COVID-19 cases expected to rise in the Imperial Valley

State sequencing has shown an 20% increase of Delta variant cases - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Health experts say the number of COVID-19 cases across the Imperial Valley is expected to rise over the next week.

The Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD) made that announcement Friday. Health officials say there are currently 148 active cases across the Valley.

Imperial County Health Officer Dr. Stephen Munday says sequencing also shows cases of the Delta variant are also expected to go up.

“Most recently looking at the state, the sequencing has shown that over 80% of the cases are now related to delta. That was at  60% a week ago, so that is a significant change and it’s on the increase so it is concerning,” he said.

Currently, the ICPHD has no plans to mandate masks or restrict indoor activities, however, Dr. Munday says that anything is possible.

“If you’re going to be in an indoor situation with other people, even if you are fully vaccinated, it would not be a bad idea to mask yourself indoors, for now, we have it as a recommendation as a precaution but we are not mandating it yet,” he said.

Health experts believe that summer time travel may be the reason for the recent spike. Some parents are becoming concerned as that back to school date gets closer.

“That decision to opening the schools was done at the state level, I don’t have authority to close schools,” he said.

Daniel Nunez is a local elementary school teacher in the Valley. He believes the district will be ready come August.

“There is a rise in COVID cases and the school district will pay close attention to that, but I do not think it's at the point where it will restrict in-person learning,” he said.