Coronavirus: 297 Cases In San Diego, Officials Estimate Thousands

SAN DIEGO, CA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in San Diego County climbed 55 cases Wednesday, bringing the region's total to 297. That ties the highest day-over-day increase in cases yet in the county.

"In San Diego, we are at the very beginning of our exposure and our engagement with the coronavirus," Supervisor Nathan Fletcher advised residents during Wednesday's news conference.

"The situation that we face in San Diego will get worse and continue to get worse before it gets better. That means in the coming days and weeks we're going to see more positive cases. We're going to see more hospitalizations. And, tragically, we will see more deaths."

A total of 277 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19 as well as 20 non-county residents. Of the people who have tested positive, 59 have been hospitalized, with 29 in intensive care. Two residents have died.

Officials warned that there's likely thousands of more undiagnosed cases in the county.

"The estimate of the number of positives we have based on limited testing is not a reflection of the true number of cases in the community," Fletcher said. "... The real number is probably 10 times greater than what we are reporting."

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The confirmed cases span people ages 6 weeks old to over 80 years old. Most of the cases involve people between 20 to 59 years old.

Cases have been confirmed in the cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista, as well as the unincorporated areas of Bonita, Fallbrook, Jamul, Lakeside, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe, San Ysidro and Spring Valley.

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