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"Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 192 people have been hospitalized and 46 local residents have died," a press release states. "None of them were vaccinated."
Today's cases were reported after laboratories processed 162 samples with a test-positivity rate 5.6 percent. The report comes after the state announced earlier today that Humboldt County remains in its orange or "moderate" risk tier, keeping in place restrictions on local businesses imposed in April.
According to a state database, five people are current hospitalized with COVID-19 locally, including one under intensive care.
Public Health is continuing to urge residents to get vaccinated, with clinics scheduled this week at Cuddeback Elementary in Carlotta from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, at the Mattole Grange in Petrolia tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at College of the Redwoods in Eureka on Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Although walk-ins are welcome at Public Health clinics, appointments are highly encouraged. To make an appointment at a clinic or pharmacy, and to request help with transportation, visit www.vaccines.gov.
Public Health also reported last week that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health approved revisions yesterday to its workplace safety regulations, which apply to most workers in the state. The requirements generally allow workers who are fully vaccinated to work unmasked in settings where everyone else in the workplace is vaccinated and symptom free. They also lift physical distancing requirements in indoor settings after July 31, but require employers to make N95 masks available to any unvaccinated employees.
When the state updated its COVID-19 risk tiers for the last time today, it kept Humboldt County in its orange "moderate" tier, allowing local businesses to operate as they have since April until the state eases most restrictions June 15. According to the state's data, Humboldt County recorded 5.1 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and had a test-positivity rate of 3.6 percent over the seven-day period. Humboldt's numbers dwarf those of the state as a whole, which recorded 2 new COVID-19 case per 100,000 residents and a test-positivity rate of 0.8 percent.
The county dashboard lists 4,246 people as having "recovered" from the virus locally, though that just means they are no longer contagious and does not account for long-term health impacts, which local healthcare workers have told the Journal can be substantial, even in previously healthy patients.
The county’s test positivity rate has gone from 3.6 percent in November, to 7.3 percent in December and 9.9 percent in January, before dropping to 6.5 percent in February. In March, it dropped to 4.5 percent before inching back up to 5.9 percent in April. In May, it jumped to 8.3 percent.
Nationwide, more than 33.1 million COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, with 594,802 related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In California, more than 3.6 million cases have been confirmed with 62,479 deaths, according to the Department of Public Health.
Meanwhile, the county's Joint Information Center is urging locals to get tested, calling it "one of the most helpful things county residents can do for the community at large," because it allows Public Health to catch cases early and limit spread. The state-run OptumServe testing site at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka is open seven days a week and no-cost appointments can be made by clicking here or calling (888) 634-1123 and other newly opened screening site information can be found here.
The Humboldt County Data Dashboard includes hospitalization rates by age group, death rates by age group and case totals by ZIP code, the latter of which are reported in "a range of 0 to 5 for case count until the area surpasses 5 total cases," according to the county. After that threshold has been reached in a ZIP code, the exact number will be included.
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 covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us or at (707) 441-5000. Residents seeking medical advice or questions about testing are asked to contact Public Health at hhsphb@co.humbldt.ca.us or at (707) 445-6200.
St. Joseph Health has also set up a virtual assessment tool as an aid to assessing risk factors for contracting the illness, which can be found 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 release below:
9 New Cases Reported Today
707-441-5000 ; covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us ; Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm Opens in new window
Nine new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Humboldt County today. One previously reported case was determined to be a false positive and removed. The total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus now stands at 4,390.
Two new hospitalizations were reported today. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 192 people have been hospitalized and 46 local residents have died. None of them were vaccinated.
Humboldt County will remain in the “Orange” or Moderate tier under the California “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” with a positivity rate of 3.6% and an adjusted case rate of 5 per 100,000 residents.
As California moves toward retiring the Blueprint on June 15 and reopening all industry sectors statewide, Public Health officials stress the importance of increasing the number of vaccinated residents.
“We urge all Californians to get vaccinated to ensure that infection and hospitalization rates remain low across the state and that we can all return to the activities we love,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services Secretary.
Vaccination clinics are scheduled tomorrow through Sunday in Petrolia and Eureka. Walk-ins are welcome at all Public Health clinics, or people may schedule in advance through MyTurn.ca.gov.
Spanish-speaking staff will be on hand to assist community members navigate the vaccination process at the Sunday, June 13, vaccination clinic at College of the Redwoods. See below for this week’s schedule and a list of vaccines offered.
Petrolia – Wednesday, June 9 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mattole Grange (36512 Mattole Road)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
Eureka – Thursday, June 10 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
College of the Redwoods Gym (7351 Tompkins Hill Road)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
Eureka – Sunday, June 13 – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
College of the Redwoods Gym (7351 Tompkins Hill Road)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for people 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people age 12 and older. A parent or guardian must accompany minor children to the clinic. Minor consent forms are available online in English or Spanish and may be printed and filled out for each minor child before coming to the clinic.
Español: humboldtgov.org/MinorConsentEspanol
English: humboldtgov.org/MinorConsentEnglish
Many local pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccines, and most pharmacies allow walk-ins. Check availability at vaccines.gov, or text a ZIP code to 438829 to find a nearby vaccination site.
View the Humboldt County Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download today’s data.
For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or by contacting covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us or calling 707-441-5000.
Sign up for COVID-19 vaccination: MyTurn.ca.gov
Check for vaccine availability at a local pharmacy: Vaccines.gov
Local COVID-19 vaccine information: humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo
Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/Dashboard
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19
Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert
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