Humboldt County Public Health has confirmed 18 new COVID-19 cases and one new hospitalization of a person in their 60s, bringing the countywide total to 4,989.

Today's results come after laboratories processed 62 samples.

According to a state database, 16 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 locally, including four under intensive care.

In a press release today, Public Health highlighted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's revised masking guidance due to the increased spread of the Delta variant, which is believed to be more contagious than other COVID-19 varieties and results in more severe illness, stating that all people, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a mask indoors in public areas of substantial or high virus transmission, which includes Humboldt County.

"CDC’s recommendations are based on preliminary evidence indicating that while vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant of COVID-19 are unlikely to become severely ill from the virus, they can spread it to others," the release states. (Read more about the CDC's new masking guidance here.)

The CDC's announcement comes a day after Humboldt County Public Health's recommendation that all county residents wear a mask indoors in all public spaces to limit the spread of the Delta variant, which now accounts for nearly 85 percent of new infections nationally. In yesterday's county COVID press release, public health reported that the Delta variant was found in 25 percent of samples that underwent genomic sequencing last month.

Public Health is still urging residents who have yet to do so to get their COVID-19 vaccines, as it is the only protection against severe illness and death from the virus. This week's Public Health vaccine clinics include Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson doses. The full schedule includes:

Willow Creek – Wednesday, July 28, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Willow Creek Community Resource Center (38883 Hwy. 299)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Trinidad – Thursday, July 29, from noon to 3 p.m.
Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Thursday, July 29, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Eureka Summer Concert Series (Madaket Plaza, 1 C St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Friday, July 30, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Transition-Age Youth (TAY) Division (433 M St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Saturday, July 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Get Out and Play Day (Sequoia Park, 3414 W St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Fields Landing – Tuesday, Aug. 3, from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Fields Landing Boat Ramp (End of Railroad Ave., South Humboldt Bay)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

King Salmon – Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Gills by the Bay (77 Halibut 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.

To date, Humboldt County has confirmed 4,989 cases, with 229 hospitalizations and 53 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths.

The county dashboard lists 4,674 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 but fell back to 5.9 percent in June. In July, it has risen to 9.9 percent even as vaccinations have rendered fewer local residents susceptible to infection.

Nationwide, more than 34.5 million cases have been confirmed with 608,113 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Of those, 3.9 million cases and 64,265 related deaths have been confirmed in California, according to the Department of Public Health.

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.

Read the JIC release below:

July 27, 2021 - 18 New Cases; CDC Revises Masking, Testing Guidance for Vaccinated Individuals

Eighteen new cases of COVID-19 and one new hospitalization of a person in their 60s have been reported in Humboldt County today. The total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus now stands at 4,989.

Citing the increased spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today revised its masking guidance to recommend that all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or high virus transmission, which includes Humboldt County.

If a vaccinated individual’s household includes vulnerable individuals such as young children or those who are immunocompromised, the CDC advises indoor masking in public settings whatever the level of transmission. In order to limit the spread of Delta, the CDC also recommended that fully vaccinated individuals with symptoms and those who are exposed to a person known or suspected to have COVID-19 get tested.

CDC’s recommendations are based on preliminary evidence indicating that while vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant of COVID-19 are unlikely to become severely ill from the virus, they can spread it to others. Read more about the recommendations at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.

Today’s announcement follows Humboldt County Public Health’s recent recommendation that local residents wear a mask in indoor public places to protect against spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Vaccination continues to be the best protection against severe illness and death from COVID-19. Vaccines are available at Public Health vaccination clinics and most local pharmacies. Walk-ins are welcome at all Public Health clinics, or sign up in advance at MyTurn.ca.gov. See the clinic schedule for the next seven days below.

Willow Creek – Wednesday, July 28, from 2 to 6 p.m.
     Willow Creek Community Resource Center (38883 Hwy. 299)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Trinidad – Thursday, July 29, from noon to 3 p.m.
    Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Thursday, July 29, from 5 to 8 p.m.
    Eureka Summer Concert Series (Madaket Plaza, 1 C St.)
    Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Friday, July 30, from 1 to 4 p.m.
     Transition-Age Youth (TAY) Division (433 M St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Saturday, July 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Get Out and Play Day (Sequoia Park, 3414 W St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Fields Landing – Tuesday, Aug. 3, from noon to 2:30 p.m.
     Fields Landing Boat Ramp (End of Railroad Ave., South Humboldt Bay)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

King Salmon – Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
    Gills by the Bay (77 Halibut Ave.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

In addition to the clinic scheduled in Willow Creek, COVID-19 vaccines are also available through health care providers in the eastern part of the county. For information, contact K’ima:w Medical Center in Hoopa at 530-625-4261, United Indian Health Services in Weitchpec at 530-625-4300 or Open Door Willow Creek Community Health Center at 530-629-3111.

The Pfizer vaccine is approved for children as young as 12 years old. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for those 18 and older.

To check availability of these vaccines, as well as Moderna, at local pharmacies, visit 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.

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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