Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported today one new hospitalization, a resident in their 70s. No new deaths were reported. 

An additional 41 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 were announced as well as 46 new probable cases for the period between Tuesday, Nov. 8 and Tuesday, Nov. 15. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 22,431. An additional 5,414 cases are reported as probable.* 

According to Public Health, as the community prepares for holiday family get-togethers, now is a great time to get a bivalent booster. The new bivalents reduce the likelihood of becoming infected with the Omicron variants and also reduce the chances of hospitalization and death should one become infected.

The bivalent boosters are available to anyone aged 5 years and older and provided at all Public Health clinics throughout the county. Appointments for childhood vaccinations are required and can be made at MyTurn.ca.gov. All bivalent boosters are single-dose and include components of the original virus strain and the Omicron subvariants. People can receive the updated booster regardless of previous booster doses received.

It’s also a very good time to get this year’s flu vaccine, which can be administered along with COVID-19 vaccines. Flu cases have surged in recent weeks. Anyone 6 months and older can get the flu vaccine and it’s updated for this season’s strains. Most local pharmacies are offering both COVID boosters and flu vaccines.

Local COVID-19 vaccination data has been updated:

• Since the last weekly report on Nov. 9, an additional 78 residents completed their vaccine series.
• A total of 92,270 individuals, or approximately 68% of the county’s total population, have been fully vaccinated as of Tuesday. 

OptumServe offers rapid antigen testing and PCR testing services at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka five days a week. Walk-ins will receive only rapid antigen testing unless the attendee specifically states they require a PCR test. Appointments for antigen testing can be made by calling 888-634-1123. Wharfinger testing runs Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 4 to 5 p.m. Additional testing locations and schedules are available at humboldtgov.org/2787/Test-Registration. 

See the schedule below for specific Public Health vaccination and testing clinic dates, times, locations and available services. Please note that some regularly scheduled clinics are canceled during Thanksgiving week. 

Arcata — Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
     D Street Neighborhood Center (1301 D St.)

Trinidad — Thursday, Nov. 17, 2 to 4:30 p.m. 
     Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)

Eureka — Friday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
     Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)

Eureka — Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
     College of the Redwoods (7351 Tompkins Hill Road)

Willow Creek — Tuesday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
     Willow Creek Public Health (77 Walnut Way)

* “Confirmed cases” represent the total confirmed positive PCR test 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 with COVID-19 disease by a health care provider, 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.

For information about COVID-19, please call Humboldt County Public Health 
at 1-707-445-6201, or email HHSPHB@co.humboldt.ca.us. 
For local updates, visit Humboldt Health Alert at humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert.
Sign up for COVID-19 vaccination: MyTurn.ca.gov
Local COVID-19 vaccine information: humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19

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