The individual who died was over 80, the second person in that age group to die this week. Two other local residents, one in their 60s and one in their 70s, died of the virus, died last week.

Today's case results came after laboratories processed 171 samples with a test-positivity rate of 2.9 percent. According to a state database, 12 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 locally, including five under intensive care.

All of the Public Health vaccinations clinics scheduled this week and next will include the one-shot Johnson & Johnson and the Pfizer vaccine, the only one authorized for those 12 to 17.

Clinic schedule:

Eureka – Saturday, June 26 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eureka High School cafeteria (1915 J St.) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

McKinleyville – Monday, June 28 – 10 a.m. to noon McKinleyville Trailer Park (2331 Central Ave.) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson


To make an appointment in advance or view additional vaccination opportunities and to request help with transportation, visit www.vaccines.gov or www.myturn.ca.gov.

An advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found a likely link between certain mRNA vaccines and extremely rare instances of heart inflamation, which most commonly occured in young men and ususally cleared itself or with minor treatment.  Both the CDC and the FDA continue to recommendation vaccinations for thos 12 and older.
To date, Humboldt County has confirmed 4,533 cases, with 208 hospitalizations and 50 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths.

The county dashboard lists 4,376 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. The positivity rate for the last week is 5.8 percent.

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 [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 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.

A Humboldt County resident has died with COVID-19, and five new cases of the virus were reported today. A total of 4,533 county residents have tested positive. The resident who died was over the age of 80, marking the county’s 50th virus-related death.

Humboldt County Public Health and Emergency Operations Center staff share their sympathies with all who have lost someone to COVID-19.

Public Health vaccination clinics are scheduled in multiple locations throughout the county over the next week, including tomorrow, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eureka High School cafeteria.

Hmong and Spanish speakers will be available at this clinic to assist residents navigate the process, and county residents are encouraged to bring the whole family to get vaccinated. All Public Health clinics are open to walk-ins and by appointment. Sign up in advance at MyTurn.ca.gov.

See the schedule of Public Health’s clinics below.

Eureka – Saturday, June 26 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eureka High School cafeteria (1915 J St.) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

McKinleyville – Monday, June 28 – 10 a.m. to noon McKinleyville Trailer Park (2331 Central Ave.) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Arcata – Monday, June 28 – 2 to 6 p.m. Town & Country Mobile Villa (4855 Boyd Road) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Manila – Tuesday, June 29 – 10 a.m. to noon Manila RV Campground (120 Mill St.) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Petrolia – Wednesday, June 30 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mattole Grange (36512 Mattole Road) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Arcata – Friday, July 2 – 5 to 7:30 p.m. Arcata Ball Park/Humboldt Crabs game* (888 F St.) Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson *Free admission and a hot dog dinner to the first 100 people who get vaccinated at this clinic.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for those 18 and older. People age 12 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine is also available at many local pharmacies.

Check availability at vaccines.gov, or text a ZIP code to 438829 to find a participating pharmacy nearby. Most pharmacies allow walk-ins. 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 [email protected] or calling 707-441-5000.