Press release from the Humboldt County Public Health Division:

Humboldt County Public Health reported today four new hospitalizations including a resident in their 50s, one in their 60s and two in their 70s. No new deaths were reported.

An additional 119 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 were announced as well as 45 new probable cases for the period between Tuesday, Sept. 13, and Tuesday, Sept. 20. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 21,831. An additional 5,105 cases are reported as probable.* 

Both of the new bivalent boosters—the Moderna (18 and older) and Pfizer (12 and older) versions—are being distributed at all Public Health vaccine clinics. Moderna stock is more limited, but according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the two mRNA boosters are equally viable. Appointments can now be booked online at MyTurn.ca.gov. Walk-ins continue to be welcomed.

The new boosters are single-dose and are designed to combat both the original virus strain as well as Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, which are now the dominant COVID-19 viruses in the U.S. 

To be eligible, individuals must have completed their primary series dose(s) at least two months prior to receiving an updated booster. According to the California Department of Public Health, people should wait three months following a COVID-19 infection to receive a bivalent booster. People can receive the updated booster regardless of previous booster doses received. The updated bivalent boosters replace the previous monovalent booster vaccines for individuals 12 years of age and older. Children ages 5 to 11 can still boost their immunity with the monovalent boosters. 

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

• Since the last weekly report on Sept. 14, an additional 44 residents completed their vaccine series.
• A total of 91,538 individuals, or approximately 67% of the county’s total population, have been fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.

Vaccines remain readily available throughout Humboldt County and vaccination and testing services are free of charge. Walk-ins are welcome at all Public Health clinics and some pharmacy vaccination sites. However, vaccines for young children ages 6 months to 5 years old require preregistration. Appointments can be made at MyTurn.ca.gov. Questions about clinic services can be directed to Public Health at 707-445-6201.

OptumServe offers rapid antigen testing and PCR testing services at the Wharfinger Building seven 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 at lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Wharfinger testing runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 4 to 5 p.m. 

See the schedule below for specific Public Health vaccination and testing clinic dates, times, locations and available services. 

Arcata— Thursday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
     Arcata Transit Center (925 E St.)

Honeydew— Friday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     Honeydew Elementary (1 Wilder Ridge Road)

Petrolia— Friday, Sept. 23, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
     Mattole Valley Resource Center (167 Sherman St.)

Eureka— Saturday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
     Jefferson Community Center (1000 B St.)

* “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.

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