6 more Coronavirus deaths have been reported in Shasta County. There have been a total of 117 Shasta County residents killed by Covid, with 44 of them since the start of the year. The latest were a man in his 30’s, a man in his 50’s, a woman in her 80’s and three men in their 80’s. Another 144 cases have been confirmed for a total of 9,594 so far. An estimated 683 people have the virus right now, 55 of them hospitalized and 5 of them in intensive care. The regional ICU capacity has not yet been updated by the state.
Tehama County has reported 3,971 cases and 42 deaths.
There have been 299 cases and 4 deaths in Trinity County.
1,388 have been reported in Siskiyou County with 12 deaths.
Lassen County has had 11 deaths among their 1,686 cases in the community and 2 deaths among the 3,381 cases in prison.
Butte County has reported 121 deaths among their 9,091 cases.
Glenn County has had 2.177 cases and 19 deaths.
Humboldt County has had 2,263 cases and 24 deaths.
Modoc County has had 378 cases and now 3 deaths.
Shasta County is making vaccine available to seniors as soon as possible. The shots will be given to those 75 and older starting Tuesday the 19th and to those 65 and older starting February 1st. Details on distribution are still being finalized. Anyone can be alerted when they become eligible and how to get it by going to shastaready.org and selecting “Tell Me When It’s My Turn”.
California is allowing residents 65 and older to get scarce Coronavirus vaccines sooner. The Governor’s announcement Wednesday puts seniors in line before emergency workers, teachers, childcare providers and food and agriculture workers. State officials are expanding the program to those 65 and up because they are at the greatest risk of being hospitalized and dying.
Vaccines are available this week in Shasta County for in home support services providers and community health workers. People in these groups should make appointments with their nearest Safeway pharmacy or attend a drive through vaccination clinic on Saturday at Benton Airpark. Documentation and completed registration forms are required, with forms and details at shastaready.org.
Other quantities of vaccine are in the hands of federal officials who are working locally to vaccinate patients at the VA Clinic, as well as staff and elderly residents of skilled nursing facilities. The hospitals also have their own stockpiles of vaccine that they’re issuing to their staff members.
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.
As Butte County has dropped it’s stay at home order and Trinity County has improved to the red tier, Shasta County’s situation is getting worse. The adjusted case rate has increased from 34.1 to 48.3 daily cases per 100,000 residents, largely because of a sharp drop in testing volume.
COVID testing is free and convenient, with appointments through LHI.CARE/CovidTesting or visit ShastaReady.org.