New Covid data will be released Monday afternoon. The latest available is from last Thursday. That’s when five Covid deaths were reported in Shasta County in a single day, for a total of 78. The latest fatalities include a woman in her 30’s, a man in his 50’s, two men in their 70’s and a woman in her 80’s. An additional 137 cases bring the total so far to 8,060. An estimated 436 people have the virus right now, 39 of them hospitalized and 6 of them in intensive care. The regional ICU capacity has has gone up to 34.1%, well above the 15% that would trigger the stay at home order already imposed on most of the state.
Butte County has reported 96 deaths among their 7,390 cases.
Tehama County has had 3,444 cases and 37 deaths.
Trinity County has had 276 cases and 4 deaths.
1,176 have been reported in Siskiyou County with 11 deaths.
Glenn County has had 1,449 cases and 14 deaths.
Humboldt County has had 1,815 cases and 22 deaths.
Lassen County has had 8 deaths among their 1,454 cases in the community and 2 deaths among the 3,237 cases in prison.
Modoc County has had 337 cases and one death.
The COVID-19 death toll in the United States has surpassed 350,000 as experts anticipate another surge in coronavirus cases and deaths stemming from holiday gatherings over Christmas and New Year’s. More than 20 million people in the country have been infected.
California’s top health official says that Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley still have what is considered no ICU capacity and that the state’s coronavirus restrictions would continue longer there.
Shasta County is currently issuing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to health care workers, of which there are nearly 14,000 in the county. Next week federal officials will inoculate staff and patients at long term care facilities, which account for about 12% of Covid cases, but 63% of deaths. Other segments of the population will be vaccinated as supplies increase. Although the Covid vaccine is not yet widely available, the flu shot is highly recommended and it’s free by appointment at shastaflushots.com.
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.
Public health says the county’s high testing volume has improved numbers and can eventually allow the county to drop out of the purple tier. Testing is free and convenient with sites in Shasta Lake, Anderson, North Redding, Enterprise and Shasta College. Testing is by appointment only at lhi.care/covidtesting or visit shastaready.org.