Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Twenty-one additional cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Humboldt County today, bringing the total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus to 5,010.

Public Health officials call on the community to help limit the spread of the virus by wearing masks indoors in public, participating in contact tracing efforts and getting vaccinated. 

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today issued a statewide recommendation for all residents of California to wear masks in indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status. This recommendation is an update to the existing CDPH order requiring unvaccinated residents to wear masks in indoor public settings, and all residents to wear masks in certain public settings such as health care settings, youth settings, public transportation, long-term care and senior care facilities and shelters. Read the updated guidance at cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx.

CDPH’s decision follows similar recommendations from Humboldt County Public Health officials last week and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday for regions with high levels of virus transmission. According to the CDC, more than 90% of California residents are in areas of high or substantial transmission, including Humboldt County. 

The recent surge in local cases has required Public Health to prioritize contact investigations based on risk. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is urged to assist contact investigators in quickly identifying their close contacts, defined as those who have been within six feet for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period. Contact investigators will continue to follow up directly with the contacts of those who live or work in high-risk or congregate settings, such as health care facilities, youth settings and long-term care facilities. 

The CDC notes that fully vaccinated people are not likely to become severely ill if infected with the Delta variant, but preliminary evidence suggests they can spread the virus to others. Nearly half, or 49.9%, of Humboldt County residents are fully vaccinated and another 5.8% are partially vaccinated. Partially vaccinated residents are urged to get their second dose within the recommended time frame. Full protection is achieved two weeks after completing the vaccination series, which means both doses in a two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Contact the Joint Information Center at 441-5000 for more information about the vaccine or its availability.

Vaccines are available at Public Health vaccination clinics and most local pharmacies. Walk-ins are welcome at all Public Health clinics, or sign up in advance at MyTurn.ca.gov. See the clinic schedule for the next seven days below.

Trinidad – Thursday, July 29, from noon to 3 p.m.
     Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Thursday, July 29, from 5 to 8 p.m.
     Eureka Summer Concert Series (Madaket Plaza, 1 C St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Friday, July 30, from 1 to 4 p.m.
     Transition-Age Youth (TAY) Division (433 M St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Eureka – Saturday, July 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Get Out and Play Day (Sequoia Park, 3414 W St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

Fields Landing – Tuesday, Aug. 3, from noon to 2:30 p.m.
     Fields Landing Boat Ramp (End of Railroad Ave., South Humboldt Bay)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

King Salmon – Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
     Gills by the Bay (77 Halibut Ave.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson

The Pfizer vaccine is approved for children as young as 12 years old. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for those 18 and older.

To check availability of these vaccines, as well as Moderna, at local pharmacies, visit vaccines.gov or text a ZIP code to 438829 to find a participating pharmacy nearby. Most pharmacies allow walk-ins.

View the Humboldt County 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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