With the worst COVID-19 situation yet, Shasta County is getting even deeper into the purple. Last week’s case rate, which is the latest available, was 20.2 per 100,000, double that of the previous week. The purple tier limit is 7. After a record breaking few days, Sunday and Monday have combined for an additional 111 cases. Some of them are believed to have come from Halloween parties, and most are below the age of 50. The Shasta County total is now 2,741. There have been 34 deaths. There are 111 active cases, with 27 of them hospitalized and four in intensive care. 338 people are quarantined due to possible exposure.
County Health Officer Doctor Karen Ramstrom and her colleagues are dismayed to hear reports of people holding COVID parties with the goal of more rapidly spreading the virus. She points out this is not the Chicken Pox and seeking herd immunity is not a valid strategy, but would result in many more deaths. Everyone has friends, family and loved ones who are vulnerable enough to be killed by COVID-19.
Widespread testing is a vital component in getting Shasta County out of the purple tier. A second state testing site besides Shasta College will be announced soon, and a mobile testing team is being assembled as well. There have been 72,730 negative tests in Shasta County. Free testing options can be found at shastaready.org.
Since Shasta County has entered the most restrictive purple tier, state agencies will likely take a more aggressive enforcement role.Shasta County must show red tier numbers for two consecutive weeks before restrictions will ease.
Two Northstate counties are moving into tighter restrictions as their Coronavirus cases surge. The state has ordered both Siskiyou and Modoc Counties to move from the yellow tier into the more restrictive orange tier. Siskiyou County has reported its first COVID death among 314 cases. Modoc County has jumped to 80 cases.
Trinity County, with a total of 62 cases, is testing in Weaverville, Hayfork and Lewiston. Appointments can be made at trinitycounty.org/mobile-test.
Tehama County is up to 1,057 cases and 19 deaths. Butte County has had 3,318 cases and 56 deaths, including someone in their 20’s with no underlying conditions. Glenn County has had 733 cases and now 5 deaths. 586 cases are reported in Humboldt County with 9 deaths. Lassen County has had one death among their 150 cases in the community and 644 in prison.