NCJ Daily Online

Humboldt’s COVID-19 Surge Continues

Rescue

Humboldt County Public Health announced Jan. 19 as the Journal went to press that it had confirmed 131 new COVID-19 cases over the three-day weekend, bringing the county’s total to 2,393 and maintaining the pace for another record-setting month.

The county had confirmed 232 new cases the prior week, which came on the heels of a record 269 the week before, putting the county on pace to surpass the record 863 cases confirmed in December as the local surge continues.

Under state data released Jan. 19, Humboldt County remained in in the state’s most restrictive purple “widespread” COVID-19 risk tier, which keeps restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and places of worship closed to indoor operations, with a nighttime stay-at-home order in effect daily from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. But cumulative available hospital intensive care unit capacity in the state’s Northern California Region, which had dipped perilously close to the state’s 15-percent threshold that would trigger a host of added restrictions, had improved as the Journal went to press, with the state reporting an available capacity of more than 30 percent.

To date, Humboldt County has confirmed 2,393 cases, with 81 hospitalizations and 24 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths. Twelve Humboldt County residents are currently hospitalized, according to the county’s dashboard, including four under intensive care.

The county dashboard lists 1,868 people as having “recovered” from the virus locally, though that just means they are no longer contagious and does not account for long-term health impacts, which local healthcare workers have told the Journal can be substantial, even in previously health patients.

Earlier this month, the state issued a health order that halted all elective surgeries to make more room for intensive care unit capacity in regions where hospital ICU capacity is at 0 percent. Those hospitals also now have the ability to transfer patients in and out of other regions, includThe U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people from a distressed fishing boat near Patrick’s Point State Park north of Trinidad on Jan. 17. POSTED 01.17.21 Photo by Garth Epling

ing the Northern California region.

The order doesn’t currently affect Humboldt County but could soon.

The state also issued an updated travel advisory strongly discouraging all non-essential travel and urging anyone returning from non essential, out-of-state travel needs to self-quarantine for a minimum of 10 days upon their return.

Nationwide, 23.7 million people have been confirmed to have the virus — including 213,145 cases confirmed Jan. 18 — with 394,495 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In California, 3 million residents have been confirmed to have the virus — including 30,699 on Jan. 18 — with 33,593 COVID-related deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.

— Kimberly Wear POSTED 01.19.21 Read the full story online.

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COVID-19 Varian: A variant of COVID-19 has been identified in Humboldt County and increasingly being found across the state, according to state health officials, who have launched an effort to learn more about 452R and how it spreads. It is too soon to know if the variant spreads more rapidly than other forms of the virus. POSTED 01.18.21

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Dine Local: The Chose Humboldt Coalition kicked off its Restaurant month last week with a giveaway meant to boost sales at locally owned restaurants. Diners are invited to post photos of their meals, whether takeout or at outdoor dining setups, with the hashtags #dineouthumboldt and #choosehumboldt for a chance to win a $50 gift card. POSTED 01.18.21

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Dining in the Purple: Humboldt County’s Jan. 12 move back into California’s purple “widespread” COVID-19 risk tier brought a host of changes, shuttering all indoor dining and allowing outdoor seating only where tables are kept 6 feet apart. Read a full rundown of the new regulations — as well as a few pro tips (hint, tip well!) — at www.northcoastjournal. com POSTED 01.13.21

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Digitally Speaking

The percentage of of Humboldt County’s vaccine stock it was asked to refrain from administering after doses from the same batch of Moderna vaccine were potentially linked to a cluster of adverse reactions in San Diego. No adverse reactions have been reported locally. POSTED 01.14.21

They Said It

“As tensions continue to run high, we retain our faith in our democratic system of government. Our faith abides in the voters, election officers and governors (Republican as well as Democrat), who certified election results in every state.”

— The Humboldt County Republican Central Committee and the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee in a joint statement released in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection in the U.S. Capitol. POSTED 01.14.21

Comment of the Week

“Far less than she deserves. We all owe her a debt of gratitude — and many owe her sincere apology.” — Joseph Andrew on the Journal’s Facebook page commenting on a post about former Humboldt

County Health officer Teresa Frankovich receiving a

Humboldt-Del Norte Medical Society “Outstanding Contribution” award for her work on the local COVID-19 response. POSTED 01.16.21