Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported six new hospitalizations today, two residents in their 70s and four aged 80 or older. An additional 306 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 were reported as well as 124 new probable cases for the period between Tuesday, May 10, and Tuesday, May 17. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 18,078. An additional 3,304 cases are reported as probable.* 

Local vaccination data has been updated on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard. Highlights include:

• Since the last weekly report on May 11, an additional 106 residents completed their vaccine series.
• A total of 90,104 individuals, or approximately 66% of the county’s total population, have been fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.

As part of the federal government’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the nationwide Test to Treat Initiative has been launched, with one Humboldt location at the Wharfinger Building. At Test to Treat locations, people are tested for COVID-19 and if a person tests positive, is 12 or older and treatments are deemed appropriate for them, Paxlovid antiviral medication will be administered at no charge. A registered nurse is onsite with a Telehealth link to a medical doctor in order to dispense medication, should the patient choose.

Paxlovid was developed as an oral pill and created to help keep high-risk patients from getting sick enough to require hospitalization. The drug is intended for those with initial mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at risk of severe disease. This can include older people and those who are immunosuppressed or have conditions such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

The Wharfinger Building OptumServe testing location is now serving as Humboldt County’s first Test to Treat location, and the service runs daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 1 Marina Way in Eureka. The site is closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 5 to 6 p.m. A medical provider will be available to review patients’ current medications. Attendees should have a list of their medications with them.

OptumServe continues to offer rapid antigen testing and PCR testing services at the Wharfinger site. PCR tests are available only on a walk-in basis and must be specifically requested from the attendee. Walk-in attendees should receive only rapid antigen testing unless the attendee specifically states they require a PCR test. Appointments for antigen testing can be made at lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123.

Vaccines will be available during this weekend’s Redwood Coast Kite Festival & Artisan Fair in Eureka at Halverson Park. Humboldt County Public Health will be joining a California Department of Public Health vaccine team to provide free first and second vaccine shots as well as boosters for attendees during the event on Saturday, May 21, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Additionally, vaccines remain readily available throughout Humboldt County and, as always, Humboldt’s vaccination and testing services are available free of charge. Walk-ins are welcome at all Public Health clinics and some pharmacy vaccination sites. Appointments can also be made at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Second booster shots of Pfizer and Moderna are available at all Humboldt County Public Health vaccine clinics for those 50 and older, as well as certain immunocompromised individuals, as long as it has been four months since their first booster shot. Those interested in a second booster can also check with pharmacies about availability. 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 Public Health at 707-445-6201.

Trinidad — Thursday, May 19, 2 to 5 p.m. 
     Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Walk-ins are welcome.

Redway — Friday, May 20, 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
     Walk-ins are welcome.

Eureka — Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
     Redwood Coast Kite Festival & Artisan Fair 
     Halvorsen Park (1003 Waterfront Dr.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Walk-ins are welcome.

Willow Creek — Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
     Veterans Park (100 Kimtu Road)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Walk-ins are welcome.

Eureka — Monday, May 23, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Walk-ins are welcome.

Eureka — Tuesday, May 24, 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
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Walk-ins are welcome.

Willow Creek — Tuesday, May 24, 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
     Walk-ins are welcome.

McKinleyville — Wednesday, May 25, 12:30 to 5 p.m. 
     The Center at McKinleyville (1615 Heartwood Dr.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Walk-ins are welcome.

* “Confirmed cases” represent the total confirmed positive PCR tests results or detection of SARS-CoV-2 by genomic sequencing, and “probable cases” are individuals who:

• Have a positive antigen (Ag) test for COVID-19, or
• Were diagnosed by a health care provider with COVID-19 disease, or
• Have symptoms of COVID-19 disease after being in close contact with a person having a PCR-confirmed test result, or
• Were a decedent whose death certificate lists COVID-19 as a cause or significant contributing factor of their death, in the absence of a positive PCR test result.

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/3246
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19
Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert

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