Third Humboldt County resident tests positive for coronavirus

Local health officials confirmed today a third resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich said the individual had recently traveled internationally but not to a country that had been flagged as high risk. “Really, there is no international travel that can be considered safe right now,” Frankovich said, adding that the individual was traveling with a group.

Health officials are reaching out to all members of the group and conducting a comprehensive investigation of possible contacts. Symptomatic members of the group will be tested and isolated while results are pending. Asymptomatic travel partners will be quarantined.

“We’re thinking good thoughts for this person and wishing them a full recovery,” the doctor said.

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said the case reaffirms the importance of the shelter-in-place order issued last week. “Go home and stay home. I can’t say that often enough,” Honsal said. “It isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely necessary. It’s how we get through this together.”

This marks the first local COVID-19 patient whose testing was conducted by a commercial laboratory. The sample was submitted March 20 and results provided to the Public Health Branch on March 24.

Humboldt County confirmed two previous cases of the virus, one on Feb. 20 and the second on March 20.