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In this file photo, respiratory therapist Olivia Luevano checks a patient's records before entering the room in Bakersfield Memorial Hospital's COVID-19 ICU.

 Alex Horvath / The Californian

Despite the sudden decrease in daily reported coronavirus cases, the Kern County Public Health Services Department still sees warning signs that a surge in COVID-19 infections persists locally.

Even as San Diego County has been taken off a state monitoring list — and with other California counties on the verge of making their own exit — Kern’s own metrics betray a stubbornly high number of infections even as daily totals have reduced.

You can reach Sam Morgen at 661-395-7415. You may also follow him on Twitter @smorgenTBC.