LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Public Health officer said Friday that local COVID-19 cases are still climbing and the effort to vaccinate sectors of the community are continuing.
“The number of active COVID-19 cases remains high in our area, and local hospitals are feeling the strain,” said Dr. Gary Pace.
Pace said both of Lake County’s hospitals are at capacity most days. The state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy places Lake County in the Northern California region, which as of Friday had a 27.5-percent intensive care unit bed availability.
The other regions in the blueprint are all below 15 percent capacity, meaning they remain under regional stay at home orders.
Public Health departments statewide reported a total of 2,621,215 cases and 29,238 deaths as of Friday night.
In Lake County, Public Health reported that cases on Friday totaled 2,120, with another death, bringing the total to 26. Fifteen people are now hospitalized.
“With the virus widespread in our communities, you are likely to be in contact with people who are contagious any time you are out in public. Go to stores early in morning or late, when the numbers of people are much lower. Work from home, if possible. Avoid socializing with people outside of your household for the next few weeks,” Pace said.
He added that, if we all take these steps, “the current surge should start going down by the end of the month.”
More vaccine arrives
The first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for 975 residents have been received through the Health Department, and 900 doses of the Moderna vaccine, Pace said. Another 500 doses have been received via community healthcare partners.
“Over half of the initial doses have been administered in just three weeks, despite overlap with holidays and COVID cases surging,” Pace said. “We are working hard to ensure Lake County residents get every dose we can access.”
He said getting as many people vaccinated as possible will allow us to resume a more normal rhythm of life.
Pace said people frequently ask Public Health when they can get the vaccine.
Public Health is currently managing an unknown supply schedule, which includes about 300 vaccine doses a week – “not nearly enough,” Pace said – and setting up the infrastructure to provide the vaccine to the community, including outreach to medical partners and pharmacies.
State guidelines determine the priority, with the first tier, Phase 1a, including health care workers and residents of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and similar long-term care settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
This week, the California Department of Public Health issued updated recommendations for moving through the vaccine phases and tiers, encouraging local health departments and health care providers to immediately administer COVID-19 vaccines to individuals in all tiers of Phase 1a in order to reduce the potential for vaccine wastage.
Pace said that Phase 1a will be finished by the end of next week, except for nursing home residents, who will be vaccinated through a partnership with pharmacies in the coming weeks.
He said those 75 years and older and some essential workers will receive the vaccine next; the goal is to do those vaccinations the week of Jan. 18.
“Teachers and school staff who have contact with kids will be prioritized, in the interest of getting schools open as soon as possible,” he said. “Once this plan is functioning, we will expand to childcare workers and essential workers in food and agriculture.”
At Thursday evening’s Clearlake City Council meeting, City Manager Alan Flora told the council about efforts to set up vaccination clinics in the city. The Clearlake Community Center is expected to host the clinics in weeks to come.
Pace said more information about the upcoming steps in the vaccination effort will be available next week.
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