1 Death, 46 New Community Covid Cases, 37 Inmate Cases In Tuolumne County

From January 17, 2022 to January 23, 2022, unvaccinated people were 5.9 times more likely to get COVID-19 than people who received their booster dose.

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Tuolumne County Public Health reports the death of a woman in her 70s due to Coivd-19.

There are 83 new Covid cases, 46 are community cases, active community cases increased 20 to 260 including 11 people who are hospitalized. There are 37 newly identified inmate cases at the Sierra Conservation Center since Thursday. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports 177 active inmate cases, the fourth most at any prison in the state. There have been 2,373 inmate cases according to Tuolumne Public Health, and the prison’s inmate population is currently 2,957.

The newly reported community cases include seven cases age 17 or younger and 12 cases age 60 or older. The new Covid cases demographics: three girls and three boys age 11 or younger, one girl age 12 to 17, four women and two men age 18 to 29, seven women and one man in their 30s, three women and two men in their 40s, two women and six men in their 50s, three women and four men in their 60s, and three women in their 70s and one woman and one man in their 80s.

The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County decreased to 67.3 from 69.9 per 100,000 population. The case rate reached a high of 174.8 on January 24th. A total of 24 were released from isolation in all 9,778 have been released from isolation. The 7-day test positivity rate is 11.1% and 62% of the population eligible to get vaccinated has been vaccinated. Vaccination details per case are no longer reported, the state vaccination trends are here.

You can help slow the spread of COVID-19 by self-isolating when you have symptoms or a positive test result. Also, notify any close contacts you’ve had from 2 days before you became ill or got tested. Any close contacts should follow current quarantine guidance and get tested 3-5 days after exposure. If you are at high risk of severe disease or hospitalization, you can contact your doctor to discuss potential treatment options. If you are not symptomatic, have not tested positive for COVID-19 recently, and are not in quarantine, public health officials recommend getting vaccinated or boosted.

Calaveras County Public Health reports 38 new cases since Thursday, February 10. There are 13 more active cases for a total of 74 active cases including seven Covid hospitalizations. Calaveras reports positive cases age 17 and under are at 1,400 or more, and cases age 65 and older remain at 1,100 or more, specific numbers are no longer provided. There are 51 more counted as recovered for a total of 6,765 and 56.97% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated in the county.

California Department of Public Health updated health orders and guidance, masks are only required on public transit, in schools (update here), and in care/hospital settings and indoors for those not vaccinated as of February 16. Surgical masks or higher-level respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit are highly recommended: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx Details are also in the news story here. Mega events guidance, long term care, hospital visitation, skilled nursing and care facilities visitation guidance are in yesterday’s report here.

COVID-19 Testing Free tests can be ordered at covidtests.gov or at usps.com/covidtest. The first tests will ship by the end of January. Tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering through the U.S. Postal Service. USPS reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States. The White House emphasized that the website is in “beta testing” when it made tests available for ordering for the first time today.

Public health recommends scheduling an appointment to get tested 5 days after possible exposure and if you are having any symptoms, to get tested right away. The Tuolumne County State testing site schedule is 7 days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.  Appointments can be made at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Testing is also available at pharmacies, at Rapid Care, and the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider. More details are here.

COVID-19 Vaccine the Tuolumne County Public Health Department has planned a Saturday clinic for school age children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Pediatric Pfizer vaccine will be offered to children ages 5 to 11 at their office at 20111 Cedar Road North in Sonora, from 9-11:45 AM and 12:30-2 PM on Saturday, February 12. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be welcome. Patients may register at MyTurn.ca.gov or call 209-533-7440 for more information.

Tuolumne Public Health officials update an Emergency Use Authorization request for the Pfizer vaccine for children 6 months to 4 years old is anticipated to receive approval next week. The approval process includes several steps including review by the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), CDC’s A dvisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Western States Scientific and Safety Review Workgroup. Vaccines may become available for this age group as early as the week of February 21^st. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

The CDC recommends people receive a booster shot if they completed a Pfizer series at least five months ago, or the Moderna series at least six months ago, or a J&J vaccine at least two months ago. Vaccine appointments for children ages 5 to 11 can also be made through myturn.ca.gov, or by calling 833-422-4255, or through local pharmacies, more details are here. For ways to manage a fear of needles or a phobia and help others with it, view the CDC’s information guide here. Learn more about self-care strategies by visiting namica.org