San Diego County

Here’s what you need to know about the spread of the new coronavirus in San Diego County, including how many cases have been reported and the latest updates from local health officials

Soaring temperatures have triggered heat-related advisories and warnings in several parts of San Diego County through the weekend, prompting officials to find ways to help residents beat the heat.

The mercury will continue to rise this weekend in San Diego County’s western valleys, mountains and deserts as a result of a heat wave that will keep those areas scorching until Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

While public health officials have warned about California’s growing numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in the state, politicians’ approach to how to handle the pandemic has also come into the spotlight this election year

San Diego County school districts are trying to adapt to ever-changing calls by health officials while planning students’ return to school as the number of positive COVID-19 cases continue to fluctuate locally.

Distribution of $17 million from the federal coronavirus aid bill as part of a small business stimulus program was unanimously approved Tuesday by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

A look at traffic numbers for May-June, according to San Diego’s Regional Planning Agency.

Here’s a look at all state-run and county-run testing sites around San Diego County.

Phenomenal.  That’s how Skyler McManus described business at Hamel’s on the Mission Beach boardwalk Fourth of July weekend. “It’s actually picked way up,” the business owner said.  “It almost feels like it was last year.” McManus and other store and restaurant owners at Mission Beach said they were thankful that the city of San Diego decided not to close...

San Diego County firefighters responded to several calls of fires that may have been related to fireworks on the Fourth of July holiday.

Stay-at-home orders that keep people from gathering in crowds has changed July 4th celebrations this year but there are still some fireworks shows scheduled that could be upsetting to furry friends. The constant loud noise of fireworks can be pretty tough on pets. Here are some easy things pet owners can do at home to help out your pet throughout…

If you’re throwing a Fourth of July party and plan on inviting anyone outside of those living under your roof, you do so at your own risk. And perhaps the risk of those you invited.  Law enforcement is focused on enforcing the county health order in the public settings, especially this holiday weekend, but private in-home gatherings are still...

San Diego County unveiled on Wednesday the, “Tour Our Trails” challenge to encourage residents to visit parks and explore different trails as a safe socially distant activity during the coronavirus pandemic. San Diego County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, Supervisor Jim Desmond along with County Parks and Recreation staff kicked off the challenge before the July 4 holiday weekend to encourage safe,…

Two men allegedly involved in an auto theft scheme targeting Latinos are behind bars, while another suspect remains at large and is believed to be in the San Diego area, authorities said Wednesday. Abel Chairez, 40, and Juan Echeagaray, 49, are accused of perpetratingthe scam that netted around $475,000 from more than 17 victims. A thirdsuspect, Salvador Mullaly, 52, has…

As public health orders and restrictions seemingly change every day, businesses owners are expressing frustration, anxiety, and confusion. Consider the case of wineries. “It’s been a roller coaster. Definitely emotional and very stressful,” said Jess Koehler, owner of La Finquita Winery & Vineyard in Ramona. Koehler reopened her winery June 12, implementing a focused reopening plan that includes a new…

The Treasurer-Tax Collector offices will close all five branches to the public until further notice, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, it announced. The downtown branch will close on July 6. The other four offices located in Kearny Mesa, San Marcos, Chula Vista, and Santee have remained closed to the public since March and will do…

Here’s a look back at how the coronavirus pandemic impacted San Diego County in June 2020.

San Diego County ordered all bars, wineries and breweries that do not serve food to close by the end of the month, officials announced Monday.

The Hernandez Hideaway restaurant in Escondido is allowed to reopen after being shut down by health officials for its failure to comply with the county’s Public Health Order, a county spokesperson said Monday.

A company with ties to a portable toilet company that unlawfully discharged thousands of gallons of waste into municipal sewer systems across Southern California is again at the center of controversy as it prepares to build a massive recycling project near communities in Escondido.  Community members living near the proposed site of the North County Environmental Resources (NCER) say...

The Hernandez Hideaway restaurant in Escondido was shut down by the county Thursday in response to the owner’s alleged expressed refusal to comply with the county’s Public Health Order. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed deputies served an immediate closure order at the restaurant on behalf of the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) at around 5:30...

Elected leaders at both the San Diego city and county levels will discuss on Tuesday the possibility of a reform of local law enforcement.

San Diego County leaders have said that if we reverse the progress we’ve made with COVID-19 we could see restrictions tighten up again, so why hasn’t that happened yet?

How San Diegans are helping each other out during these unprecedented times

The COVID-19 case total in San Diego County now sits just under 11,100 cases as the county has recorded two straight days of over 300 new positive tests.

San Diego County health officials this weekend reported 310 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths, raising the region’s totals to 10,794 cases while the death toll remained at 338.

San Diegans will have several opportunities to celebrate and observe Juneteenth — the commemoration of the end of slavery — with various local events and online viewings that will reflect and honor the holiday.

Elizabeth Sullivan, a U.S. Navy wife and mother of two living in San Diego, vanished in mid-October 2014. Almost exactly two years to the date of her disappearance, her body was found floating in the water near Liberty Station. Here’s a look at major moments in her case.

As state and national experts are expecting a spike in COVID-19 cases due to businesses reopening and large-scale demonstrations, the county of San Diego’s testing apparatus grinded to a halt last week after a machine that runs the tests broke down. The malfunction created a major backlog in the county’s testing process, delaying test results for thousands of people...

Since the beginning of May, the San Diego County Health Department has investigated more than 5,000 close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases. That number is expected to grow as businesses begin to reopen and with it, more challenges are expected.

San Diego’s unemployment rate is at a record high. More than 30 percent of the county is out of work and are looking for some help during the coronavirus pandemic. One place people are turning is to California’s food stamp program CalFresh.

The San Diego County Administration Center on San Diego’s waterfront lit up in crimson red and gold Monday night to honor George Floyd, a Black man who died while pinned down by a now-fired Minneapolis police officer — a death that has sparked protests worldwide. Civil rights activist Shane Harris, President of the People’s Alliance for Justice, asked the...

Seven “cool zones” are scheduled to open at noon Monday in San Diego County to provide relief from high temperatures.

More than 20 community leaders from different faiths will gather on Thursday to call for an end to police brutality and make recommendations on reforms.

The meal delivery service is now scheduled to run through July 10

In a collaboration between the county and local restaurants, qualified senior citizens can now sign up to get free meals delivered to their homes for a limited time through the “Great Plates Delivered Program.” The program would provide three nutritious meals a day to senior citizens. The goal of the program would be to help those who are at a…

National Guard troops will be pulled out of California cities where they have been deployed for a week after rampant violence and theft marred the first days of protests over the death of George Floyd

More protests continue Sunday around San Diego County marking the ninth straight day many are honoring the memory of George Floyd, demanding racial equality, and calling for an end to excessive force in the nation’s policing.

The mercury could soar to 112 again Thursday in the San Diego County deserts, but cooler weather will arrive on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Passive recreational activities will once again be allowed at beaches across San Diego County beginning Tuesday, meaning locals will be able to sunbathe and lounge at area beaches under some recommended guidelines.

In response to racial injustice in the U.S., a public interfaith prayer vigil will be held Wednesday evening in Broadway Heights.

A recap of what happened in May in San Diego County during the coronavirus pandemic.

San Diego County declared a county-wide local emergency Sunday in response to the riots that have resulted in several vandalism reports, arson, looting and assaults, according to the county.

The supervisors’ request — to be made in the form of a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom — also includes seeking more leeway to allow the reopening of wineries, breweries, churches, theme parks, youth sports facilities, charter and fishing boats and public swimming pools.

San Diego County Assessor, Recorder and Clerk Ernie Dronenburg said he felt his office had to keep the thousand-plus marriage reservations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Taxable sales in the San Diego region were down nearly $2.3 billion in March, according to a San Diego Association of Governments report released Thursday.

Five more field offices for the Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen on Thursday in San Diego County for limited services, the department announced.

A popular San Diego Bay cruise company found itself in hot water Tuesday after reopening for business last Friday, and faces thousands of dollars in fines if it stays open. San Diego Harbor Police Department cited Flagship Cruises for violating the county’s public health order, but there’s a disagreement as to which category the fleet falls under within the...

A state lawmaker who represents northern San Diego County is slated Tuesday to introduce a bill designed to prevent coastal bluff collapses, a public hazard tragically exemplified by a cliff failure that killed three family members in Encinitas last summer.

The coronavirus pandemic has reduced our lives to essential activity and stripped us of some everyday joys that make us who we are, like spending time with loved ones, enjoying San Diego’s bar and restaurant scene, or eating tacos on the beach. We’re all waiting for the day life as we knew it returns, but that reality depends on...

A popular bar and restaurant in Pacific Beach was shut down indefinitely by the County Friday after videos surfaced on social media showing some patrons mingling shoulder to shoulder and without face coverings.

Thursday was a new day in San Diego. Restaurants that were limited to carry-out and delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic were able to let people dine-in after roughly nine weeks. “We woke up and we’re like, ‘Oh my God! We get to serve people inside instead of the take out,’” exclaimed Erica Soto inside the Encinitas Café. In mid-March,...

California has approved San Diego County to move further into stage 2 of the state’s reopening plan, allowing for in-store retail shopping, in-restaurant dining, and the reopening of some schools, all with modifications.

With encouraging results in the fight against the coronavirus, San Diego County wants to reopen its economy more quickly

San Diego County’s COVID-19 Response Team confirmed the county has satisfied the new metrics set by the state to move toward Phase 2 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors divided up Tuesday its $334 million federal stimulus package, along with an extra $5 million, to support small businesses, cities, child welfare, COVID-19 testing and more.

County officials will unveil this week a proposal to bring economic and humanitarian relief to San Diegans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

About a month before San Diego county leaders mandated that all of us wear a face covering, they rolled out a Public Health Order requiring that all essential workers wear one. If you spotted an essential worker without one, the county wanted you to file a complaint by contacting 211 to describe the violation and name the business and address…

California’s statewide stay-at-home order was issued March 19 and since then, San Diego-area freeways have drastically seen a decrease in traffic.

The San Diego Superior Court began livestreaming criminal court proceedings Wednesday on its YouTube page in order to provide public access during the court’s COVID-19-related closures. While county courthouses remain shuttered to the public until at least May 26, criminal proceedings have been ongoing for defendants who remain in custody. In an order signed Tuesday, Presiding Judge Lorna A....

Two San Diego County leaders penned a letter to the state on Monday urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to reconsider a requirement that would prevent a jurisdiction from moving on to the next phase of reopening unless there are no COVID-19-related deaths.

An Oceanside gym owner was cited by police after he attempted to reopen his business Sunday despite a San Diego County public health order that has kept gyms closed for months to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond says the Governor’s “no deaths for 14 days” requirement for the next phase of reopening is impossible for San Diego County. “He’s put such a roadblock in place,” says Desmond. Because of that, he believes the county should take matters into its own hands like in Riverside County. There, the Sheriff refuses to...

Mayor Kevin Faulconer has estimated that the city of San Diego could lose more than $250 million, much of that from hotel tax revenue during the pandemic. With airports across the country at a virtual standstill, businesses that rely on tourism are struggling. The Surfhouse Boutique Hotel in Encinitas had to close its doors for six weeks after several of…

One silver lining from the COVID-19 pandemic is there’s been a notable difference on the roads and rush hour has been nearly non-existent. With this in mind, some drives are taking advantage of the lack of traffic.

In April, county leaders took drastic measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in our region, calling the next 30 days “critical” to flattening the curve. Here’s a look at what happened, locally, this month

Boating and several other water activities are once again allowed in San Diego County, but not without a few guidelines to ensure residents stay safe and healthy.

The San Diego region’s estimated unemployment rate has risen to nearly 25% and it will get worse as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, according to a San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) report. SANDAG’s latest data accounts for the period between April 11-18, where unemployment numbers increased from 20.6% to 24.7%. The numbers “are expected to continue to rise for…

Temperatures in the San Diego County deserts will peak on Wednesday before slowly relenting through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond and the mayors of Vista, San Marcos, Oceanside, Escondido and Carlsbad are all calling for some businesses to reopen as soon as Friday. The call comes while Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to discuss the next steps to reopening businesses and schools across the state. Roby Vigilucci, owner of Vigilucci’s in Carlsbad, is...

Encinitas has approved a motion to reopen Moonlight Beach for walking, running and water activities with restrictions on Monday. The beach will open at 8 a.m. and entrances at least 6 feet wide will open, but all other beach access points will be closed, according to the city. Facial coverings should still be worn where non-household members are present and…

Two individuals at the emergency homeless shelter at the San Diego Convention Center tested positive for COVID-19, the City of San Diego said. Testing began on April 16 to identify asymptomatic residents, staff, or volunteers who may be infected but show no symptoms. Out of the 660 tests that have been administered only two have come back positive, the city…

The spring heatwave that has baked the region for much of the weekend is expected to subside somewhat on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will drop Sunday and Monday, though afternoon highs in the deserts will remain around 100 through at least Thursday, forecasters advised. An excessive heat warning was issued for San Diego County deserts where…

Plans were announced Wednesday for a phased re-opening of San Diego County beaches and bays once the region has met certain county public health goals regarding COVID-19. The region-wide plan calls for a two-phase reopening across all coastal cities in the county, which would begin with beaches and bays open initially to walking and running only, according to San Diego…

Four San Diego Schools were among the honorees named Wednesday by the California Department of Education as state Green Ribbon Schools for their efforts to reduce environmental impact and boost sustainability. A total of 19 schools, eight districts, and six private institutions across the state were included in California’s Green Ribbon Schools accolade list. In order to receive the distinction,…

Small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in San Diego County’s unincorporated areas will soon have access to $5 million in small business loans.

Temperatures will remain mild on Tuesday in San Diego County, but the mercury is expected to rise quickly starting on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

San Diego County supervisors will vote Tuesday on whether to establish a $5 million recovery loan program, partnering with the San Diego Foundation, for small businesses operating in unincorporated areas. County Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Jim Desmond, the authors of the proposal, said the funds would help businesses get the resources they need during the public health crisis. The county…

Dozens of homeless people seeking shelter during this pandemic are now back on the streets. A local group, #HotelVouchers4All, was using a GoFundMe page to raise money to temporarily house about 30 homeless people at the Heritage Inn during the coronavirus pandemic. But Saturday they were kicked out after GoFundMe froze #HotelVouchers4All’s funds. Shane Mitchell is one of them....

A Carlsbad woman who paid $75 for a COVID-19 antibody test told NBC 7 Investigates she now has serious doubts about the accuracy of that test. “After I got home, I thought, OK, I think I just got scammed,” said Jennifer, who asked NBC 7 not to reveal her last name. Jennifer was tested Tuesday, April 14 at a Cardiff…

FBI San Diego and the Carlsbad Police Department are looking for individuals who may have been victimized by Michael Fangman. Michael Frederick Fangman—also known as Michael Fangman—47, pleaded guilty back in June to drugging and sexually assaulting four women, including a 16-year-old girl he met online. Police say all of Fangman’s alleged victims were contacted online. NBC 7 learned...

What was expected to be the final day of a slow-moving storm’s stint over San Diego County was awash with downed trees, flooded roads and dozens of crashes, at least one deadly, on Friday.

A $25 million fund for San Diego-area behavioral health providers to bolster their services for those struggling with mental illness or addiction was outlined Wednesday by city and county elected officials. The Behavioral Health Impact Fund will provide funds to local service providers “to treat, stabilize and house” individuals experiencing mental illness and substance abuse issues, by helping behavioral health…

San Diego County’s government has spent between $18 million and $20 million so far in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Health and Human Services official told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

San Diego County is requiring all employees at grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies, restaurants and gas stations to wear face coverings and businesses across the region are changing the way they operate to adhere to the new rules.

Emergency workers should continue coming to work unless, or until, they show symptoms of COVID-19. That’s the word sent in a letter to San Diego County Emergency Operations Center workers after one of their own tested positive for COVID-19.

While it is not an order that the general public wears facial coverings, an individual business can require customers to wear a facial covering inside their business, he said.

San Diego County voters decided on a slew of measures on their March 3 ballots, including some that could affect local tourism, retail pet stores and education facilities.

Here are a few resources, credible information sources, and self-care tools for our mental health and wellbeing from San Diego County

Have a question for Mayor Kevin Faulconer about the novel coronavirus? You can ask him Friday on Twitter.

Restaurants across San Diego County are laying off the people who work in their kitchens and dining rooms because of public health orders issued to help flatten the coronavirus curve. Some restaurant owners are changing the way they do business just to stay afloat, like offering to-go meals, but some are offering more than that. The 3rd Corner Wine Shop…

Blenders Eyewear, a local eyewear company in Pacific Beach, is repurposing a portion of its manufacturing to make safety goggles and donate them to local hospitals, they announced on Thursday. Blenders will donate 10,000 goggles to hospitals in San Diego and Los Angeles. They hope to deliver 2,000 pairs to Sharp Healthcare, 3,500 to Scripps Health, 4,000 to UCLA Medical…

On most days in downtown San Diego, the random sound of car horns would be expected. But on Tuesday, a symphony of horns echoed through the streets, this time, with a purpose.   While most San Diegans were obeying the county’s stay-at-home order, leaving downtown streets nearly deserted, a parade of vehicles drove down Broadway, protesting the federal government’s...

While some counties in the state have chosen to release the number of tests administered, others, including San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Riverside Counties, to name a few, have decided not to. Meanwhile, the state has a backlog of pending tests that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, number more than 57,400.

The threat of the new coronavirus will likely keep California public school students from returning to in-class instruction before the end of the 2019-2020 school year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said Tuesday. “Due to the current safety concerns and needs for ongoing social distancing, it currently appears that our students will not be able to return to…

Food insecurity has grown exponentially during the current health emergency in San Diego. On Saturday, 1,000 cars lined up at SDCCU Stadium for a drive-thru food distribution event, the San Diego Food Bank confirmed. “We sat here for a while. We got here at seven o’clock, so a two-hour wait?,” said San Diego resident Tina Hazelwood. “This right here is…

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department reminded the public of the Governor’s stay-at-home order and the county’s public health order and advised not to visit the snow that fell in our mountains over the past few days. Mount Laguna and Palomar Mountain both received a couple of inches of snow on Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported. Mount...

Many of us are feeling extra stress and anxiety right now, but it’s important to remember that we’re all in this together and there are resources available that can be accessed from home to make sure you’re staying healthy in your mind, body and soul. Health professionals are still trying to help as many patients as possible amid the...

San Diego Unified School District is taking steps to transition to distance learning for all students, where educators teach students remotely. The district says the move will save the academic year for students in the state’s second-largest school district.   When students come back from Spring break on April 6, there will be a “soft launch” of distance learning to a...

Around 350,000 San Diego County workers are at high risk of layoffs and reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the economic impact expected to be much more severe in black and Latino populations as well as among younger, poorer and less-educated workers, according to a San Diego Workforce Partnership report released Tuesday. The report identified San Diego County’s…