City News Service

Dozens of city workers began receiving advanced termination notices Thursday for failure to comply with the city's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees.

San Diego County residents were being urged Thursday to avoid emergency rooms for COVID-19 testing, amid increases in both hospitalizations and staffing shortages exacerbated by a surge in coronavirus infections.

Work began this week on Phase II of the San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration project intended to create a new trail connection, expand river habitat and convert former agricultural fields to tidal wetlands, it was announced Wednesday.

The state-imposed the mandate on Dec. 15, and it had been scheduled to expire on Jan. 15.

The company says it believes this is the first Southern California case of "flurona," meaning a person who tested positive for both coronavirus and the flu.

The number of influenza cases in San Diego County is below average this season.

The announcement comes after a judge struck down San Diego's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying only the state can make that a requirement.

Earlier this month, supervisors unanimously voted to oppose any further placements of sexually violent predators until local jurisdictions are able to fully participate in the placement process, including having full veto authority.