News

Humboldt County Public Health confirmed six new COVID-19 cases today, as well as three hospitalizations, including two of residents in their 40s.

Today's cases were reported after laboratories processed 29 samples with a test-positivity rate of 20.7 percent.

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

Public Health reported yesterday that it is increasingly seeing cases of infection in children, noting that 10 of 53 cases since June 28 had been in children age 9 or younger.

In a press release last week, the county notes that an unspecified number of "additional cases" locally have been confirmed to be the Delta variant, which now accounts for one in four infections nationally. Health Officer Ian Hoffman said vaccination is the only thing that will curb spread of the virus and its variants.

“We are seeing cases in younger folks and sicker people hospitalized, even people in their teens,” Hoffman said in the press release. “Variants like Alpha appear to be more infectious, more contagious, to make people sicker, and hit younger folks harder than the previous versions of the virus. Until people are vaccinated, this virus will continue to circulate among unvaccinated folks, and the potential for serious illness is still very high even in the younger age group.”

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:


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 4,614 cases, with 215 hospitalizations and 51 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths.

The county dashboard lists 4,467 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.

Nationwide, more than 33.5 million cases have been confirmed with 603,656 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Of those, 3.7 million cases and 63,259 related deaths have been confirmed in California, 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 the Wharfinger Building 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 moved to the Wharfinger Building. 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:

July 7, 2021 - 6 New Cases Reported Today; 3 New Hospitalizations

Six new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Humboldt County today. There were also three new hospitalizations, including two people in their 40s and one in their 60s. The total number of county residents who have tested positive now stands at 4,614.

Public health officials continue to stress vaccination as the best tool against COVID-19 infection. Vaccine is available at Public Health clinics listed below and at most local pharmacies.

Walk-ins are welcome at Public Health clinics, or sign up in advance at MyTurn.ca.gov. See the clinic schedule for the next seven days below.

Samoa – Wednesday, July 7, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Samoa Women’s Club (115 Rideout Ave.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Fortuna – Thursday, July 8, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Humboldt Senior Resource Center (3200 Newburg Road)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Arcata – Saturday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Arcata Farmers’ Market (Arcata Plaza, 808 G St.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Blue Lake – Sunday, July 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Annie & Mary Day Celebration (Blue Lake Resource Center, 111 Greenwood Ave.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Arcata – Sunday, July 11, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Arcata United Methodist Church (1761 11th St.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

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.

These vaccines, as well as Moderna, may also be found 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.

The California Vax for the Win incentive program continues to offer residents who get vaccinated a $50 virtual cash or grocery card while supplies last. See covid19.ca.gov/vax-for-the-win/ for details about this state program.

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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