New death reported as cases reach record high

Active COVID-19 cases in Del Norte County reached a new high this week with Del Norte County Public Health reporting 384 active cases and 661 cases reported in the last two weeks.

Del Norte County also reported a 42nd COVID-linked death, although information on the latest victim was not available.

One bit of good news amid the Omicron surge in Del Norte County is hospitalizations remain relatively low, with only three people in the hospital. That aligns with a report from Public Health Officer Dr. Aaron Stutz, who said he does not expect the Omicron surge to push Sutter Coast Hospital to the brink.

The report of three in the hospital on February 1 was a big drop from 10 just the day before.

As of February 1, Del Norte County has reported 5,166 COVID cases over the last two years with 42 deaths. More than half the total cases have been in people ranging in age from 18 to 49, with 22% in children 17 and under, 16% in those ages 50 to 64 and only 8% over age 65.

After a rash of seven new cases reported at Shutter Creek Correctional Institute last week, only one new case was reported in the prison this week. Since the beginning of the pandemic 371 cases have been reported at the prison.

In Del Norte County schools, the information this week as cloudy with the district reporting staffing shortages due to a large number of COVID cases has made it difficult for the district to update its COVID dashboard where it has been sharing information with parents.

The school district did adjust its quarantine rules to align with the county public health rules. The new policy requires anyone who tests positive to quarantine for five days, where they can return to school if they have a negative test. Without a test, all COVID-positive students and staff must quarantine for 10 days.

If students or staff are in close contact with someone with COVID, only those who are not fully vaccinated are now required to quarantine.

According to public health, 54.4% of all residents over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated with 7% partially vaccinated.