The U.S. leads the world with 22.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 380,000 confirmed deaths. The government has distributed more than 25 million doses, but only about 9 million people have received their first shot.
In what’s become a daily occurrence for Shasta County, another two coronavirus deaths have been reported, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s. Sunday and Monday also brought 188 new cases. The death toll is now 103 among the county’s 9,315 cases so far. An estimated 726 people have the virus right now, 52 of them hospitalized and 6 of them in intensive care. The regional ICU capacity has dropped suddenly to 17.6%, very close to the 15% that 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 298 cases and 4 deaths in Trinity County.
1,360 have been reported in Siskiyou County with 12 deaths.
Lassen County has had 10 deaths among their 1,652 cases in the community and 2 deaths among the 3,370 cases in prison.
Butte County has reported 116 deaths among their 8,795 cases.
Glenn County has had 2.110 cases and 19 deaths.
Humboldt County has had 2,138 cases and 24 deaths.
Modoc County has had 370 cases and 3 deaths.
COVID-19 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.
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.
It’s almost too late to apply for small businesses grants from the State of California. $500 million worth of relief grant funding is available. The deadline is midnight Wednesday night. Applications can be found at CAreliefgrant.com
As Butte County has dropped it’s stay at home order and Trinity County has improved to the red tier, Shasta County won’t be getting out of the purple tier anytime soon. 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. The positivity rate has increased from 7.6% to 9.4%.
COVID testing is free and convenient, with appointments through LHI.CARE/CovidTesting or visit ShastaReady.org