The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history is underway with health workers getting the first shots. “Relieved” is the reaction of a nurse who got vaccinated early Monday. Hospitals are rolling out the first small shipments, as boxes of precious frozen vials arrive at locations around the country. The injections begin an effort to try to beat back the coronavirus – a day of hope amid grief as the nation’s death roll nears a staggering 300,000. How well initial vaccinations go will help reassure a wary public when it’s their turn sometime next year.
COVID-19 has claimed another four lives in Shasta County for a death toll of 58. They were two men and a woman over age 89 and a man in his 80’s. A single day record was set with last Wednesday’s 240 additional cases. There have a been a total of 6,853 cases. An estimated 807 Shasta County residents have the virus right now. The states dashboard is reporting 63 people are hospitalized and15 are in the ICU. Thousands of people are under quarantine orders due to possible exposure.
Tehama County has had 2,357 cases and 30 deaths.
Trinity County has had one fatality among 225 cases.
There have been 914 in Siskiyou County with 7 deaths.
4,912 cases have been reported in Butte County with 67 deaths.
Glenn County has had 1,136 cases and 12 deaths.
Humboldt County has had 1,195 cases and 10 deaths.
Lassen County has now had 4 deaths among their 858 cases in the community and one death among the 2,269 cases in prison.
Modoc County has reached 243 cases.
The 11 northern counties are well above the 15% minimum ICU availability that would trigger a regional stay home order, and hospitals in Redding say they have the capacity to greatly expand their ICU’S. Public health says according to the latest count the Northern Region, which includes Shasta County, has 29% of ICU beds available. However, Shasta County Covid patients in the ICU have an average stay of over 17 days compared to the state’s average of less than 10 days.
Anyone who tests positive but has no symptoms should isolate themselves until 10 days after being tested. Those with symptoms need to be fever-free for at least 24 hours before leaving isolation.
Close contacts of positive cases should get tested 5 to 7 days after exposure. Anyone can get tested for free in Shasta Lake, Anderson, South Redding, Enterprise and Shasta College. Appointments for free testing at any of these sites can be made at lhi.care/covidtesting or visit shastaready.org