Two new COVID 19 cases reported today

(View of County Health Officer's office and the flooding)

Humboldt County’s total case count stands at 282, after two new cases were reported today.

Due to the pace of increasing cases, Public Health yesterday raised Effectiveness of Disease Control to level three on the county’s Alert Level Assessment Tool. While this does not change the overall alert level, currently at three or level orange, Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich called the rise in cases concerning.

“We’ve reported 49 cases just this week alone, and that represents about 17 percent of our total cases since February,” she said. “These developments should deepen our resolve to do everything we can to limit the spread of this virus.”

Dr. Frankovich went on to say, “I’m deeply grateful to the vast majority of our residents who take on this responsibility to protect each other by using all prevention tools at hand such as facial coverings, distancing and neither traveling nor inviting travel by family members and friends. These types of choices really do make a difference for our county.”

The Public Health Laboratory was unable to operate at full capacity today due to a major plumbing problem overnight that flooded part of the lab and caused significant damage to the offices of the Public Health Director and both Public Health Officers. Damages include downed overhead fixtures in one office and a partial ceiling collapse in another. Michele Stephens, Dr. Teresa Frankovich and Dr. Josh Ennis are temporarily relocating within the building while their offices are repaired. Although some operations were impacted, Public Health personnel said, in terms of COVID testing the lab “didn’t skip a beat.”