Public Health officials say that while four consecutive days with no new coronavirus cases in Shasta County is certainly reason to rejoice, it’s not time to abandon precautions yet. Social distancing is still the most effective way to fight the spread of Covid-19. A person can be contagious with the virus for 14 days before showing symptoms. The total number of confirmed cases is still 24. Three people have died from the virus. Six others have recovered, leaving 15 active cases in isolation. 671 Covid tests in Shasta County have shown negative results. 53 people are currently under quarantine orders due to possible exposure.
Other northstate counties have also shown little to no growth in coronavirus cases. Butte County has added one to total 14. Tehama County has one confirmed case. Siskiyou County has 5, but 3 have recovered. Humboldt County has 50. Glenn County reported a third case on Friday. There are still none reported in Trinity, Lassen or Modoc Counties.
Rates of infection for many rural areas such as Shasta County are nearly impossible to calculate because of the shortage of extraction and testing kits. Officials say it appears the trajectory of the curve for Shasta County puts it behind the national trend. Shasta County Public Health Officer Dr Karen Ramstrom says that this week epidemiologists and other experts will develop a workable model for predicting when Covid cases will peak for the area, though she says the data will become more and more reliable as increased testing presents a larger sample of the population.
A shortage of personal protective equipment remains an issue for Shasta County Public Health and other area medical providers. Many businesses and individuals are donating what they have stored and what they’re sewing or making on 3D printers. Dr Ramstrom says the federal recommendation that everyone wear masks while out in public should not be construed as a substitute for social distancing.