News

Public Health today reported 21 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed since Friday, making 53 since June 21, including four children ages 9 or younger.

Three people have also been hospitalized in the last week, two of whom were in their 40s and one individual in their 60s.

Today's case results came after laboratories processed 393 samples with a test-positivity rate of 5.3 percent. According to a state database, 12 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 locally, including four under intensive care.

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

Clinic schedule:

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.

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.

Last week, 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 inflammation, which most commonly occurred in young men and ususally cleared itself or with minor treatment. Both the CDC and the FDA continue to recommendation vaccinations for those 12 and older.

To date, Humboldt County has confirmed 4,554 cases, with 208 hospitalizations and 50 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths.

The county dashboard lists 4,386 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 5.3 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 testing site is moving to the Wharfinger Building on Thursday, July 1. Read more 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.

Read the JIC release below:

A total of 4,554 Humboldt County resident have tested positive for COVID-19 after 21 additional cases were reported since Friday.

Since the last weekly data update on June 21, the county has reported 53 new cases of COVID-19, including four in the 0-9 age group. Three county residents have been hospitalized with the virus over the last week. Their age ranges are as follows:

• 2 people in their 40s
• 1 person in their 60s.

View the latest update on the Humboldt County Data Dashboard at humboldtgov.org/Dashboard.

Public Health will hold vaccination clinics in multiple locations throughout the county over the next week. 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 and which vaccines are offered at each clinic below.

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

Trinidad – Thursday, July 1 – 2 to 6 p.m.
Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
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 for the first 100 people who get vaccinated at this clinic.

Rio Dell – Saturday, July 3 – Noon to 2 p.m.
Dollar General (44 W. Davis St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

People age 12 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine. A parent or guardian must accompany minor children to the clinic. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for those 18 and older.

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.

The Eureka COVID-19 testing site run by OptumServe is moving to a new facility and will be located at the Wharfinger Building starting Thursday, July 1. Operating hours will remain the same, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

The new testing site will be in the Bay Room on the lower floor of the Wharfinger Building, which is located at 1 Marina Way in Eureka.

Staff will conduct testing at the current site at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, and will resume testing at the new location a 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 1.

Testing is easy and free of charge. Walk-ins are welcome, or you may schedule an appointment through OptumServe:

• Register online at lhi.care/covidtesting or
• Call 888-634-1123.

OptumServe is contracted by the State of California to provide testing services to rural and underserved areas of the state. Testing is available at other locations throughout the county during the week. Visit lhi.care/covidtesting for a schedule.

Currently, 54% of Humboldt County’s total population are not yet fully vaccinated and remain vulnerable to the virus. That includes all residents under the age of 12 who are too young to receive the vaccine.

Health officials stress the importance of early detection in preventing serious illness and containing the spread of COVID-19. A positive test early in the course of the illness enables individuals to seek treatment and reduce the risk of serious illness, long-term disability or death.

Early detection also allows individuals to isolate themselves and reduce the chance that they will infect others. If you suspect you have been in contact with an infected person, it is important to get a test even if you do not have symptoms as you may still spread the infection to others.