Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported today the death of a resident in their 70s from COVID-19. Staff in the Department Operations Center extend their condolences to all who have lost a loved one to the virus. One new hospitalization, a person aged 80 or older, was also reported.

Four hundred new cases of COVID-19 were reported since Thursday, bringing to 11,352 the total number of residents who have tested positive for the virus.

Public Health also reported that two local positive COVID-19 cases tested between Dec. 19 and 21, were identified as Omicron variant.

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Ian Hoffman said, “While we’ve known that Omicron has been circulating throughout the country, the Delta variant is still the dominant variant in Humboldt County. We will be monitoring closely this week to determine if increasing cases locally are due to Omicron, Delta or both.” 

Hoffman advised residents to protect themselves and their families from all the COVID-19 variants by wearing masks in public settings and getting vaccinated or boosted when eligible. Health officials continue to stress that vaccination and booster shots can lessen the impacts of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, reducing hospitalizations and deaths, as well as reducing impacts of the virus to schools and businesses.

The current positivity rate in the county — the percent of positive tests relative to the total number of tests resulted in the past week — is slightly more than 19 percent. Since the last report on Thursday, 400 of the 1,293 samples tested were determined to be positive.

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, an 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 — 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.

Fortuna — Wednesday, Jan. 5, noon to 6 p.m.
     Fortuna River Lodge (1800 Riverwalk Drive)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available
     Appointments strongly recommended.

Trinidad — Thursday, Jan. 6, 2 to 7 p.m.
     Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available
     Appointments strongly recommended.

Eureka— Friday, Jan. 7, 1. to 8 p.m
     Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)
     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 strongly recommended.

Eureka Family Clinic— Saturday, Jan. 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Jefferson Community Center (1000 B St.)
     Ages 5-18 and family members. No boosters.
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna.
     PCR and rapid testing available.
     Appointments strongly recommended.

Eureka — Monday, Jan. 10, 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.

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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