LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Public Health officer on Friday reported that the county has had its first death from COVID-19.
Dr. Gary Pace confirmed the death in an afternoon statement.
“The exact circumstances are still being investigated, but this person became ill at home, was transported by ambulance, and died in the emergency department; they later tested positive for COVID-19,” Pace said. “Our sincere condolences go out to family and friends in this deeply sad situation.”
Pace said COVID-19 infections continue to rise in Lake County.
As of Friday morning, Pace said Lake County has a total of 86 cases, with 39 considered active and 46 recovered.
He said four of the cases are currently hospitalized, with two in-county and the other two transferred to a higher level of care out of the county. One of the individuals transported out of the county is now considered COVID-19-free, but remains under hospital care.
“Investigation into the outbreak in the farmworker community remains ongoing, and we are grateful both workers and employers have been highly responsible and cooperative in managing this challenging situation. All of those infected are on home isolation, and cooperating with Public Health,” Pace said.
Several other cases have been identified from various sources, according to Pace’s report. “Many of them have been traced to known cases; either household members or cases from out of the county.”
He added, “A handful of the recent cases, though, have no identifiable source. Community transmission is presumed.”
Lake County’s first death has occurred in the midst of the largest spike in cases Lake County has seen since the pandemic began, with cases more than doubling over the past week.
Similarly, the state of California is seeing a large increase in cases. Case totals by Friday afternoon topped 246,000 with more than 6,270 deaths, based on reports from the 58 county Public Health departments.
Lake County Public Health reported on Friday that 5,163 tests have been conducted in the county, with results from 760 of those tests pending.
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