Credit: Courtesy

It’s time to batten down the hatches again, Santa Barbara County officials implored the public Friday, as the rate of new coronavirus infections continue to climb and an inevitable surge in hospitalizations and deaths looms over the coming weeks. 

“We are facing another rapid increase in COVID-19 cases,” said Dr. Van Do-Reynoso, director of the Public Health Department. “I anticipate more difficult days ahead.” 

Detailed information on Santa Barbara’s metrics are available on the county’s newly released Community Data Dashboard, found here. The current number of active cases ― 313 ― mirrors those reported over the summer, during the last major spike. Seventy-four new cases were reported today. The death count stands at 133.

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