On April 15, roughly a year after the beginning of the pandemic, vaccines became universally available to all adults in California. Thirty-seven Humboldt people had died of COVID.

In the four and a half months since, 39 have died — all but one unvaccinated, to the best of our knowledge. 

Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Five Humboldt County residents have died due to COVID-19, including three people in their 50s and two people over the age of 80. The staff of the Department Operations Center shares their sympathies with the family, friends and caregivers of those who died.

Ten county residents have been newly hospitalized since the most recent report Friday. The age ranges of those hospitalized are as follows:

• One person in their 30s
• One person in their 40s
• Five people in their 60s
• Three people in their 70s.

One hundred eighteen new cases of COVID-19 have been processed and confirmed since Friday. Around 125 additional cases have been reported to the state’s database and are awaiting local review. Cases continue to be reviewed as quickly as possible. Only confirmed case information will be added to the Humboldt County Data Dashboard and homepage counter each day. Currently, there is no estimated timeline for resolving recent delays in data reporting.

No-cost COVID-19 testing is available through OptumServe at the Wharfinger building in Eureka seven days a week and at a different location in the county each weekday, including in Garberville on Tuesdays. A drive-thru testing site is located outside Jerold Phelps Community Hospital at 733 Cedar St. To access the site, turn into the hospital driveway just past the hospital’s clinic entrance on Elm Street. Drive-thru hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is recommended for all sites. To sign up and view a full schedule, go to lhi.care/covidtesting.  

For those who test positive for COVID-19, some health care providers may offer monoclonal antibody infusion therapy as an emergency use treatment for people who do not have symptoms and are at high risk for severe outcomes (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html). Performed on an outpatient basis, monoclonal antibody infusion is administered through an IV and takes about two and a half hours. Local health officials point out that this labor-intensive treatment is not a substitute for getting vaccinated. While monoclonal antibodies are useful for treating someone who is already infected, COVID-19 vaccines train the body to ward off future infections and lessen the severity of breakthrough infections.

COVID-19 vaccines are available at Public Health clinics each day this week. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made in advance at MyTurn.ca.gov. For instructions in English or Spanish about how to use My Turn, go to humboldtgov.org/2872/Vaccine-Info.

See the schedule of upcoming Public Health clinics below: 

Eureka – Tuesday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
     Samoa Bridge Boat Launch (1701 Waterfront Dr.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Thursday, Sept. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     College of the Redwoods (7351 Tompkins Hill Road)
     Moderna/Pfizer

McKinleyville – Friday, Sept. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     Six Rivers Brewery (1300 Central Ave.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Samoa – Friday, Sept. 3, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
     Humboldt Bay Social Club (900 New Navy Base Road)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Vaccines are also available at many local pharmacies, and most allow walk-ins. To check availability of a particular vaccine at local pharmacies, visit vaccines.gov, or text a ZIP code to 438829 to find a participating pharmacy nearby. 

Pfizer is authorized for those 12 and older, and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for people age 18 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Full protection from vaccination is achieved two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose series or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine.

View the Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download today’s data 

 

For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or by contacting covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us or calling 707-441-5000.

Sign up for COVID-19 vaccination: MyTurn.ca.gov
Check for vaccine availability at a local pharmacy: Vaccines.gov
Local COVID-19 vaccine information: humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo
Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/Dashboard
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19
Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert
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