Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported today 48 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 10,907 the total number of residents who have tested positive for the virus. One new hospitalization, a resident in their 50s, was also reported.

As of Wednesday, Public Health and other local vaccinators have administered a total of 169,381 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Local vaccination data has been updated on the Humboldt County Data Dashboard (humboldtgov.org/dashboard). Highlights include:

• Since the last weekly report on Dec. 15, a total of 2,017 vaccine doses have been administered, and 1,093 additional residents have completed their vaccine series.
• Just over 62% of the county’s total population has been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.
• A total of 84,552 residents, or slightly more than 71% of the county’s vaccine-eligible population aged 5 and older, have been fully vaccinated. Approximately 7% of the population aged 5 and older have been partially vaccinated as of this reporting period.

As Californians travel and gather indoors for the holidays, Public Health is urging residents to get vaccinated and boosted to protect themselves from the Delta and Omicron variants. Those aged 5 and older are eligible to get vaccinated and anyone aged 16 and older is encouraged by Public Health to get a booster if it’s been six months or more since the completion of their initial vaccine series.

Health officials remain confident that vaccination and booster shots can lessen the impacts of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, including hospitalizations and deaths. Currently, samples from people who test positive for COVID-19 locally are sent to the state for genome sequencing if travel to areas impacted by the Omicron variant is reported. To date, Humboldt County has received the sequencing results on two samples, both showing the Delta variant. However, the Omicron variant has been confirmed throughout the country, and incidence of the variant is anticipated to rise over the next several weeks following holiday gatherings.

California remains in a statewide mandatory mask order that requires all residents, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks in all indoor public settings through Jan. 15, 2022.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend anyone who is sick or unvaccinated and has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 forego travel. All travelers are recommended to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and to isolate and get tested if they develop symptoms after travel.

OptumServe testing sites in Eureka and Arcata will operate with reduced hours this weekend in observance of the New Year’s holiday. The Wharfinger Building site in Eureka will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 and closed Saturday, Jan. 1. It will reopen for regular hours starting at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2. The OptumServe mobile testing site in Arcata will be open on Friday, Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are required and can be made at lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Turnaround times for test results through OptumServe average two to three days.

Humboldt County’s vaccination and testing services are available free of charge. Although walk-ins are allowed at most regular Public Health clinics and many pharmacy vaccination sites, a sharp increase in demand for boosters has caused delays at some locations. As a result, appointments are required for pediatric clinics and for clinics at Public Health’s main office. Appointments are strongly recommended for all other clinics and are the best way to ensure a shot is available during your visit. Appointments can be made at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Vaccines, including boosters, are available at local pharmacies. To check the availability of a specific vaccine, visit the vaccines.gov page, or text a ZIP code to 438829 to locate a nearby pharmacy offering vaccines.

See the schedule below for specific Public Health vaccination and testing clinic dates, times, locations and available services:

Eureka — Monday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments required.

Eureka — Tuesday, Jan. 4, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 16 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments required.

Eureka Pediatric — Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1:15 to 4 p.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 5 to 11
     Pfizer only
     No testing available
     Appointments required.

Willow Creek — Tuesday, Jan. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Office (77 Walnut Way)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments strongly recommended.

View the Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download data from a previous time. Due to staffing considerations during the holidays, some weekly dashboard data will not be updated until the following week. 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 1-707-441-5000.

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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