An uptick in COVID-19 cases across San Diego County has prompted one healthcare system to up its masking protocols. Public health officials are also expanding no cost testing availability.

With summer gatherings underway, more people are catching COVID-19. In San Diego, one hospital is now requiring masks to stop the summer spread.

San Diego County officials say they started to see a rise in cases in late May and early-June this year.

“In the past few years there have been increases in COVID cases during the summer months, so this is not completely unexpected to see a surge in cases,” said Dr. Erik Berg, Interim Medical Director with San Diego County’s Public Health Services.