4 minute read
NCJ Daily Online
HumCo Still Orange Despite Rising Case Rate
Humboldt County remained in the state’s “moderate” or orange COVID-19 risk tier for another week, the state announced April 27, despite a surge in local COVID-19 cases, many of which are tied to an outbreak at a Eureka church.
So far this week, 84 new cases had been reported as the Journal went to press April 27. Last week recorded 130 cases, far outpacing the previous week’s 71, which was itself a doubling of the prior week. And as case counts have risen, so have the county’s test-positivity rate and the number of hospitalizations. Since April 19, the county had confirmed 214 cases with a test-positivity rate of 10.7 percent, eight hospitalizations and one COVID-related death.
The county announced April 22 that “a majority” of recent cases had been linked to a “single outbreak associated with one or more super-spreader events,” and the following day linked Eureka the Pentecostal Church to the outbreak, urging anyone who’d been a recent guest to the Hoover Street church to get tested. Seascape Restaurant in Trinidad later announced it was closing indefinitely, as a staff member working in the restaurant had been exposed amid the outbreak.
The county’s orange status, which the region fell under earlier this month, allows businesses such as restaurants, gyms and movie theaters to increase indoor operations while others — including bowling alleys and family fun centers — are able to reopen.
The state data released April 27 showed that Humboldt County has a test positive rate of 3.1 percent (compared to 2.3 percent the prior week) and a daily case rate of 5.9 per 100,000 compared to the prior week's 4.7. California, overall, reports a 1.5 percent test-positivity rate and 4.7 cases per 100,000, which are both lower than the previous week.
Meanwhile, Humboldt’s daily case rate is on the cusp of the more restrictive red or “substantial” risk tier, while the test-positivity rate remains in the middle of orange tier’s metrics.
According to the state, a county can move back in its COVID-19 risk ranking when the local “adjusted case rate and test positivity have fallen within a more restrictive tier for two consecutive weekly periods,” while previously only one or the other falling into a higher tier could
Smoke ‘Em if You’ve Got ‘Em
Photo by Jessica Ashley Silva Humboldt County’s first cannabis consumption lounge is set to open next week at the south end of Eureka, where Papa & Barkley Social offered a special 4/20 soft opening. Read more at www.northcoastjournal.com. POSTED 04.21.21
prompt the move.
Local vaccination efforts, meanwhile, continue amid concerning uptake numbers as scores of recent clinic appointments have gone unfilled. This week, the county plans to hold clinics in Fortuna and Arcata and residents can sign up on the state’s website, www.myturn.ca.gov.
The state is expected to update its tier assignments again May 4.
— Kimberly Wear POSTED 04.27.21 Read the full story online.
Make us a part of your daily life
For the news as it develops and all you need to understand politics, people and art on the North Coast, follow us online.
CSU to Require Vaccinations: The California State University system announced April 22 that all faculty and students will need to be fully vaccinated to be on its 26 campuses, including Humboldt State University, this fall. The requirement is contingent on the Food and Drug Administration granting full approval to one or more of the vaccines and will also include medical or religious exemptions.
POSTED 04.22.21
northcoastjournal.com/ncjdaily northcoastjournal
Return of the Fair: The Humboldt County Fair announced April 21 that (if all goes well) it will hold the event from Aug. 18 through Aug. 29 with the theme, “A Country Fair with a Western Flair.” The fair association has also set up a GoFundMe page to help horse owners make the trip to Ferndale this summer for the fair.
POSTED 04.21.21
ncj_of_humboldt ncjournal
Hazing Investigation: Humboldt State University is investigating hazing allegations involving its women’s softball team, as well as possible violations of student athletic codes. The team has been placed on interim suspension, with all activities, including games for the next week, suspended pending the investigation. The investigation is being conducted by the Office of the Dean of Students, which is working with Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports. POSTED 04.26.21
northcoastjournal newsletters
Digitally Speaking
The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses that were frantically shipped to San Francisco on April 16 because they were in danger of going unused in Humboldt County. POSTED 04.21.21
They Said It
— Karuk Tribal Chair Russell Attebery on a joint letter signed with the Yurok Tribe, area conservationists and the commercial fishing fleet, urging the Biden administration to provide financial relief to basin communities. POSTED 04.21.21
Comment of the Week
— Kimberly Ehler on the Journal’s Facebook page commenting on a post about Public Health confirming 68 new COVID-19 cases April 26, while reporting four new hospitalizations. POSTED 04.26.21
