We continue to monitor the latest COVID-19 surge, looking for signs of what to expect in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, with so many variables involved, it’s not exactly clear.
Here is what we do know:
- New cases countywide are still averaging over 1,000 a day and overall are higher than last week.
- The region’s health care system capacity is still within acceptable levels according to the county’s metrics, although the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized increased since last week.
- Some health care systems have delayed non-critical procedures.
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Carlsbad cases
Active cases in Carlsbad are down a bit this week, which is good news.
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County cases
The county’s latest COVID Watch newsletter shows that cases and deaths are higher than last week, but the number of outbreaks is down.
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We continue to see that hospitalizations are mostly among those who are not fully vaccinated. |
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The county’s key metrics are mixed, with some better than last week and some worse, but the changes are very small from last week to this week. |
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Vaccine approval
On Monday the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine, which previously had only emergency authorization. This is considered significant because according to a county survey, some people didn’t want to get vaccinated until vaccines were fully approved. We also saw more organizations moving forward with mandating employees be vaccinated once this approval was announced.
The Pfizer vaccine also now has a name – apparently once a drug is approved, it can be called by the name given by the manufacturer. In this case, it will be called Comirnaty, pronounced koe-mir-na-tee. It’s said to derive from the word COVID, the mRNA technology it uses and the “ty” at the end referencing community and immunity.
Booster update
Johnson and Johnson is preparing to present data to the FDA supporting a booster shot, similar to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The data support a booster between six and eight months following initial inoculation. The Pfizer booster is recommended eight months after the second shot. The Pfizer vaccine booster is schedule to be available starting Sept. 20.
No word yet on when the Johnson and Johnson booster will be approved and available. Moderna announced yesterday it had submitted its data to the FDA and asked for expedited review so it can also obtain full approval.
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Fire season prep
Wildfires are showing up father south now, with fires breaking out in San Bernardino and Riverside this week. Knowing our risk of wildfires goes up in the fall, the city is about to launch a month-long campaign for National Preparedness Month in September. You can get a jump start on your own family’s preparedness plans by reviewing this guide and making sure you have a family emergency plan and supplies. And look for more tips throughout the month of September.
By the way, CalFire maintains a map on its website that shows information about fires in the state. It’s a very handy resource.
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New park opening today
The city’s new Buena Vista Reservoir Park will open later this afternoon. It’s in the northwest part of the city, near the corner of Buena Vista Way and Highland. Park neighbors were very involved in the park’s design, which includes
- A children's play area
- A loop pathway around the park
- Picnic areas
- Benches
- Parking
- Water-wise native landscaping
- Spots to take in the beautiful ocean view
- Pieces of the park’s history as a water reservoir preserved and incorporated into the design
There’s more information on the park’s project page, including an interesting story of how the park came to be. I’ll share photos next week.
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Welcome to the new City Council Member
On Tuesday, the City Council conducted public interviews with 12 applicants for the District 1 City Council vacancy. Using the process I described last week, applicants were given equal time to present their qualifications and answer five questions.
Following the interviews, City Council members selected their top three candidates, and from that process Peder Norby emerged as the top choice. A unanimous City Council vote made it official.
We are so pleased to welcome incoming Council Member Norby to the City of Carlsbad. We will hold a swearing in ceremony at the beginning of our City Council meeting next Tuesday, and then he will hit the ground running. More information is available here.
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County information about the recall election
Learn more on the County Registrar of Voters website.
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Redistricting meetings
We have three more City Council redistricting webinars coming up this week. The one-hour sessions will explain this once-a-decade process, including an overview of redistricting, key steps, how you can participate and the basics of map-making. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions and offer feedback. You don’t have to go to the meeting for the district you live in.
If you’d rather just watch the meetings and not register, they’ll be livestreamed on the city’s website and cable channel.
Meetings are from 6 to 7 p.m.
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Homework help
Speaking of back to school, the Carlsbad City Library has some great tools and resources to help students succeed this school year.
- Computer labs at all library branches
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The Exploration HUB at Dove Library, for access to state-of-the-art digital media tools
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eResources for homework help and grade-level skills testing
- Libby and Sora apps that give students access to thousands of eBooks, eComics and eMagazines
- AP and PSAT test preparation books available to check out or review while visiting the library
- An all-new personalized reading recommendation service from library staff for students working on book reports or looking for reading suggestions
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5 eBike safety rules for back to school
As a new school year begins, we want to make sure kids are traveling to and from class safely. Here are five e-bike safety tips for parents and families:
- Wear a helmet. Helmets are required for riders under 18 and smart for riders of any age.
- Follow traffic signs and signals. The same rules of the road that apply to vehicles apply to all types of e-bikes.
- Only carry passengers if the e-bike has a seat. Most e-bikes are not equipped to take passengers. Passengers should not ride on anything but a permanent seat.
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Know where to ride. E-bike riders should ride in the appropriate lane for the direction they are going and use a bike lane if they are going slower than traffic. Sidewalks and crosswalks are meant for pedestrians, so e-bike riders should stop for pedestrians and walk their e-bikes in those areas.
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Being seen is essential. Riders should increase their visibility by wearing bright or reflective clothing and installing the right lighting on their e-bike. E-bikes should have white lights in the front and red lights in the back.
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Citrus disease quarantine
A section of northern Carlsbad is part of a 60-square-mile citrus quarantine area that state and county officials recently declared after a plant disease fatal to citrus trees was found in Oceanside. It’s the first time the disease, called huanlongbing or HLB, has cropped up in San Diego County.
- The Carlsbad quarantine area is north of Carlsbad Village Drive, from the coast to the city’s northeast border with Oceanside.
- HLB isn’t harmful to humans or animals, but once a tree is infected, it can’t be saved and needs to be removed right away.
- You may notice California Department of Food and Agriculture officials surveying or testing citrus trees in some neighborhoods.
- You can tell your tree might have HLB if the leaves look blotchy and yellow, the yellowing is different on the front and back, or the fruit is lopsided, small and tastes rancid.
- If you see any signs of ACP or HLB, report it to the CDFA pest hotline at 800-491-1899.
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Get involved: Upcoming public meetings
In addition to swearing in new District 1 Council Member Peder Norby on Tuesday, the City Council will be addressing the following topics.
- Recognizing Carlsbad’s Citizen of the Year
- Annual State of the City video
- Temporary trailers for public safety staff during the remodeling of the Police & Fire Headquarters
- Hiring a company to resurface portions of El Camino Real and Batiquitos Drive
- Adding a traffic lane and improving the bike lane on northbound El Camino Real near Cannon Road
- Replacing or retrofitting existing curb ramps in District 1 to improve access for people with disabilities
- Annual pavement sealing project
- The city’s annual Growth Management Plan Monitoring Report
- An agreement to provide police school resource officers to the Carlsbad Unified School District
- Streamlining the permitting process for electrical vehicle charging stations
- What to do with a dead tree stump on Grand Avenue
- Considering a developer’s request for a $3.1 million loan to build more affordable housing
- Options for filling the vacant City Clerk’s position
- Designating the city’s representatives to the League of California Cities annual conference
City meetings will continue to be held virtually through the end of September to help reduce COVID-19 spread in our community.
There are also two city commission meetings next week. (The Senior Commission meeting planned for Sept. 2 has been canceled.)
- Sept. 1, 3 p.m. – Planning Commission
- Sept. 2, 6 p.m. – Arts Commission
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Fun things to do
Quick Links
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