KPBS Trigger Tracker

Primary Triggers

Only one of the primary triggers must be reached for the county to consider implementing more restrictions.

• Community Outbreaks Over Last 7 Days

  Should not be more than 6

  This measures the amount of outbreaks in community settings that have occurred in the last seven days. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases among non-household members tied to the same community setting, such as a business or private residence.

• ICU Beds Available

  Should not be less than 20%

  This measures the percentage of available ICU beds.

• Hospitals With Enough PPE

  Should not reach or be less than 50%

  This measures the percentage of hospitals that currently have enough personal protective equipment to last at least 22 days.

Secondary Triggers

With the exception of the case rate, which has been prioritized by the state, at least two of the secondary triggers must be reached for the county to consider taking action. But these triggers have an added layer of complexity because they must also be in separate categories. There are three categories: surveillance, capacity and response. If at least two triggers in different categories are reached, the county may consider more public health orders.

• SURVEILLANCE
• CAPACITY
• RESPONSE

• Average New Daily Cases Per 100K Residents

  Should not reach 7.1 for two consecutive weeks

  This measures the average number of new daily cases per 100,000 San Diego County residents. It is adjusted by the state based on the county's testing volume and is only updated on Tuesdays. It determines the level of state-ordered restrictions that apply in the county.

  The county began providing data for this metric on August 31, 2020.

• Hospital Beds Occupied

  Should not reach or be greater than 80%

  This measures the amount of occupied hospital beds.

• COVID Tests Coming Back Positive

  Should not be greater than 8%

  This measures the percentage of daily tests coming back positive for coronavirus over the last two weeks.

  The county began providing data for this metric on July 6, 2020.

• ER Patients With COVID Symptoms

  Should not see an “upward trajectory” over 2-week period

  This measures the daily percentage of patients visiting San Diego’s emergency departments primarily for COVID-like symptoms. San Diego County defined an upward trajectory as “any increase in the number of people showing up in emergency rooms in an unexpected pattern from what would be expected at that point in time.”

• Rate Of New COVID Hospitalizations

  Should not reach or be greater than 10%

  This measures the percent change in the number of laboratory-confirmed COVID patients who are hospitalized. It is calculated by comparing the average change over the last three days to the average change over the previous three-day period.

• New Cases Investigated Within A Day

  Should not reach or be less than 70%

  This measures the percentage of cases that staff investigates within 24 hours of learning about the case. It is calculated over a seven-day period.

• ER Patients With Flu Symptoms

  Should not see an “upward trajectory” over 2- week period

  This measures the daily percentage of patients visiting San Diego’s emergency departments primarily for COVID-like symptoms. San Diego County has not yet responded to questions to clarify the measurable increase required to be considered an “upward trajectory.”

• Ventilators Available

  Should not be less than 25%

  This measures the percentage of ventilators that are available for use.

• Close Contacts Called Within A Day

  Should not reach or be less than 70%

  This measures how quickly contact tracers are able to reach out for the first time to close contacts of a confirmed COVID case. It measures the percentage of close contacts a county employee tries to contact within 24 hours of that person being identified as a close contact.

• Weekly Snapshot

  Total number of primary and secondary triggers reached each day over the last week. An X indicates the county did not provide a report for that day. The county said it will not provide the information on weekends.

  • 4/3 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  • 4/4 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  • 4/5 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  • 4/6 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  • 4/7 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  • 4/8 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  • 4/9 1

    Metrics triggered

    • Community Outbreaks
  
  

  Government Resources

  • San Diego County
  • Testing In San Diego County
  • San Diego County Data Report [PDF]
  • California Department Of Public Health
  • Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

• Homeless Shelter Space

  Should not be less than 15%

  This measures the percentage of temporary shelter in existence for people experiencing homelessness.