Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported today the death of a resident aged 80 or older due to COVID-19. Staff in the Department Operations Center extend their condolences to all who have lost a loved one to the virus.

An additional 91 new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported between Friday and Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to 19,940. No new hospitalizations were reported.

This week the Joint Information Center (JIC) began issuing Case Count news releases and Data Dashboard updates once a week, on Wednesdays. Also effective this week, Call Center hours have been reduced to half days. Calls to 707-441-5000 will be answered from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Calls received outside of those hours will be returned the following business day.

Last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended its masking requirement for airplanes, buses and other public transportation through at least April 18. This follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision will apply to public transportation and transportation hubs. Under the TSA mandate, passengers on airplanes, buses and trains and at airports and transit stations are to continue masking.

As of Tuesday, Public Health and other local vaccinators have administered a total of 176,536 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Humboldt County residents. Local vaccination data has been updated on the Humboldt County Data Dashboard. Highlights include:

• Since the last weekly report on March 9, a total of 451 vaccine doses were administered, and 254 additional residents completed their vaccine series.
• Approximately 65% of the county’s total population was fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.
• A total of 88,331 eligible residents, or nearly 69% of the county’s population aged 5 and older, were fully vaccinated. Just over 6% of the county’s total population has been partially vaccinated as of this reporting period.

Severe outcomes from COVID-19 continue to be more frequent 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 from May 30, 2021, to March 6, 2022, 19 deaths of fully vaccinated Humboldt County residents from COVID-19 were reported. The average age of those deaths was 80. During that same period, 59 deaths of unvaccinated residents were reported. The average age of those deaths was 68. During that same period, 75 fully vaccinated residents were hospitalized with an average age of 73. An additional 282 unvaccinated individuals were hospitalized with an average age of 59. 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 nine, meaning that for every 100,000 residents, approximately nine 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.

In the graph depicted above for the most recent reporting period ending March 6, the seven-day average case rate is six per 100,000 residents for fully vaccinated individuals and five per 100,000 residents for unvaccinated individuals. View a more detailed depiction of the case rate graph here. Local data varies from state and federal data that show case rates are 2 to 5 times higher in unvaccinated individuals.

Residents, particularly those who are unvaccinated, are urged to continue to take protective measures against COVID-19 by washing hands frequently, socially distancing, wearing a well-fitted mask and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

Individuals should stay home and away from others and get tested if they become sick or experience COVID-19 symptoms that may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or muscle aches.

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 — Wednesday, March 16, 2:30 to 8 p.m.
     Humboldt County Office of Education
     Sequoia Conference Center (901 Myrtle 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.

Fortuna — Thursday, March 17, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
     Fortuna Veterans Hall (1426 Main St.)
     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, March 18, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
     Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Redway — Saturday, March 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, March 21, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 12 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments recommended.

Eureka — Tuesday, March 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.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.

Willow Creek — Tuesday, March 22, 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, March 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Marshall Family Resources Center (2100 J St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

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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