Source: County Communications Office

July 21, 2021 (San Diego) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in San Diego has spiked  in the past week, prompting County health officials to urge residents to continue getting vaccinated. In the past seven days, 3,465 COVID-19 cases were reported in San Diego County. That’s 1,566 or 82% more cases than the previous seven-day period.

Source: County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA)

Photo: Twitter @SanDiegoCounty

July 19, 2021 (San Diego) -- Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a lab that help boost the immune system to fight viruses. The monoclonal antibody combination treatments of monoclonal antibody combination treatment  from Regeneron has been authorized for emergency use to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg / 88 lbs.) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) viral testing, and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. Monoclonal antibodies have been shown in clinical trials to reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization and emergency room visits.

Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration

July 16, 2021 (Washington D.C.) - Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots of five NEUTROGENA® and AVEENO® aerosol sunscreen product lines. Internal testing identified low levels of benzene in some samples of the products.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  A San Diego teen is vaccinated at a mobile site at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. Image from county video

July 14, 2021 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported 348 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday as the more infectious “delta” variant spreads and vaccinations slow.

New regulation requires manufacturers to consider safer alternatives

Source: California Department of Toxic Substances Control

July 11, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Moving to protect the health of Californians, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has taken action to require manufacturers of carpets and rugs sold in the state to consider safer alternatives to a group of hazardous chemicals that have been linked to serious health impacts and pose a particular exposure risk to children when used in carpets and rugs.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo via San Diego County News Service

July 8, 2021 (San Diego) - More than 140,000 San Diegans who have received their first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are overdue for their second dose, the Health and Human Services Agency reported Thursday.

Experts Say Be Kind to Your Body

By Suzanne Potter, California  News Service

Photo: Creative Commons image by SA-NC via Bing

July 7, 2021 (Sacramento) --  More than 60% of adults reported weight problems during the pandemic, according to the American Psychological Association.

Experts have some tips on getting back into your groove this summer. COVID-19 disrupted everyone's food and exercise routines, stranded many in front of a screen all day, and led to increased isolation.

As work dried up for mariachi bands, many musicians put themselves at risk for coronavirus transmission. Over 50 Mariachi musicians have died of COVID-19 in the past year.

By Jacqueline Garcia, Cal Matters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo courtesy of Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara

July 2, 2021 (San Diego) - Hundreds of mariachis come to Boyle Heights in Los Angeles from across the United States and Mexico, in search of work. They gather at Mariachi Plaza, a small park with a bandstand and kiosk that holds a special place in their hearts because it was donated by the Mexican State of Jalisco, the birthplace of this music. They wait for people to call or stop by to hire them.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Stock Photo. ivabalk / Pixabay

June 27, 2021 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency is looking for anybody that may have come into contact with a live bat that tested positive for rabies and was found at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on June 25, 2021.

“Parents are finding their children dead from fentanyl overdoses, boyfriends finding their girlfriends dead, and children are being put at risk by this alarming spike,” said DA Summer Stephan.

Source: San Diego District Attorney

June 21, 2021 (San Diego) -- The top law enforcement leaders in San Diego County are sounding the alarm about a concerning increase in overdose deaths related to fentanyl, especially among younger people. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department and Police Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Association are pushing out the warning on social media in an effort to educate youth and parents that if the pill you’re taking didn’t come from a pharmacy, it could kill you.

In 2019, there were 151 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in San Diego County. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, there were 461 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in San Diego County in 2020, triple the number from the year before. While still early, the projection for 2021 is 700 such overdose deaths. 

The District Attorney’s Office is part of the Narcotics Task Force Team 10, which responds to an average of 5 to 6 calls per week; most of them fatal overdoses and most involving a fentanyl-related overdose. The deaths are occurring in every part of the county and affecting every demographic. 

Keynote speaker is best-selling author, Emmy award-winning actor, director and producer Henry Winkler

East County News Service

June 18, 2021 (San Diego) -- Local nonprofit San Diego Oasis in collaboration with the County of San Diego’s Aging and Independence Services (AIS), Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and Live Well San Diego, San Diego Oasis will host “Vital Aging 2021: Resilient and Ready!,” an online conference that will provide those 60 and older with information and resources related to aging. The online event will be held Thursday, June 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.  This is a free virtual event.

June 14, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Organ transplant patients may benefit from third Covid-19 vaccine dose to boost antibodies, study suggests (CNN)
• Doctors using 3D printers to help babies with spina bifida who haven't even been born yet (10 News)
• Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Shows (NPR)
• CDC probes rare cases of heart inflammation in vaccinated teens, young adults (Washington Post)
• Sackler Family Empire Poised To Win Immunity From Opioid Lawsuits (NPR)
• Syria Bombs Hospitals. Now It Will Help Lead The World Health Organization (NPR)

SCIENCE & TECH

• What causes the Northern Lights? Scientists now know for sure (NPR)
• Major internet outage impacts websites and apps around the world (CNN)
• Tiny creature comes back to life after 24,000 years in Siberian deep freeze (Reuters)
• Trump’s blog failed, bigly. His next online venture won’t be any easier. (Politico)
• Should the police have facial recognition tech?  (QZ)
• Tech giants and tax havens targeted by historic G7 deal (Reuters)
• National Geographic Adds 5th Ocean to World Map (NBC San Diego)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.