California has recorded more than 30,000 deaths since the pandemic started nearly a year ago. Hospitalizations have exploded and many hospitals are stretched to the limit. Health officials have warned the worst is yet to come later this month.
Two more coronavirus deaths have been reported from Friday and Saturday in Shasta County, as well as an additional 210 confirmed cases. The latest fatalities were both women, one in her 60s and one in her 70s. The death toll is now 101 among the county’s 9,127 cases so far. An estimated 671 people have the virus right now, 49 of them hospitalized and 8 of them in intensive care. The regional ICU capacity remains at 27.5%. A level of 15% would trigger the stay at home order already imposed on most of the state.
Tehama County has reported 3,885 cases and 41 deaths.
There have been 297 cases and 4 deaths in Trinity County.
1,341 have been reported in Siskiyou County with 12 deaths.
Lassen County has had 10 deaths among their 1,612 cases in the community and 2 deaths among the 3,360 cases in prison.
Butte County has reported 112 deaths among their 8,677 cases.
Glenn County has had 2.077 cases and 18 deaths.
Humboldt County has had 2,124 cases and 23 deaths.
Modoc County has had 368 cases and now 3 deaths.
The COVID-19 vaccines are available in Shasta County this week for in home support services providers and community health workers. They’ll be issued starting Wednesday at vaccination clinics being set up at Safeway Stores in Redding, Anderson and Burney. The shots are by appointment only. People in these groups should call their nearest Safeway pharmacy. The Shasta County Vaccination plan is all laid out at ShastaReady.org.
Trinity County has begun vaccinating large segments of their population. Information is at TrinityCounty.org
Local healthcare leaders are pleading with the public to slow the spread through the proven practices of staying home and away from other people as much as possible and wearing face coverings when going out.
A new state law requires employers to notify workers about possible exposure to COVID-19 and to report outbreaks to the Health Department within 48 hours. 3 or more cases in a 14 day period is considered an outbreak.
The Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department are reviving the Paycheck Protection Program five months after its first two rounds of funding ended. Businesses that received loans last year will be able to borrow up to $2 million if they have no more than 300 employees and suffered at least a 25% drop in quarterly revenue.
The deadline is fast approaching for small businesses grants from the State of California. $500 million worth of relief grant funding is available, with individual grants of between 5 and 25,000 dollars. The deadline to apply is Wednesday the 13th. Applications can be found at CAReliefGrant.com
COVID testing is free and convenient, with appointments through LHI.CARE/CovidTesting or visit ShastaReady.org