Following a trend seen across the state, region and country, local hospitals are nearly at capacity amid a surge in respiratory illnesses that’s being dubbed a “tridemic” or “tripledemic” by some. “With the circulation of multiple respiratory illnesses, such as RSV, influenza and COVID-19, we, like the rest of Northern California, are experiencing a significant increase […]
surge
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Tonga Tsunami: A Reminder of the North Coast’s Vulnerability
One week ago today, surges sent more than 5,000 miles across the ocean from the devastating volcanic eruption near Tonga began to hit the California coast as Humboldt County residents awoke Jan. 15 to a tsunami advisory that would span some 12 hours — and even longer just to the north in Del Norte County. […]
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Amid Low COVID Vaccine Rates, More California Children Hospitalized in Omicron Surge
COVID-19 hospitalizations among California’s children — especially those too young to go to school — are the highest they have been since the pandemic began. Chalk it up to the highly contagious Omicron variant, kids exposed during in-person instruction at school and other public places, and infants and preschoolers being ineligible for vaccination. The state […]
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SECOND UPDATE: Tsunami Advisory is Now Lifted (with Video)
SECOND UPDATE: The tsunami advisory for Humboldt County has been lifted. UPDATE: The tsunami advisory remains in place for Humboldt County due to last night’s volcanic explosion near the Tonga Islands. “For your safety, stay away from beaches and low-lying coastal areas until emergency officials indicate it is safe. DO NOT GO TO THE SHORE […]
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HDNL Stays Course on Spectator Ban
The Humboldt-Del Norte League did not reconsider its recently imposed temporary spectator ban for high school sporting events at its meeting last night, despite an outcry from some demanding it do so. The league announced Jan. 6 that superintendents of participating schools had voted 6-4 to impose the ban at least until Jan. 23 in […]
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UPDATED: Hoffman Announces Resignation as Health Officer
Humboldt County Health Officer Ian Hoffman announced during his COVID-19 update this morning before the board of supervisors that he will be resigning from the job effective March 4. Hoffman stepped into the job last December, taking over for Teresa Frankovich, who announced in September of 2020 she’d be stepping back from her duties, saying […]
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HDNL to Temporarily Ban Spectators as COVID Cases Surge
The Humboldt-Del Norte League has voted to temporarily bar spectators from attending games amid a local surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant, Commissioner Jake Lakin announced Jan. 5. “The number of positive tests being reported from local school districts and recent updates from Humboldt County Public Health (188 new COVID […]
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Signs of Omicron: HumCo Officials Talk Surging Cases and Staffing Shortages
Today’s closure of McKinleyville Middle School in the wake of significant staffing shortages due to COVID is likely a harbinger of what’s to come in the coming weeks as the Omicron variant makes the rounds in the community. Humboldt County is showing all the classic signs of entering into a surge of COVID cases driven […]
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Tapering Off of Current COVID Surge Could Extend ‘Well into Next Year’
While Humboldt County’s latest — and most deadly — COIVD-19 surge appears to be on the downward slope, the descent is likely to be a slow one that could extend “well into next year,” with occasional mini-surges, according to county Health Officer Ian Hoffman. “Today’s COVID-19 case rates have dropped to the lowest rate they’ve […]
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NCJ Preview: COVID-19, Street Art and a Recall
This week, we take a closer look at Humboldt County’s current COVID-19 surge, which is fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant and threatening local hospital capacity with reverberating impacts. We also discuss the festival transforming Eureka’s streets with colorful murals, and what voters need to know to fill out their ballots for the upcoming […]
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HumCo Records 58th COVID-19 Death, 90 New Cases, Nine New Hospitalizations
Humboldt County has lost a 58th resident to COVID-19, Public Health reported today, while confirming 90 new cases — making 430 so far this week — and nine new hospitalizations including two of people in their 30s. With today’s cases, the county has now confirmed 817 cases so far this month, with 19 days remaining […]
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Public Health Confirms 57th Local COVID-19 Death, 91 New Cases
A 57th Humboldt County resident has died of COVID-19, Public Health reported today, while also confirming 91 new cases — making 307 already this week — and six new hospitalizations. The resident who died — who was in their 70s, according to Public Health— is the fourth lost to the virus since Aug. 3. Today’s […]