The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported 1,141 new COVID-19 cases Friday and two related deaths.
Both deaths were of individuals age 70 or older — one who resided in the Santa Ynez Valley and the other in Santa Maria — and one had underlying medical conditions. Neither death was associated with a congregate care site.
According to the Community Data Dashboard, 7,699 COVID-19 cases were reported in the week ending Friday and 7,170 cases are currently active.
As of Friday, there were 103 people hospitalized throughout the county because of COVID-19, with 10 of those patients being treated in intensive-care units.
Of the 1,141 COVID-19 cases reported Friday, 434 were in the Santa Maria Valley and 254 in the Santa Barbara area.
The Lompoc Valley logged 162 cases Friday, and the Goleta Valley accounted for 119 cases.
The Montecito-Summerland-Carpinteria area recorded 56 COVID-19 cases, and the Santa Ynez Valley had 46 cases.
Isla Vista reported 18 cases, and 52 cases were pending geographic location as of Friday.
While the Public Health Department has not reported any new cases in the Lompoc Federal Prison since Wednesday, the Board of Prisons website shows that there are active COVID-19 cases in a total of 32 inmates and 14 staff members between the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution and the Lompoc United States Penitentiary.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has reported a total of 63,421 COVID-19 cases and 575 deaths related to the virus.
On Friday, UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures announced that, beginning Feb. 4, proof of full COVID-19 vaccination — including booster shots for those eligible — will be required for all event attendees age 5 or older.
Masks also will be required for all indoor, in-person events, and UCSB Arts & Lectures said that some events may have at-home viewing options.
— Noozhawk staff writer Serena Guentz can be reached at sguentz@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.