Humboldt County Public Health confirmed four new COVID-19 cases today.

That makes nine cases in September after 155 cases were confirmed in August and 100 in July.

Humboldt is currently in the “moderate” category under the state's new four tiered system, with local numbers at about 3.6 cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 1.8 percent, putting it between the “substantial” and “minimal” risk tiers.

To be bumped up to the “substantial” tier — which brings tighter restrictions — Humboldt would have to see an average of between four and seven new cases a day or a test positivity rate of 5 to 8 percent. (Eclipsing either threshold will move a county to the more restrictive tier.)

Today's case count comes after Public Health tested 246 samples. To date, Humboldt county has seen 397 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 22 hospitalizations and four deaths.

Humboldt County Public Health is urging residents who aren't experiencing symptoms to get tested free of charge at the mobile testing site at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. (People experiencing symptoms should contact a healthcare provider, officials say.) Asymptomatic individuals can make an appointment to be tested by visiting https://Lhi.care/covidtesting or calling (888) 634-1123. Tests will be administered free of charge, whether or not people have health insurance.

Basics of COVID-19


The California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control, state that symptoms of novel coronavirus include cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or at least two of the following: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or a new loss of taste or smell.

Emergency warning signs needing immediate medical attention include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to awaken, and bluish lips or face.

In an emergency situation:

Call ahead to the emergency room or inform the 911 operator of the possibility of a COVID-19 infection and, if possible, put on a face mask.

Symptoms or possible exposure:

In the case of a possible exposure with symptoms — fever and cough or shortness of breath — contact your doctor’s office or the county Department of Health and Human Services, which has a hotline that can be reached during business hours at [email protected] or at (707) 441-5000. Residents seeking medical advice or questions about testing are asked to contact Public Health at [email protected] or at (707) 445-6200.

St. Joseph Health has also set up a virtual assessment tool as an aid to assess risk factors for contracting the illness, which can be found at here.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has started a rumor-control webpage that can be found here.

For the Journal's latest COVID stories, updates and information resources, click here.

Read the county's release below.