The Coast News INLAND EDITION
.com ESCONDIDO, SAN MARCOS, VISTA
VOL. 5, N0. 24
NOV. 27, 2020
County sets mark for new COVID cases By City News Service
CONSTRUCTION CREWS have begun the process of dismantling the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad. According to an agreement between NRG Energy and the city, the entire facility, including its iconic smokestack, is scheduled to be torn down by the end of 2021. Photo by Anthony Mata
Outdoor fitness court opens Psychologist lays out tools for struggling kids By Tigist Layne
By Steve Puterski
REGION – Life during a pandemic has led to many changes, especially concerning children and they can struggle to adapt to a new way of life. Encinitas child psychologist and Cal State San Marcos adjunct professor Kristine Brady, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech, said she’s experiencing a rise in depression versus anxiety. She said at first, she expected to see more cases of anxiety, but from her clients to the available research, it has been depression kids are battling due to more isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she said more teenagers are calling for treatment from a psychologist, something
Brady said she has never witnessed in her two decades-plus as a licensed therapist. “I was expecting to get a lot of anxiety, but I got the opposite,” she explained. “I’ve had at least five people call me saying their teenage boy has specifically asked for a therapist. I’ve never experienced that in my entire career.” Brady said those teenagers are at a vulnerable age as they are beginning to separate from the adults through going to school, with their friends and at home. But now, those opportunities are fewer because the teenagers are stuck at home, she said. It’s called individuate, which is the formation of TURN TO KIDS ON 13
ESCONDIDO — North County’s first free outdoor fitness center is now open in Escondido’s Mountain View Park as part of a nationwide initiative by the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) to build more accessible healthy infrastructure. The NFC is “a quality of life consulting firm that partners with cities, schools, corporations and design firms to fund and build outdoor Fitness Courts to improve the quality of life in America,” according to its website. The seven-station court allows visitors to work on their agility, core and bend, as well as focus on other activities like lunges, squats, pulls and pushes. A free mobile application is also available to help guide particiTHE FREE outdoor facility at Mountain View Park in pants during their workout. The city is also currentEscondido is part of a nationwide initiative to create accessible, healthy infrastructure. Photo courtesy of National Fitness Campaign
TURN TO FITNESS ON 12
REGION — San Diego County public health officials reported a record 1,546 COVID-19 infections Nov. 24, the 14th consecutive day that more than 600 new cases were reported, along with 16 additional deaths. The county’s coronavirus death toll stands at 984, and the cumulative case total rose to 74,361. The previous one-day case record was Saturday, when 1,478 new COVID-19 cases were logged, topping the previous record of 1,091 set the day before. On Sunday, 939 new cases were reported. San Diego County fell deeper into the most restrictive purple tier of the state’s four-tiered reopening plan Tuesday with an unadjusted 21.5 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population. Even with an adjusted rate of 13.1 per 100,000 due to significant testing increases by local health authorities, that number far exceeds the strictest tier’s baseline of seven daily cases per 100,000. A total of 17,329 tests were reported Tuesday and 9% of those came back positive, raising the 14-day rolling average of positive tests to 5.3%. The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to rise, with 518 hospitalized in the county and 151 in intensive care, more than double the numbers of a month ago. Of the total number of cases in the county Tuesday, 4,435 — 6% — have required hospitalization and 1,002 patients — 1.3% of all cases — had to be admitted to an intensive care unit. A total of 15 new community outbreaks were confirmed Tuesday. Over the previous seven days, 73 community outbreaks were confirmed. A community outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households over the past 14 days. San Diego County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten advised caution as the Thanksgiving holiday looms. “There should be a small number of people and gatherings should be short in duration,” she said. “We are asking people to please follow the public health guidance to provide a safe experience for everyone attending the gathering.”