COVID-19 cases across Imperial County are still on the rise

Health officials say less hospitlziations compared to last year - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Public health officials say COVID-19 cases across the Imperial Valley are rapidly increasing and now six cases of the Omicron variant are present in Imperial County.

A special meeting took place with the El Centro City Council where the Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD) announced there are 1,364 active cases of COVID-19.

Janette Angulo, the director of the ICPHD says this is only the beginning.

"We are expecting several hundred cases to be reported and several deaths," she said.

Currently, there are 799 deaths across the Imperial Valley related to COVID-19.

The ICPHD says while they expect the number of deaths to increase in the coming days, an investigation will take place confirming the deaths are a result of COVID-19 complications before the number is updated.

The universal mask mandate in Imperial County has been extended until February 15, in alignment with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) says it will leave it up to each officer to decide whether or not they want to issue citations for locals not following the state health order.