It was one year ago on February 14th, 2020, Valentine’s Day, that San Diego County declared a local health emergency to combat the coronavirus.
At that time there were two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in San Diego County and several suspected cases. Since 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 public health emergency on February 14th 2020, to prepare the county for the fight against COVID-19. To ensure local emergency funding for resources for first responders, hospitals, and medical centers. It would allow the county to obtain anticipated medical supplies, including hospital beds.
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said “Let me be clear this action does not signify an increase in the risk to the residence of San Diego County to coronavirus.”
At the time calming fears after two people tested positive for the coronavirus in the County who were being cared for at UC San Diego Health, as several suspected cases were pending. Primarily involving citizens who arrived in San Diego from Wuhan, China. “There were 13 (people) from San Diego who were on flights next to people who were subsequently diagnosed in the United States,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, Medical Director of Epidemiology & Immunization Services at San Diego County.
At the same time Dr. Cachay told NBC7 there’s been intense collaboration between the government, scientists and corporations to quickly develop vaccines and better treatments for COVID-19, adding believing in science and the truth matters because not only are there a number of variants being discovered, there’s always the potential of another deadly virus to appear, “The fight is not against each other but against the virus,” said Dr. Cachay
One year later Brian Meek sees it like this, “I think there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but I think it’s going to be a while before everybody is comfortable.
And on this Valentine’s day, Dr. Cachay said it’s also a time to remember those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus, “More than 3000 of our neighbors are not with us anymore and we have many empty chairs at the table today.”