Dr. Frankovich

Humboldt County’s Public Health branch has about 200 COVID-19 tests available and a reliable ongoing supply, according to County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich, though the county can only run 20 tests per day due to logistical limitations. 

“We expect that number to be 60 very quickly as we get in some additional new equipment,” Frankovich said in a recorded statement sent to the Outpost on Monday.

Meanwhile, hospitals and outpatient clinics are able to order COVID-19 tests on any patient who displays symptoms consistent with the disease. Those tests are conducted through commercial labs, and the results can take several days to come in. 

The Public Health branch has broadened its criteria for testing beyond CDC guidelines. “[W]e are looking at individuals, for instance, who may not have a specific exposure, but have consistent symptoms for testing,” Frankovich said.

The Public Health lab has a faster turnaround time than commercial labs since the specimens don’t need to be shipped out of the area, she added. 

The county is giving testing priority to high-risk patients such as people in the ICU or nursing homes, and those who’ve had high-exposure risk. 

On Monday, the Humboldt County Joint Information Center began providing daily updates about local COVID-19 testing capabilities and results. The information will be updated Monday through Saturday and posted at Humboldt Health Alert located at humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert. 

Monday’s totals, not including tests done by commercial laboratories:

People tested before the Public Health Laboratory came online March 7:
  • 6 tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or California Department of Public Health.
People whose tests were run by the Public Health Laboratory:
  • 23
Results Summary to date:
  • 29 total patients tested
  • 1 positive, cleared
  • 1 inconclusive, cleared
  • 27 negative.

Below is the full audio recording from Dr. Frankovich:

Frankovich interview

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UPDATE, 1 p.m.: 

The county also posted the video below, in which Dr. Frankovich offers a bit more detail about the current testing capabilities and priorities: