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Today’s media availability with Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich begins with an off-camera question regarding her own face mask.

“We’ve gotten some feedback asking if you can take off your mask during these media availabilities. Can you speak to that?”

Frankovich says the offices at the Health Department aren’t big enough to allow social distancing, “so I really do need to wear the mask.” Maybe they can do one or two of these videos outdoors, she adds.

Many people, both locally and across the country, are shunning face coverings, claiming they’re not effective, not necessary and/or a violation of their civil rights. Yesterday you said it’s time for the community to depend on personal responsibility. With the prevalence of these attitudes, how do you expect that approach to be effective?

“Well, it’s challenging, certainly,” Frankovich says. While face coverings have become controversial, there is growing evidence that they’re effective. “At this point, we need to use every tool at our disposal,” she says. 

“To the question of personal liberties, I would say that we as a society make compromises on these all the time,” Frankovich says, citing seat belts and speed limits as examples. “It is because there is a common benefit to us all to doing so.” In order to avoid large numbers of infections, people need to utilize tools such as social distancing, hand washing and face coverings. “It’s just that simple,” she says.

We’ve heard from several people that the turnaround time for tests at the Optum site [at Redwood Acres] recently has been a full week. In recent weeks, what has the average turnaround time been for those tests? Are you concerned about the infection implications of such long lag times?

“I’m certainly concerned,” she says. When people are symptomatic or have had contact with known cases, the county tries to do the tests in its own lab to get a faster turnaround. Optum is more for surveillance testing.

The situation is not ideal, and with urging from Public Health staff the company is working on improving turnaround times, which are currently between two and six days, Frankovich says. 

It’s concerning, she adds, “because any delay in identifying a positive creates more possibility for transmission.”

As of yesterday, Public Health had classified 103 local cases as recovered, which we understand to mean they meet CDC criteria for no longer being contagious. But some of the public take that to mean they have returned to full health. How many of these 103 have lasting health impacts?

Public Health follows these individuals until they’re taken off of isolation orders. “At that time, some individuals may have mild residual symptoms, and we do not follow them out until those symptoms completely resolve,” Frankovich says. That’s the role of their primary health care providers. 

There is growing evidence nationally that Black, Latino and Native populations are suffering disproportionately from COVID-19. Is that true locally? And is Public Health doing any targeted outreach to these communities?

The county will soon be providing a dashboard with information on race and ethnicity for local cases, Frankovich says. Locally there is a disproportionate amount of cases in our Latino community. Public Health is trying to do outreach and overcome the language barrier to inform locals of appropriate precautions and what to do if they become ill.

We’re being told that a group of people tested positive for COVID-19 in Southern Humboldt today, and all are connected to a local cannabis farm. Is that true, and is the farm legal? Are the people local or from out of state/country? Can you address your concerns about the cannabis industry?

Public Health doesn’t comment on particular infections in specific workplaces unless it’s relevant to public safety, Frankovich says. Recent cases are still under investigation. 

As for cannabis grows, “It’s absolutely a concern for public health,” she says. They bring in people from outside the area, and legal or not, health officials would like to work with them. There’s a confidential phone line to arrange screening, testing or to get info at 707-268-2182.

Do you expect to see a surge in cases?

In previous “clusters” of cases, travel impacted infections, and it remains a factor. While the county isn’t asking people to quarantine following travel, it is asking folks to self-monitor for symptoms and to isolate and get tested if they do show symptoms, she says.

“I’m concerned, frankly, about an increase in cases for several reasons,” Frankovich adds. The state as a whole is seeing a rapid increase in cases, which increases concerns about travel. Plus, Humboldt is opening up more, which increases the chances of transmission. 

“And finally, I think people as a community have grown tired of COVID, and I completely get it,” Frankovich says. Summer activities beckon, but gatherings are sparking outbreaks across the country. So people need to be masking and distancing. 

“I really want us to be able to be in a position where our kids are in school, our businesses are still open in the fall, and we haven’t had to take any steps back,” she says, “and I think us embracing all of these things will help us get there.”