San Diego unemployment rises to 8% after state put in new COVID-19 restrictions [The San Diego Union-Tribune] San Diego County’s jobless rate rose to 8 percent in December as many businesses were closed again to stop the spread of COVID-19. The jobless rate hit 6.6 percent in November — the lowest level since the pandemic began — right before the county was placed in the state’s most restrictive virus closure protocol, called the purple tier. That action moved restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters to outdoor-only and retail capacity was reduced. State health officials said the restrictions were necessary as Southern California became one of the nation’s hotspots for the virus.