By Jade Martinez-Pogue, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @MartinezPogue July 27, 2021 | 4:00 p.m. Santa Barbara County Public Health officials reported 53 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, driving the total number of active cases (people still considered to be infectious) up to 342. There have been 432 new cases reported over the last seven days, averaging close to 62 new cases per day. This is a roughly 70% increase from the week prior when the county was averaging just over 36 new cases per day, according to data tracking done by Noozhawk. Public health officials said the local case rate (cases per 100,000 residents) in Santa Barbara County has skyrocketed 400% in the past month.