The Test
Testing capacity remains the biggest challenge in finding a path out of shelter in place
Public Health Confirms 55th Local COVID-19 Case, Another Hospitalization
After another 60 tests, Public Health announced today that it has confirmed a 55th local COVID-19 case, as well as a new hospitalization. Today’s results come after Public Health processed another 47 samples and corporate labs reported results from another 13. Of the 55 cases Humboldt County has confirmed to date, 52 of the patients…
Farmers Markets Return with New Rules
Rest easy, romaine lovers, even in these confusing and confining COVID times, you can still get farm fresh greens at some of the county’s farmers markets — now open for the season. Farmers markets, like grocery stores, are deemed essential businesses. And with the opportunity to support local farmers who need it now more than ever,…
Parts of Humboldt Going Off-Grid in ‘Islanding’ Test, Outages Possible
PG&E announced today it will conduct a test run of “islanding” the Humboldt County power plant Saturday morning. If successful, it would mark a significant step forward in isolating the region when Public Safety Power Shutoffs are needed in nearby counties. That, of course, was a major reason the county was plunged into darkness twice…
Are California Businesses Getting a Fair Share of Coronavirus Loans?
California businesses have received $66.6 billion in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans so far, about 13 percent of the nation’s total, according to federal loan data. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state’s businesses didn’t receive a proportional share of the federal money in the first round, but that it is now “punching above its weight”…
Public Health: No New COVID Cases Confirmed Today, People Can Now Sign Up for Testing
With another 52 tests processed, Humboldt County Public Health announced this afternoon there are no new confirmed local COVID-19 cases. Today’s results come after Public Health processed another 41 samples and corporate labs reported results from another 11. Of the 54 cases Humboldt County has confirmed to date, 52 of the patients have since recovered…
Precautionary Testing Part of Jail COVID-19 Measures; Visitations Likely to Resume in a Couple Weeks
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post today that several correctional deputies were tested for COVID-19 as a precaution to protect those at the jail. All came back negative. Other measures include requiring all staff who interact with inmates to wear masks, separating those newly booked from the rest of the jail…
Newsom: State can begin gradual reopening Friday
California is ready to partially reopen major sectors of its economy as early as this Friday, including retail shops and the manufacturers that supply them, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Clothing outlets, bookstores, florists and other merchants across the state will be allowed to offer curbside pickup as long as they obey physical distancing guidelines…
HumCo Officials Talk Next Steps as State Looks to Loosen Shelter in Place Restrictions Friday
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal and Public Health Officer Teresa Frankovich sat down this afternoon to talk about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement today that the state will begin to gradually lift its shelter-in-place order Friday and what that news means locally. Watch the full video embedded below.
Public Health: After 129 Additional Tests, No New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed
With another 129 tests processed, Humboldt County Public Health announced this afternoon there are no new confirmed local COVID-19 cases. Today’s results come after Public Health processed another 82 samples and corporate labs reported results from another 47. Of the 54 cases Humboldt County has confirmed to date, 52 of the patients have since recovered…
Lawsuit Filed Over Humboldt Marten Endangered Species Listing
The continued survival of a small, elusive woodland creature once thought to be extinct is the subject of a lawsuit filed today against the Trump administration, which a pair of conservation groups argue has failed to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the Humboldt marten. According to a press release from the Center for Biological…
Newsom: Easing of Shelter in Place to Begin Friday
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced this afternoon that the state will begin a gradual, phased modification of his COVID-19 shelter-in-place order this week, allowing retail businesses that meet certain criteria to re-open for curbside pickup beginning Friday. Newsom said the modified order will also let associated manufacturers and supply chain businesses re-open Friday, so long…
Yurok Tribe Castigates Del Norte Supervisor for Supporting Restaurant’s Opening in Violation of Tribal, State and County Health Orders
The owners of a tiny diner, the members of a remote California tribe, and the First District supervisor of Del Norte County clashed this weekend as tensions rise between those who fear economic collapse if their communities don’t reopen for business and those who fear death and illness if their communities do. On Saturday, the…
Partnership Keeps Little Learners Going, Open Door Doctors Caring for the Community
Each weekday morning, mask-clad children wait at the door outside one of Little Learners’ childcare sites to have their temperatures taken by a nurse before walking inside. It’s part of a new daily ritual for the youngsters, most of whom have parents working at Open Door Community Health Centers. Many attended Little Learners before the…
‘This is What a Pandemic Does:’ Humboldt Begins Charting a Course out of Shelter in Place
It was about an hour and a half into an April 28 COVID-19 briefing before the Board of Supervisors, amid a discussion that was pressing at times, with a pair of seemingly frustrated supervisors inquiring why certain businesses hadn’t been allowed to open or why Humboldt wasn’t being treated differently than other areas of the…
A Huge Welcome, and a Big Thank You
Just in case any of you needed proof that miracles still happen every day, even amid a pandemic, we are wonderfully happy to announce the newest addition to our Journal family, Parker Elizabeth Windham. Little Parker was born May 1 at St. Joseph Hospital, the daughter of Journal advertising manager Kyle Windham and St. Bernard’…
After Big Testing Report, County COVID-19 Tally Still at 54
With another 157 tests processed, Humboldt County Public Health announced this afternoon that there are no new confirmed local COVID-19 cases. Today’s results come after Public Health processed another 134 samples and corporate labs reported results from another 23. Of the 54 cases Humboldt County has confirmed to date, 52 of the patients have since…
City Manager Lotter on Admin Leave, City Clerk Powell Takes Reins of City
The city of Eureka announced today that recently selected City Manager Dean Lotter has been placed on administrative leave and City Clerk Pam Powell is in charge for the time being. The move comes four months into Lotter’s tenure after the city conducted an extensive search to replace Greg Sparks, who retired late last year.…
After 65 More Tests, Public Health Announces No New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
With another 65 tests processed, Humboldt County Public Health announced this afternoon that there are no new confirmed local COVID-19 cases. Today’s results come after Public Health processed another 42 samples and corporate labs reported results from another 23. Of the 54 cases Humboldt County has confirmed to date, 52 of the patients have since…
Newsom’s Promise to Immediately Feed Seniors Hasn’t Yet Delivered
Last week Gov. Newsom announced that eligible seniors throughout California could immediately get three free restaurant meals per day delivered to their door. Yet a week later, not a single meal has been delivered, and tens of thousands of Californians who have tried to sign up have been left disappointed, confused and maybe even hungry.…
Modified Shelter-in-Place Order Allows Bicycle Shops, Some Social Services to Resume
Humboldt County’s Joint Information Center sent out a press release this afternoon clarifying how Gov. Gavin Newsom’s modified stay-at-home order changes things here in Humboldt. (Spoiler alert: not much.) The modified order allows some real estate work to resume, bicycle shops to re-open and faith based social services to resume, all as “essential” activities. It…
COVID-19 Economic Losses Continue to Mount
The economic losses of the COVID-19 induced shutdown continue to mount, with at least 270 more job losses in Humboldt County over the last week, according to an ongoing economic impact survey of local businesses conducted by the Office of Emergency Services. The 729 businesses that have responded report a total revenue loss of $30.2…
NCJ Preview with Access Humboldt
Everyone is asking about COVID-19 testing — we’ve got answers on who’s getting tested, how many tests we may need and what the holdup is. We’re also talking about the shelter-in-place compliance signs the county is giving restaurants and whether they’ve got teeth. Hit subscribe for weekly updates from the NCJ YouTube channel and join…
Public Health: No New Covid-19 Cases Found After 85 More Tests
With another 85 tests processed, Humboldt County Public Health announced this afternoon that there are no new confirmed local COVID-19 cases. Today’s results come after Public Health processed another 62 samples and corporate labs reported results from another 23. Of the 54 cases Humboldt County has confirmed to date, 52 of the patients have since…
An Open Letter to the Community from the Local Medical Society President
Now more than ever, Californians are relying on physicians to help guide them through these difficult times. While the outbreak of COVID-19 has created tremendous uncertainty throughout our communities, we have seen countless physicians put their own health and safety at risk to treat people facing a new, deadly disease. But that sacred trust between…
SECOND UPDATE: Humboldt not Included in Beach Closures
SECOND UPDATE: Beach visits in Humboldt County are back on after Gov. Gavin Newsom limited closures to the more southern reaches of the state after local officials reached out about including the region in the ban. Sheriff William Honsal, who earlier today said he would not enforce such an order and that Northern California was…
News in Brief
Economic Woes Mount: Responding to an ongoing survey conducted by the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services, 668 businesses have combined to report more than $28.3 million in lost revenue and the permanent loss of 2,130 jobs. At last report, 15 businesses had been forced to close permanently. The survey results — which indicate a…
Wolves During Wartime
Editor’s note: As we shelter in place during a global pandemic, it seems like a good time to revisit Simona Carini’s take on M.F.K. Fisher’s wartime rationing recipes and reflections, first printed here July 3, 2008. Of the books penned by legendary food writer M.F.K. Fisher (1908-1992) that I have so far read, my favorite…
Without a Doubt
Swallows dart about Apparently together But never quite in sync, Changing course In a heartbeat for No apparent reason, Which always Seems to work. Kirk Gothier
The Test
It’s been a common refrain, one that’s morphed into an intense chorus in recent weeks as county officials ponder the possibility of easing shelter-in-place restrictions in an effort to get people back to work. “It’s really important we have robust testing in place so we know what’s happening in the community and we can test,…
Dire Projections
Local models used by Public Health to predict the spread of COVID-19 project that if Humboldt County keeps all current social distancing orders in place, it could still see 28 deaths by December, at which point there could be 145 hospitalizations, with 64 people under intensive care and 38 using ventilators. That’s one of two…
