Chula Vista Emergency Services Manager Marlon King presented COVID-19 updates on Oct. 26, 565 days after the city's Emergency Operations Center’s activation, which projected a gradual improvement since September though the city has seen a slight uptick in the city’s case rates from last week.
Between December 2020 and January 2021, positive Covid-19 testing percentages reached its peak. With the implementation and availability of vaccines those numbers declined. King said the city is at a “manageable position” as numbers continue to decline.
“The virus is still transmissible in our community. We will continue to live with the virus until a cure becomes available. Until then, we must continue to manage the spread,” King said.
Community transmission rates are at a steady decline. Several zip codes in Chula Vista are under the high transmission category and one zip code within the substantial transmission.
A total of 376 new cases have been reported in Chula Vista in a week’s span. With a total population of 271,441, Chula Vista’s case rate average per week is at nearly 20.
“The numbers continue to look good and we can continue to vaccinate… slowing the spread is key,” King said.
Approximately 66.8 percent of Chula Vista’s residents are fully vaccinated across all zip codes within eligible populations of ages 12 and older. San Diego’s South Bay region as a whole demonstrated a strong vaccination percentage of 88.1 percent.
San Diego County as a whole demonstrated a vaccination percentage of 78.2 percent for those who are fully vaccinated and 87.6 percent for those with at least one dose within eligible populations.
City employees in Chula Vista are now 84 percent fully vaccinated, demonstrating a four percent increase from the end of September.
“Employees and departments are making strong efforts to [increase] our vaccination percentages and protect our employees and our community,” King said.
The city mandated employees who are not fully vaccinated to conduct weekly testing effective as of Sept. 27. Testing sites are offered at several city facilities to accommodate employees and are provided by Chula Vista Fire Department staff in partnership with the California Department of Public Health.
Vaccinations are completely free and are offered every Thursday from 1p.m. to 4p.m. at the Chula Vista City Hall, Building C.
