Another COVID-19 wave is hitting California as the summer ends and kids head back to school.

It’s a familiar story by now, but one that has become perhaps more confusing with time because of changing public health recommendations, new vaccine boosters and our evolving understanding of the virus.

There’s no reason to panic, State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said, with population immunity at high levels.

“Over the course of the last three-and-a-half years, we’re fairly sure everybody’s been exposed or vaccinated at least once, or exposed and infected whether they knew it or not,” Pan said. “There’s thankfully a lot more immunity overall.”

The test positivity rate has been growing steadily over the past two months, increasing about 8 percentage points since July to a 12.5% seven-day average. That’s a higher positivity rate than last winter’s surge, although testing data has become less reliable as access decreased and testing rates plummeted. But wastewater surveillance networks confirm what the testing data suggests: COVID-19 infections are on the rise across California.

The second indicator of COVID-19’s comeback — hospitalizations — is also trending upward. The number of daily new hospital admissions increased more than 87% since the start of summer.

The Labor Day holiday will surely fuel more transmission and hospitalizations, but hospitals are nowhere near the brink of collapse that previous surges threatened. The uptick in cases is not having a “dramatic impact on hospitals” so far, California Hospitals Association spokeswoman Jan Emerson-Shea said.

Still, public health experts recommend people take the typical precautions to prevent a serious outbreak: vaccinate, mask and isolate.

“Some people are very terrified. Most people are not thinking about (COVID-19) at all. The right answer is somewhere in between,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF Health. “At the minimum we have enough tools to have individual protection without having mandates.”

If you’re wondering what the latest uptick means, you’re not alone. Here are answers to common questions.

What does it meant to be fully vaccinated?

At this point, vaccination is one of the most confusing aspects of the constantly mutating Sars-CoV-2 virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now advises people age 6 and older who are not immunocompromised to have at least one bivalent Moderna or Pfizer shot to be considered fully vaccinated.

That means if you have never gotten a COVID-19 vaccine before, you only need to get one bivalent shot.

And, if you had previous versions of the vaccine (known as monovalent vaccines), you need to get a bivalent shot to be fully vaccinated.

The bivalent shot was introduced last fall to protect against the highly contagious omicron variant. People who are older than 65 can also get a second dose of the bivalent vaccine if their last one happened at least four months earlier.

The recommendations for children 5 and younger and for those who are immunocompromised are more complex, but the CDC created flow charts to determine your status, and it’s recommended you speak with your doctor.

Should I want for the new booster?

“It all depends on who you are. Given the uptick in cases right now, if you’re vulnerable you may not want to wait,” Chin-Hong of UCSF said.

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve a third version of the vaccine that takes into account more recent variants before the end of September. But, as Chin-Hong said, people who are older than 65 or immunocompromised might not want to wait until that shot is widely available to boost their immunity. The bivalent shot still protects against severe disease, hospitalization and death.

The CDC is expected to make age-specific recommendations Sept. 12 during a regulatory meeting, but Chin-Hong said waiting for an updated vaccine is “an interesting and nuanced thing.”

If you’re sending your kids off to college and you don’t think they’ll get the updated booster on their own next month, it’s better to take them to get the bivalent booster now, Chin-Hong said.

“Convenience trumps timing,” he said.

Do schools still require COVID vaccinations?

In short, no. Staying up-to-date on COVID-19 shots and boosters is “strongly recommended” by the University of California and California State University systems, but it’s no longer a requirement to attend class in-person.

Likewise, the vaccine is not required for K-12 students although public health experts advise kids as young as 6 months old be vaccinated.

Children remain the most undercovered group. A mere 3% of children under 5 are up-to-date on the vaccine while less than 8% of children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated.

A recent study suggests 70% of COVID-19 cases transmitted within U.S. households are started by a school-aged child. Other studies suggest teachers are at increased risk of infection.

For how long am I supposed to isolate after infection?

The rule of thumb to remember when you test positive is five days of isolation followed by five days of masking, but of course with all things COVID-19 there are caveats, according to the CDC.

• You can end isolation after five days if you have no symptoms or they are improving AND if you have not had a fever for 24 hours.
• If you have a fever, continue isolating until 24 hours after it ends.
• You should wear a mask around others for a total of 10 days from the onset of symptoms. You may remove the mask before 10 days if you have two negative tests spaced at least a day apart.
• If you live with someone who has COVID-19 or are exposed to an otherwise close contact, public health officials recommend wearing a mask for 10 days.

All of this applies to school-aged children although your school might have its own policies. If one of your kids contracts COVID-19 but their sibling tests negative and are asymptomatic, there’s no reason to keep the asymptomatic kids home from school, although you should monitor them for developing symptoms.

Where can I get treatment?

Antiviral treatment is widely available in California. Experts recommend anyone 12 and older who tests positive for COVID-19 seek treatment immediately and not wait until symptoms worsen. Primary care providers can issue a prescription for the treatment Paxlovid or people can call the state COVID-19 hotline for a free telehealth appointment to check eligibility. The state hotline is 833-686-5051.

It is important to keep in mind that Paxlovid, the oral antiviral approved to treat COVID-19, is only for those ages 12 and older. Remdesivir is the only FDA-approved treatment for those younger than 12 who are at risk of developing severe disease, but it is administered intravenously, which means it typically requires a hospital stay. The best way to prevent severe disease among young kids is vaccination.

Are COVID tests, vaccines and treatments still free?

COVID-19 vaccines and treatment are still free in California regardless of insurance or immigration status. Tests are also still free for most Californians, thanks to a state law passed last year.

The state’s MyTurn vaccine portal is still open to schedule appointments, and the state COVID-19 hotline runs 24/7 to assess treatment eligibility. Those services will remain free and widely available at least through February 2024, the Public Health Department’s Pan said. California will also receive 700,000 vaccine doses from the federal government that will be distributed to county health departments, local pharmacies and community providers to ensure access to free vaccination, Pan said.

In addition state-regulated insurers, who provide most health insurance in California, are required to permanently cover in-network testing, vaccination and treatment free of charge. Out-of-network coverage will end November 11.

If you have a federally regulated health insurance plan, such as an employer-sponsored plan, coverage of testing expired in May. These health plans are required to permanently cover free COVID-19 vaccines but may not cover the full cost of treatment after November. You can ask your workplace what kind of coverage you have.

What are my rights at work?

Employers are required to follow workplace safety and health regulations to protect workers from COVID-19, this includes:

• Providing personal protective equipment like masks when requested by the employee
• Offering free tests during paid time to employees who had a close COVID-positive contact at work and during workplace outbreaks.

Employers can’t prohibit employees from wearing face masks as the In-N-Out burger chain did with its non-California restaurants, and they can’t retaliate against workers who choose to exercise their rights. Employers can, however, still require employee vaccination and masking.

Extended sick leave for COVID-19 expired in December 2022, but state labor law requires employers give full-time employees three days of paid leave.

What about other seasonal infections?

COVID-19 isn’t the only respiratory virus making the rounds. Last winter a “tripledemic” of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 gripped the state, prompting local health emergencies.

This year for the first time, those who are at highest risk of respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, have options for protection. People 60 and older can get an RSV vaccine, and babies and toddlers can get a drug that prevents severe disease. The 2023 flu vaccine is already available.

“Everyone should get themselves and their loved ones vaccinated before these things start circulating because it takes a couple of weeks or so for that immunity to kick in and provide protection,” Pan said.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:

As we go into the long weekend, local Environmental and Public Health officials are reminding residents to keep an eye out for cyanobacteria while recreating at area rivers and lakes. This reminder comes after algal blooms were recently detected by North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board staff in the South Fork of the Eel River at Richardson’s Grove, Cook’s Valley and in Miranda. 

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can be present in any fresh water body, and looks like dark green, blue-green, black, orange or brown scum, foam or mats on the riverbed or floating on the water. Cyanobacteria can produce harmful compounds, such as toxins and taste and odor compounds, that cause health risks to humans and animals. Warm water and abundant nutrients can cause cyanobacteria to grow more rapidly than usual causing “blooms.” These blooms are termed “harmful algal blooms.” 

In previous years, cyanobacteria has been confirmed in water bodies within Humboldt and surrounding counties, including the Mad River, South Fork Eel River, Van Duzen River, Trinity River, Big Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, Clear Lake and Lake Pillsbury. It is difficult to test and monitor the many lakes and miles of our local rivers. Most blooms in California contain harmless green algae, but it is important to stay safe and avoid contact.

While most cyanobacteria do not affect animals or people, some are capable of producing toxins that can be harmful to animals and humans. Dogs and children are most likely to be affected because of their smaller body size and tendency to stay in the water for longer periods of time.

Officials recommend the following guidelines for recreational users of freshwater areas:

• Keep children, pets and livestock from swimming in or drinking water containing algal scums or mats. 
• Adults should also avoid wading and swimming in water containing algal blooms. Try not to swallow or inhale water spray in an algal bloom area. 
• If no algal scums or mats are visible, you should still carefully watch young children and warn them not to swallow any water. 
• Fish should be consumed only after removing the guts and liver and rinsing fillets in tap water. 
• Never drink, cook with or wash dishes with water from rivers, streams or lakes. 
• Get medical attention immediately if you think that you, your pet or livestock might have been poisoned by cyanobacteria toxins. Be sure to tell the doctor or veterinarian about possible contact with cyanobacteria or algal blooms. 
• Join or support one of the many watershed and river organizations. 

To learn more about cyanobacteria and harmful algal blooms, visit the state of California’s website at www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs/index.html.

To report a bloom, e-mail CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov or call 844-729-6466 (toll free). Blooms can also be reported via the “bloomWatch” app which is available for free download on iTunes or Google play.

For information on conditions in Humboldt County, contact the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Environmental Health at 707-445-6215 or 800-963-9241. Photos of suspected blooms can also be emailed to envhealth@co.humboldt.ca.us.

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PREVIOUSLY: Old Town’s Soon-to-Open Rooftop Restaurant Will House Local Chef Joe Tan’s Latest Sushi and Sake Bar

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We found out earlier this week that a sushi and sake bar will occupy the swanky rooftop restaurant space in the new building at the corner of Second and E streets in Eureka, but many of our readers have wondered, understandably so: What will the space actually look like?

“I’m curious how they will create [a] comfortable rooftop setting in a location with [a] much colder and wetter climate than other rooftop bars and restaurants I’ve been to in the past,” quipped one of our more thoughtful Facebook commenters. “I love the idea and the possibility of Humboldt having a new trendy and unique option to enjoy.”

Joe Tan, the owner of the incoming sushi bar, was kind enough to share some digital renderings of the new restaurant, as well as the apartments and offices below, created by Garrett McSorley of McSorley Architecture in McKinvleyville.

Keep scrolling to see the whole space! And click on the photos to enlarge.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Russell John Brittan Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility

On Aug. 31, 2023, at about 7:21 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Clam Beach northern parking lot for the report of an assault.

Deputies contacted a 56-year-old male victim who had sustained moderate injuries as a result of being pepper sprayed and physically assaulted. According to the victim, a male unknown to him, later identified as 33-year-old Russell John Brittan, approached the victim in the parking lot and attacked him unprovoked. Brittan then fled.

Deputies located Brittan walking in the area of Clam Beach Drive. He was taken into custody without incident. During a search of Brittan, deputies located the pepper spray canister.

Brittan was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of use of tear gas (PC 22810(e)(1)), assault (PC 240) and battery (PC 242).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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PREVIOUSLY: Crowley Wind Services Vice President Jeff Andreini is Out, as Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Among Company Management Pile Up

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Following yesterday’s news that Crowley Wind Services Vice-President Jeffrey Andreini is no longer with the company, the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District shared a letter with the Outpost emphasizing the district’s commitment to working with local tribes and the broader community to uphold “the highest ethical standards” for the district and its partners.

The letter (which is copied below) states that the Harbor District “takes the allegations of sexual harassment very seriously” and underscores the district’s commitment to “fairness and protection for the most vulnerable in our community.”

The letter quotes from a recent report – “How to Protect Native Women, Girls, and People in Humboldt & Del Norte County as Offshore Wind Enters the Region: MMIP Prevention Planning and Recommendations” – and states the district’s intent to commit to the recommendations listed in the document.

However, the letter does not mention the district’s partnership with Crowley.

Reached for additional comment this morning, Larry Oetker, executive director of the Harbor District, confirmed that the district will continue its partnership with Crowley. Oetker noted that the mega grant application the district recently sent to the federal government included language that would allow the district to go through a new selection process “if the current negotiations are not successful.”

“Following a competitive proposal process conducted in 2022, the District has entered into an ‘Exclusive Right to Negotiate’ with Crowley Wind Services,” according to the statement, referencing the terminal on the Samoa Peninsula that the company hopes to build to service the offshore wind industry.

“If the current negotiations are not successful to the satisfaction of the District and the overall community, then the District will go through a new competitive process to select a new contract operator. If the current negotiations are successful to the satisfaction of the District and the overall community, then the District will enter into a lease with Crowley.”

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Letter from the Harbor District:

The Harbor District takes the allegations of sexual harassment very seriously and hold the safety and well-being of our community paramount. As a governmental organization we have a public trust responsibility to our community, employees, and visitors. The public expects that the District and all of our contractors will conduct their operations to the highest ethical standards.

The District, along with our federal, State, and local partners, have established ambitious goals to develop the offshore wind resources off our North Coast. As a result of this development, it is projected that over the next twenty plus years, our region will experience billions of dollars of investment directly offshore and to modernize our aging port infrastructure. This investment will largely be coming from multinational companies that have thousands of employees spread throughout the world. The District, County, Tribal Governments, and community have made it clear that we will not sell out our community for money!

The District is not only planning for the most technologically advanced and greenest port possible, but also is committed that it is built and operated in a way that respects and benefits all members of our community and addresses historical inequities. Any partner that we have in this endeavor must clearly demonstrate an organizational structure of fairness and protection for the most vulnerable in our community, and we will work with all members of our community to ensure that this is the case.

As stated in the June 21, 2023, report by the Yurok Tribal Court titled: How to Protect Native Women, Girls, and People in Humboldt & Del Norte County as Offshore Wind Enters the Region: MMIP Prevention Planning and Recommendations: “As offshore wind development occurs in the Northern Coast of California, concerns have grown about the safety of Native women, girls, and people in the region. Given the historical and present day crisis of sex trafficking and Missing and Murdered Indigenous people in California and the United States, special attention, prevention planning, and agreements are needed to ensure the safety of Native people in the region.”

“This memo examines how to prevent MMIP and sex trafficking during a development boom, based on research of best practices as well as discussion with key advocates in the MMIP policy space. From the research, we can conclude that there must be a strong, comprehensive community benefit agreement in place between local Tribes and the corporations profiting from development.1 The community benefit agreements must be multi-faceted, covering prevention, education, and response. This includes agreements with the community as well as agreements to adopt and implement critical corporate policies. There must be (1) agreement to hold pre-development impact assessment meetings with Native communities to hear from and share information with Native communities; (2) agreement that the company hold ongoing and regular meetings with Native Communities to share and receive information; Page 2 of 2 (3) agreement to conduct extensive background checks on all employees, to the full extent permitted under law to reduce the chances of people with sex offenses coming to the region to prey on Native women, girls and people; (4) agreement to monitor and ensure safety in employee housing; (5) agreement to ensure that Tribal people and vulnerable populations living on/near port development site have access to transportation; (6) agreement to tag company and worker vehicles so that all new cars and drivers in the region can be properly identified; (7) agreement to conduct employee training on Native people and the culture of local Tribes as well training on preventing human trafficking; (8) agreement to coordinate with and support stronger law enforcement in the region; (9) agreement to support victim services and social services programs to respond to any increase in crime and victimization; (10) agreement to source employees locally and to invest in local workforce development.

The community benefit agreement should also mandate that the company have or adopt corporate policies to prevent MMIP and trafficking. This includes adopting (1) a best practice compact from the United Nations or World Bank, (2) policies that ensure board oversight of community relations, human rights, and social performance, (3) a strong code of conduct for all employees, (4) a mandate that corporate partners and contractors are in compliance with all of the same policies and (5) strong whistleblower protections.”

The District holds our responsibility to the community very seriously and we are committed to working with the Tribes, community and industry to implement the recommendations outlined in the report.

Respectfully Submitted:

Larry Oetker

Executive Director

Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District

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DOCUMENT: How to Protect Native Women, Girls, and People in Humboldt & Del Norte County as Offshore Wind Enters the Region: MMIP Prevention Planning and Recommendations

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Used to be that you could only ride the bus on Amtrak’s San Joaquins Route 7, which hits 18 stops between Cal Poly Humboldt and beautiful downtown Martinez, if you had also purchased a segment of train travel as part of your trip.

No more! 

Thanks to some state legislation (SB 742) passed in 2019 and collaboration with local stakeholders, bus-only tickets are now available between all 18 stops along Route 7.

Here’s a press release from Amtrak San Joaquins with more info:

Riders traveling on Amtrak’s San Joaquins Route 7, the Thruway Bus route extending from the Martinez Amtrak Station to Arcata (Cal Poly Humboldt) and encompassing a total of 18 stops, can now purchase bus-only tickets for all city pairs along the route. This recent expansion of service significantly broadens the scope and connectivity of the bus top pairs previously available on Route 7.

This expansion along Route 7, which was approved by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) Board of Directors at the July 21 meeting, represents the latest step in Amtrak San Joaquins’ efforts to provide a comprehensive transportation alternative to travelers in communities throughout the state, beyond where the train can service.

Historically, travelers on all Thruway Bus routes were required to have a segment of train travel as part of their overall trip to travel on the Thruway Bus. However, state legislation, SB 742 authored by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), was passed in 2019 to remove the requirement for intercity passenger rail/thruway bus services to sell companion rail tickets as a condition of the sale. As such, following extensive planning coordination, in 2021 after the impacts of the pandemic had eased, SJJPA opened parts of the Amtrak San Joaquins Route 7 as well as Routes 1c, 10, 18, and 19 for bus-only sales.

“We are pleased to now be at the point where we can expand connectivity along Route 7 to its fullest extent,” said Pat Hume, Chair for the SJJPA. “Fully opening Route 7 is a result of extensive collaboration with local stakeholders and regional transit providers and is a part of our ongoing effort to make Amtrak San Joaquins a comprehensive transportation solution for communities statewide.”

Making Amtrak’s Thruway bus routes available to non-rail riders brings several benefits including:

1. Improved access to transit for priority and underserved communities.
2. Reduction in greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions by diverting trips that would have previously been taken by an automobile.
3. Reduced car trips on some of the state’s most congested freeways.
4. Better utilization of current transit infrastructure.
5. Increased revenues for the state at virtually no additional cost.

The bus-only ticketing options and fares are now available in the following locations:

1. Route 7: Martinez - Napa - Santa Rosa – Humboldt State University - Arcata
2. Route 1C: Bakersfield - Van Nuys - West Los Angeles/UCLA - Santa Monica
3. Route 10: Santa Barbara - Bakersfield - Barstow - Las Vegas
4. Route 15: Merced – Yosemite & Fresno – Yosemite (seasonal)
5. Route 18: Hanford - Lemoore - San Luis Obispo - Santa Maria
6. Route 19: Bakersfield - Pasadena - Riverside - San Bernadino

NOTICE OF CORRECTION, OCT. 9:

Back on Aug. 31, 2023, the Outpost published a story about the sudden departure of Jeff Andreini, an executive with Crowley Wind Services who had led efforts to develop a port facility serving the offshore wind industry at the Port of Humboldt Bay.

We recently received a letter from a representative of Mr. Andreini. This letter expressed concern that our story might have led a reader to conclusions that the story never intended to convey.

We are happy to unambiguously assert the following:

· Jeff Andreini was not, and is not, involved in, nor was he responsible for, incidents of sex trafficking. 

· Jeff Andreini was not involved in, nor did he play a role in, the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

· Yurok Tribal Chairman Joe James was not referring to Jeff Andreini’s conduct when he wrote about that crisis in an Aug. 30 Times-Standard op-ed column, which called upon the Harbor District to reconsider its port development agreement with Crowley. 

We unequivocally retract anything within the Outpost’s Aug. 31, 2023, article that states or implies anything to the contrary.