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Variant-fueled COVID Surge Continues
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ublic Health confirmed Humboldt County’s 39th COVID-related death May 4, along with 11 new cases, making 44 so far for the week amid an ongoing surge as the Journal went to press. Addressing the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors that morning, Hoffman made clear that he believes the surge — which saw the county confirm 137 cases last week and 130 the week before, along with dozens of related hospitalizations — can be attributed to the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variant of the virus, commonly known as the UK variant. “We had been suspecting that B.1.1.7 was here in Humboldt as early as March but without clear evidence and only a few confirmed cases in the state, it was hard to be sure,” he said. “Now, that evidence is clear. B.1.1.7 is here and it has been here, and now we’re seeing the effects of a more contagious and more virulent form of this coronavirus. Our hospital cases for COVID-19 in the last few weeks of April rival the worst weeks yet of the pandemic for Humboldt County, with those who are younger and healthier getting sicker.” Hoffman added that the county is seeing younger patients hospitalized, with some admitted to intensive care units, and recently saw a resident under the age of 19 hospitalized for the first time locally. Fur-
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ther, Hoffman said the county has had to transfer more patients out of the county in the previous two weeks due to the severity of their illness or a lack of resources to care for them than at any other time during the pandemic. Humboldt County’s case and test-positivity rates, meanwhile, have gone from some of the best in the state to some of the worst, Hoffman said. According to a state database, 11 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 locally — down from 13 yesterday — including five receiving intensive care. The May 4 cases were confirmed after laboratories processed 161 samples with a test-positivity rate of 6.8 percent, bringing the county’s cumulative case total to 3,895. The good news, Hoffman told the board, is that it’s clear what the county must do to reverse current trends — continue masking and physical distancing, while getting as many people vaccinated as possible. “We need to get vaccinated,” he said. “There is sufficient vaccine now for everyone. We are not seeing infections in people who are vaccinated. While there are a handful of so-called ‘breakthrough’ cases, none of our sickest patients who are feeling very ill, are hospitalized or are in the ICU, none of them have been vaccinated. That is the power of this vaccine.”
Another Hazing Allegation: Humboldt State University announced May 4 that it is investigating another alleged hazing incident, just a week after one surfaced involving the university’s softball team. HSU reported that it is looking into potential violations of student and sports club codes of conduct involving its men’s and women’s rugby teams, both of which have been placed on interim suspensions. POSTED 05.04.21
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Digitally Speaking The number of large, homemade ornaments Six Rivers National Forest is trying to collect to adorn this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, which will be harvested from the North Coast. Get all the details on the decorative effort at www.northcoastjournal.com. POSTED 05.03.21
Up In The Sky
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Photo courtesy of Eddy Alexander on behalf of the city of Eureka
The Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo is slated to open May 14 to zoo visitors, who will be able to access the 100-foot-high suspended pathways through the trees, with a grand opening event planned for June 4. Get all the details and a slideshow of photos at www.northcoastjournal.com. POSTED 05.02.21 Vaccine appointments can be made by visiting www.myturn.ca.gov. The state of California also updated its COVID-19 risk tiers May 4 and, despite escalating case rates, kept Humboldt County in the “moderate” or orange tier it entered last month, which allowed businesses such as restaurants, gyms and movie theaters to increase indoor operations while allowing others — including bowling alleys and family fun centers — to open.
The state data showed that Humboldt County has a test positive rate of 6.4 percent (compared to 3.1 percent last week) and a daily case rate of 12.8 per 100,000 compared to the prior week’s 5.9. California overall, meanwhile, reports a 1.3 percent test-positivity rate and 4.2 cases per 100,000. — Thadeus Greenson POSTED 05.04.21 Read the full story online.
NCJ Offering Free Obituaries: The Journal announced this week that we are now offering free, reader-submitted online obituaries, giving people a chance to notify the community of the passing of a local resident and to honor their lives. Readers can now submit death notices for local residents to obituaries@ northcoastjournal.com. Please include your name and contact information. Submissions will be lightly edited for spelling and grammar.
Cultural Site Vandalized: Six Rivers National Forest announced that it is increasing patrols at the culturally significant Mvs-yee-se’-ne — known locally as Pappas Flat — after recent vandalism at the site, including off-roading, racist graffiti and the chopping down of Oregon white oak trees in the area. The site includes a 15-acre Oregon white oak forest established before 1809 that has been maintained by the Tolowa for centuries.
POSTED 04.30.21
POSTED 04.28.21
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They Said It “All employees who had contact with the one positive case have been tested and received COVID negative results. Seascape Restaurant has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by an independent cleaning company following CDC guidelines.” — A Trinidad Rancheria press release announcing the restaurant’s re-opening after a COVID-19 exposure. POSTED 05.03.21
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Comment of the Week “Personally I just reported and blocked that John fellow. I don’t believe he’s a real person and his posts are pure garbage.” — Andrew Kuebbing on the Journal’s Facebook, responding to a commenter spreading COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories on a post about the county seeing 12 new hospitalizations. POSTED 04.30.21
northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, May 6, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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