“Issues are wanting slightly higher than they’ve within the final a number of weeks,” Public Well being Officer Dr. Gary Tempo informed the board.
Sarah Marikos, the county’s epidemiologist, stated California’s 14-day positivity fee has declined because the begin of the 12 months. “It’s telling us that the virus is reducing all through the state.”
She stated the state’s case curve is beginning to go down. California is also on the high of the curve and trending downward so far as hospitalizations, but it surely’s nonetheless a considerably greater quantity than in the summertime.
Over the earlier seven days, Lake County has had six to eight of its eight intensive care unit beds occupied, with between 43 to 71 p.c of the sufferers having COVID-19. Affected person numbers over the earlier three days had been the bottom seen in a while, she stated.
Marikos stated the variety of deaths remains to be rising, with greater than 37,000 Californians having died thus far of COVID-19.
In Lake County, of the 32 deaths thus far, 64 p.c had been age 70 and older, 27 p.c had been 60 to 69 years of age, and 9 p.c had been below age 60, Marikos stated.
Within the final seven days the county had recognized 93 new instances, in comparison with 300 the earlier week, she defined. About 83 new instances had been reported this week.
Marikos stated the county has seen a slight enhance in instances amongst youngsters from beginning to age 14, and a slight lower in instances in these age 65 and older, tendencies she’s persevering with to observe.
Tempo stated he’s hoping that the county is beginning to see a constructive flip. He additionally identified that intensive care unit capability within the Bay Space is beginning to loosen up, which is helpful for Lake County since that’s the place sufferers are typically transported for greater ranges of care.
He defined that with the officers lifting regional keep at residence orders for the remainder of the state, they’re getting again to the place Lake County has been all alongside, as it’s a part of the Northern California area that’s not dropped under the 15-percent ICU availability that triggered the keep at residence orders.
Tempo stated there are a few totally different COVID-19 variants which might be displaying up in Lake County and in California. Thus far, they don’t know whether or not the variants are extra contagious or have a extra severe influence on folks.
Marikos stated epidemiologists are watching because the variants turn out to be more and more prevalent across the state to gauge if they’re the truth is extra infectious or contagious and the way that can have an effect on ICU capability.
“Mainly the variant is slightly little bit of a curveball,” Tempo stated. “We do not know precisely what it should imply for us down the highway but it surely’s positively one thing we’re all watching.”
He acknowledged that he’s seeing a whole lot of questions concerning the vaccine. “It’s a really complicated scenario.”
Tempo stated folks can name the 211 data line for updates and go to the Lake County Public Well being web site vaccine page.
He stated the county continues to obtain a small quantity of vaccine, averaging 400 doses every week, though this week they acquired an 800-dose allocation. They’re working to distribute the doses shortly so as of tiers set out by the state.
Public appointments usually are not out there and he inspired folks to contact their well being care suppliers for data on once they can obtain the vaccine. He requested that folks now not contact senior facilities, which have been overwhelmed with calls.
He estimated that about 3,000 Lake County residents have acquired the vaccine thus far, which is just below 5 p.c of the inhabitants. Referring to infectious illness professional Dr. Anthony Fauci’s estimated vaccination fee wanted so as to get herd immunity – which Fauci has stated is about 90 p.c – Tempo stated it could take Lake County 20 months if it continues to obtain the identical dose quantities.
Supervisor Jessica Pyska identified that the nation’s estimated variety of vaccinations thus far is at about 3 p.c, near Lake County’s fee.
Pyska requested Tempo about masking and if everybody needs to be utilizing N95 masks if doable. He stated N95 masks are the best.
Whereas urging folks to keep away from being out in public as a lot as doable – explaining that they’re more likely to encounter the virus out in the neighborhood – he stated carrying an N95 masks gives way more safety than a surgical masks, and surgical masks supply way more safety than no masks.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is beginning to come out with suggestions on double masking as double masking is believed to have elevated safety, Tempo stated.
He urged avoiding shops throughout the busy hours and ready till March or April to pursue different actions in the neighborhood.
Pyska requested concerning the coming fireplace season and the power of group members to have the ability to be out to soundly do cleanup and vegetation administration.
Tempo stated that with some precautions, being outside for such work “is fairly darn protected.”
Throughout the dialogue, Tempo stated Lake County must fall under 42 new instances every week to have present restrictions eased. He estimated that might occur by the tip of February.
Requested by a group member concerning the county’s plan for ramping up if extra vaccine turns into out there, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson stated, “It’s a piece in progress. We acknowledge the necessity. We’re working very intently with Dr. Tempo to organize for placing these assets in place.”
Nonetheless, Huchingson stated they don’t but have particular numbers as a result of the stream of vaccines to Lake County has thus far not been constant.
In response to questions from Board Chair Bruno Sabatier concerning the numbers of residents needing to be vaccinated, Tempo defined that herd immunity solely works if persons are vaccinated. If 40 p.c of the inhabitants declines vaccination the county gained’t get to herd immunity.
In associated information, the board reached consensus on Tuesday to proceed to maintain the board chambers closed for in-person participation by the general public in the interim because of the COVID-19 case fee and in response to employees’s enter final week about wanting much less interplay so as to defend towards the virus.
The chamber closures are being reviewed weekly.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This e-mail tackle is being protected against spambots. You want JavaScript enabled to view it.. Observe her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County Information, @LakeCoNews.
