News

No new hospitalizations were reported today but, according to a state database, seven people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 locally, including two under intensive care.

Public Health reported Tuesday 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.”

On the vaccination front, the county reported yesterday that 48 percent of the local population and 54.8 percent of eligible residents are now fully vaccinated. Sixty-two percent of eligible residents have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to a press release.

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:


Eureka — Friday, July 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way) 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.

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 4,647 cases, with 214 hospitalizations and 51 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths.

The county dashboard lists 4,472 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 33.6 million cases have been confirmed with 604,251 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Of those, 3.7 million cases and 63,376 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 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 JIC release below:

July 9, 2021 - 26 New Cases Reported Today

Twenty-six new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Humboldt County today, the highest single-day case count since May 14. The total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus is 4,647. As the disease continues to spread in the community, all unvaccinated residents are urged to get vaccinated now.

The county’s mobile vaccination unit will set up at two family-friendly events over the coming weekend. On Saturday at the Farmers’ Market on the Arcata Plaza, residents may get vaccinated as they shop for fresh, healthy and local food. On Sunday at the Annie & Mary Day Celebration in Blue Lake, a clinic will be included alongside the car show, barbecue and folk music performances. Both events are free. See clinic details below.

Any organization that would like to host the mobile vaccination clinic at its location or event can complete a survey at the State’s Employer Vaccination Toolkit website at saferatwork.covid19.ca.gov/employer-vaccination-toolkit/.

Vaccine is available at Public Health clinics and at 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.

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 to 6 p.m.

Arcata United Methodist Church (1761 11th St.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Ferndale – Tuesday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Humboldt County Fairgrounds (1250 Fifth St.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Redcrest – Wednesday, July 14, from noon to 3:30 p.m.

Redcrest Community Center (115 Sorenson Road)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Thursday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Betty Kwan Chinn Day Center (133 Seventh St.)

Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Friday, July 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)

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.

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.

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.

The July 8 news release incorrectly stated the percentage of eligible county residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as reported by the California Department of Public Health. The correct number is 65.6%. The Humboldt County Joint Information Center regrets the error.

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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