Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported today three new hospitalizations, a resident in their 20s, one in their 50s and another in their 70s. An additional 347 new cases were also reported since Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed positive cases of the virus in the county to 18,782. No fatalities were reported.

California’s indoor mask mandate will expire at the end of Tuesday for vaccinated individuals, and Humboldt County will align with the state and let its local indoor mask order expire at the same time. Those who are unvaccinated must still wear masks indoors in public after Feb. 15.

Universal school masking requirements will remain in effect statewide in California at least through Feb. 28. State officials will be assessing data and conditions in coming days, particularly case rates and test positivity, and on Feb. 28 state officials will provide further updates on a timeline for when masking in schools might relax.

“Masking requirements were never put in place to be there forever,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, at a news conference today. If data continues on a downward trend, the state could change school masking guidance from a requirement to a recommendation, Ghaly said. View the complete California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Guidance for the Use of Face Masks.

Fully vaccinated individuals are recommended to continue indoor masking in locations where the risk may be high. In areas with a high rate of community transmission, such as in counties like Humboldt, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone to continue to wear a mask in public indoor settings.

In specific higher risk settings, CDPH continues to require masks be worn by all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. These include indoor locations in K-12 schools, childcare and health care settings, public transportation and transit hubs, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term, adult and senior care settings. Workplaces will continue to follow the COVID-19 prevention standards set by CalOSHA.

Over the weekend, 41 individuals were vaccinated at three Public Health clinics held in Petrolia, Honeydew and Eureka.

Since the last data update on Feb. 4, the county has recorded 571 new cases of COVID-19 through Thursday, Feb. 10. Three new deaths were reported; none were fully vaccinated. Five new hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were reported. Three were unvaccinated and two were fully vaccinated. Age ranges of reported hospitalizations during that period are as follows:

• 1 person in their 30s
• 1 person in their 50s
• 2 people in their 60s
• 1 person aged 80 or older

Severe outcomes from COVID-19 are higher among unvaccinated individuals. The graphs below depict average weekly case rates and weekly hospitalizations and deaths in unvaccinated and fully vaccinated local residents. 

As depicted in the graph above for the period between May 30, 2021, and Jan. 30, 2022, 18 deaths of fully vaccinated Humboldt County residents from COVID-19 were reported. The average age of those deaths was 79. During that same period, 55 deaths of unvaccinated residents were reported. The average age of those deaths was 67. During that same period, 65 fully vaccinated residents were hospitalized with an average age of 73. An additional 269 unvaccinated individuals were hospitalized with an average age of 58. View a more detailed depiction of the hospitalization and death rates graph here.

The current seven-day average case rate in Humboldt County is approximately 60, meaning that for every 100,000 residents, approximately 60 tested positive daily over the last seven days. Case rates vary considerably by vaccination status, as illustrated in the graph below, which depicts average weekly case rates since January 2021 in unvaccinated and fully vaccinated residents.

The most recent seven-day average case rate for the period ending Jan. 30, for fully vaccinated individuals is 46 per 100,000 residents, while the case rate for unvaccinated individuals is 40 per 100,000 residents. View a more detailed depiction of the case rate graph here.

Residents, particularly those who are unvaccinated, are urged to continue to take protective measures against COVID-19 by washing hands frequently, wearing a well-fitted mask approved by the CDC, distancing six feet from others when possible and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

CDPH recommends individuals stay home and away from others and get tested if they become sick or experience COVID-19 symptoms. These symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or muscle aches and often mimic common cold or flu illnesses.

Representatives from the True North Organizing Network will be at Public Health vaccination clinics scheduled on Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Church of the Joyful Healer in McKinleyville. Spanish-language translation will be provided on-site. Thanks to collaborations like these, more than 66% of Humboldt County’s Latino population is fully vaccinated, compared to the state’s metric of approximately 57%.

Vaccines remain readily available and, as always, Humboldt County’s vaccination and testing services are available free of charge. While walk-ins are allowed at all Public Health clinics and some pharmacy vaccination sites, appointments are recommended for all vaccinations 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 your 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. Questions about clinic services can be directed to the Joint Information Center at 1-707-441-5000.

Eureka — Tuesday, Feb. 15, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments recommended.

Eureka Pediatric Clinic — Tuesday, Feb. 15, 1:15 to 4 p.m. 
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer only
     No testing available
     Appointments recommended.

Willow Creek — Tuesday, Feb. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Office (77 Walnut Way)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2 to 8 p.m.
     Humboldt County Office of Education
     Sequoia Conference Center (901 Myrtle Ave.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     Backpack and gift card incentives for children and family
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

McKinleyville — Thursday, Feb. 17, 2 to 7 p.m.
     Church of the Joyful Healer (1944 Central Ave.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Friday, Feb. 18, 1 to 8 p.m.
     Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No rapid testing available at this clinic. PCR testing offered through OptumServe by appointment on the lower floor of the Wharfinger Building.
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Redway — Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Healy Senior Center (456 Briceland Road)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Monday, Feb. 21 — Closed for holiday

View the Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download data from a previous time. 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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