Six additional cases of COVID-19 were reported today, bringing to 144 the total number of Humboldt County residents who have tested positive for the virus. The number of hospitalizations and deaths in the county remains unchanged.

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich said it is important to note that roughly one quarter of the county’s total cases have been reported in the past two weeks alone. “This has been driven largely by residents gathering and visiting between households both locally and while traveling, as well as by illness occurring in the cannabis industry workforce,” Frankovich said. “In order to avoid having Humboldt County become yet one more COVID-19 hotspot in this state, prevention is key. It is still within our power to change the course of this pandemic.”

Dr. Frankovich added that this Fourth of July holiday weekend is a chance for the community to get it right, control the spread of illness so that our healthcare system does not get overwhelmed. “During a pandemic, people die not only from the disease itself but from the inability to get the care they need for COVID-19 or any other serious illness or injury,” she said. “Please do your part to make sure that your family members, friends and neighbors have access to the care they need, when they need it.”

Full lab results will not be updated on the humboldtgov.org homepage or the Humboldt County COVID-19 data dashboard until Monday, July 6. The Call Center will reopen Monday at 8 a.m. The Joint Information Center staff wishes everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July.

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