NCJ Daily Online

DAILY ONLINE Humboldt Surpasses 30 COVID-19 Deaths

Humboldt County confirmed another COVID-related death as the Journal went to press Feb. 2, this time of a person in their 60s, making 31 since the pandemic began.

Humboldt County Public Health also reported 22 new COVID-19 cases, 87 reported in the first two days of February on the heels of a record 990 cases confirmed in January. The county also reported the arrival of antigen tests — which look for the presence of a specific viral antigen, basically a foreign substance that triggers the immune system to produce antibodies, and are faster than DNA testing, producing results in as little as 15 minutes.

“Antigen tests are most reliable when used for people who are experiencing symptoms,” states a news release from the county’s Joint Information Center. “Public Health recently began distributing thousands of rapid antigen tests to local healthcare providers to assist them in quickly determining if someone has contracted the virus, and enough results have been returned to report the data.”

Meanwhile, health officials say vaccination efforts are being slowed by limited supplies.

A total of 3,775 doses are expected to arrive locally by the end of this week, with those going to healthcare workers, first responders and residents age 75 and over, as well as in-person educators and support staff.

Residents are urged to continue to follow COVID safety guidelines as vaccinations roll out, which could take months, and health officials have repeatedly advised that while the vaccine protects the vaccinated against severe illness it’s not yet known whether it prevents them from carrying and transmitting the virus.

As local caseloads have climbed in recent weeks, so has the county’s test-positivity rate, or the percentage of samples taken that come back positive for the virus, indicating it is spreading more broadly locally than it has in the past. The county’s test positivity rate has gone from 3.6 percent in November, to 7.3 percent in December, to 9.9 percent in January. Statewide, the seven-day average test-positivity rate is currently 10 percent.

After five deaths and 258 cases were recorded by the last week in January, the first two days in February saw 87 cases confirmed, one death and five new hospitalizations reported. To date, 2,836 local residents have contracted the virus, with 31 COVID-related deaths and 106 people hospitalized at some point during their care. As this edition of the Journal went to press, the county dashboard reported seven people were hospitalized locally

Busted

The Humboldt County Drug Task Force raided a Eureka hotel room Jan. 31 and reported finding an assault rifle (as well as parts and tools to manufacture more), firearms, 3 ounces of fentanyl, methamphetamine and two garbage bags filled with blood spattered clothing, leading to the arrests of Joseff Gene Greek and Dale Michael Melvin, both of San Francisco, on suspicion of drugs and weapons charges. POSTED 01.31.21

Submitted

with COVID-19, including three in intensive care, while available intensive care unit bed capacity sat at 17.9 percent.

The county dashboard lists 2,510 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.

Last week, the county noted that contact investigation teams were tracking nearly 200 chains of transmission and several small outbreaks throughout the county, with many related to indoor gatherings. — Kimberly Wear POSTED 02.02.21 Read the full story online.

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Fatal Crash: The California Highway Patrol arrested Tiannah Ruvalcaba, 25, after a fatal headon collision on Fernbridge Drive after midnight Jan. 30. Police say it’s still unclear why Ruvalcaba’s Honda Civic collided head-on with a 1988 Ford Mustang, killing the Mustang’s driver and leaving Ruvalcaba with major injuries, but believe impairment may have been a contributing factor. The identity of the Mustang’s driver has not been released. POSTED 01.30.21

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Fortuna High Goes Distance: Fortuna Union High School District campuses have switched to distance learning at least through Feb. 5 due to what the district described as “staff challenges” due to quarantines. The move came after Toddy Thomas Middle School moved to distance learning after reporting “one or more students” tested positive for COVID-19 and some students were exhibiting symptoms and others “may have been exposed.” POSTED 01.28.21

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Get Covered: After President Joe Biden’s executive action, Covered California is offering a special enrollment period for anyone who is uninsured and eligible through May 15. A projected 1.2 million people are eligible for financial help through Covered California, or for low-cost or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal. According to Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, millions of Californians still do not have health insurance. POSTED 01.28.21

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Digitally Speaking

The number of years the Chalet House of Omelettes on Eureka’s Fifth Street operated before recently announcing it will be closing permanently, which owner Bill Tuttle said was largely due to challenges finding and retaining staff. The business’ other location in Cutten will remain open. POSTED 02.01.21

They Said It

“While we cannot change the past, we are dedicated to creating a school that honors and supports all our students from this day forward. We acknowledge harm in the past in the hopes it will help our community heal.”

— McKinleyville High School Principal Nic Collart in an open letter to the community acknowledging some students of color have experienced racism on the school’s campus in the past and vowing to make the school a more inclusive, safe space. POSTED 01.28.21

Comment of the Week

“I hope next year will be back better than ever! For the Glory!

— Dorie Ahboltin commenting on the Journal’s Facebook page on a post about the Kinetic Grand Championship being canceled — again — due to the COVID-19 pandemic. POSTED 01.31.21