Shasta County has reported five more Coronavirus deaths in a single day and 149 new cases. The death toll is now 42 and there has been a total of 3,719 positive tests so far. The new fatalities include a man and a woman in their 70’s, a man and a woman in their 80’s and a woman over age 89. There are 35 patients currently hospitalized with 4 in intensive care. Public health has been unable to compile the data from lab reports and still cannot provide the number of currently active cases or how many people are under quarantine orders. They now have also lost the ability to report the number of negative tests.
A limited quantity of vaccine is expected to arrive in mid to late December, with the first inoculations going to at-risk health care workers and first responders, followed by medically vulnerable people. The general population may get the vaccine in the Spring. Mercy Medical Center in Redding is one of only seven hospitals in the state that will receive some of the first batch of the Pfizer vaccine.
Public health says those who have had symptoms may return to work or school after 10 days have passed since the symptoms first appeared and 24 hours with no fever. There’s a statewide mandate for face coverings to be worn whenever someone is outside the home, with limited exceptions.
The Governors of California, Oregon and Washington have issued travel advisories urging people entering their states or returning from travel to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Large Thanksgiving gatherings are discouraged.
Governor Gavin Newsom is imposing an overnight curfew in the 41 counties that are in the purple tier of restrictions. Starting Saturday, all nonessential work, movement and gatherings are supposed to cease between 10PM and 5AM.
Tehama County has had 1,324 cases and now 23 deaths. Trinity County has had 103 cases. Siskiyou County has had 436 cases and one death. Butte County has had 3,580 cases and 58 deaths. Glenn County has had 820 cases and 6 deaths. 711 cases are reported in Humboldt County with 9 deaths. Lassen County has had two deaths among their 261 cases in the community and 981 in prison. Modoc County has reached 104 cases.
Widespread testing is a vital component in getting Shasta County out of the purple tier. The state had told county officials that a second testing site besides Shasta College would open this week, but there’s still no word on where or when. A mobile testing team is also in the works. Free testing options can be found at shastaready.org.