184 new cases reported Thursday, 80 were from the Santa Maria Valley, 33 were from the Lompoc Valley, and 25 were from Santa Barbara. The Goleta Valley reported 13 new cases, the Santa Ynez Valley added 12, Isla Vista tallied 10, the Montecito-Summerland-Carpinteria area had five, and the Lompoc Federal Prison reported one. There were five cases still pending geographic location.
There have been nearly 37,000 cases reported countywide since the pandemic began 17 months ago.
Public Health officials continue to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for protection against severe illness and death from the virus.
For the last week of July, 77% of new cases were among unvaccinated people, and almost all COVID-19-related hospitalizations have been among unvaccinated people, according to public health data.
There are also community vaccination clinics planned for August, with no appointments required:
Santa Maria Fairpark: Every Sunday through Thursday at 937 S. Thornburg St. Offering Pfizer. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Town Center West in Santa Maria: Friday, Aug. 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 201 Town Center E, Santa Maria. Offering Pfizer. Mixteco interpretation available.
Santa Barbara Health Care Center: Friday, Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) at 345 Camino Del Remedio. Offering Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
Santa Maria Boys & Girls Club Food Distribution: Saturday, Aug. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 901 N. Railroad Ave. Offering Pfizer.
Santa Maria Concerts in the Park at Rotary Centennial Park: Sunday, Aug. 15, from 12 p.m. (noon) to 3 p.m. at 2625 S. College Dr. Offering Pfizer.
Los Adobes de Maria 2 in Santa Maria: Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1148 W. Boone St. Offering Pfizer.
Riverview Apartments in Guadalupe: Thursday, Aug. 19, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 230 Calle Cesar E Chavez. Offering Pfizer.
Town Center West in Santa Maria: Friday, Aug. 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 201 Town Center E, Santa Maria. Offering Pfizer. Mixteco interpretation available.
Lompoc Gardens: Thursday, Aug. 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 300 W. College Ave. Offering Pfizer.
Town Center West in Santa Maria: Friday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 201 Town Center E, Santa Maria. Offering Pfizer. Mixteco interpretation available.
Santa Maria Concerts in the Park at Robert “Bobby” Acquistapace Park: Sunday, Aug. 29, from 12 p.m. (noon) to 3 p.m. at 1921 S. Western Ave. Offering Pfizer.
— Noozhawk staff writer Jade Martinez-Pogue can be reached at jmartinez-pogue@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
