Shasta County continues to report COVID-19 fatalities every day. The three latest victims were a man and woman in their 70’s and a man over the age of 89. A total 129 people have died of the virus. An additional 86 cases have been confirmed, and 1,214 negative tests were reported from Thursday. The total number of cases so far is 9,920. An estimated 422 people have the virus right now, 46 are hospitalized and 4 are in intensive care. The regional ICU capacity has improved to 32.6%.
Tehama County has reported 4,468 cases and 46 deaths.
There have been 305 cases and 4 deaths in Trinity County.
1,463 have been reported in Siskiyou County with 13 deaths.
Butte County has reported 134 deaths among their 9,544 cases.
The rates of new Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations are dropping across California, but health officials warn those trends are tempered by very high death rates. The state reported 593 deaths on Saturday, a day after recording a one-day record of 764. The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 has slipped below 19,000 statewide, a drop of more than 10% in two weeks.
Advocates for farmworkers, teachers, grocery store clerks and other essential workers are worried they will have to wait until this summer to be vaccinated against the Coronavirus as California considers giving priority to older residents. State officials said the move makes sense given older people have a much higher rate of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But with California struggling to get and give the vaccine, the Sacramento Bee reports it could take until June to vaccinate all Californians 65 and older. That could mean essential workers will probably not be vaccinated until this summer.
Shasta County is currently vaccinating healthcare workers and people aged 75 and older. Supplies are still very limited. Those who wish to be vaccinated should go to shastaready.org and click on “Tell Me When It’s My Turn”. Those who complete the online form will go on on a master list and will be contacted by public health to set up an appointment.