The 8 a.m. Report: COVID-19 in Curry and Del Norte counties

This is our daily COVID-19 report for Curry and Del Norte counties; our last report was published at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19. 

The Short Report

The public health departments in Curry and Del Norte counties reported no new cases yesterday, although updated testing data was released.

• Curry County's reported a new cases yesterday, bringing its total to six active cases. Details below.
• Del Norte County reported four new confirmed active cases yesterday, bringing the total case count remained to 112 with 10 active cases. Details below.
• Pelican Bay State Prison made no changes in reported data. Details below.

Curry County

Yesterday Public Health Administrator Sherrié R. Ward reported that Curry County Public Health received notification of one new case of COVID-19.

"Notification of this new case came from Curry General Hospital at 3 p.m. this afternoon," she said. "The case has been verified and confirmed by the Health Officer after receiving the lab results. Public Health has made contact with the Curry County resident and the individual is self-isolating and monitoring symptoms at home."

Ward said that Public Health learned that this individual had traveled to another state recently and had been exposed to someone who has confirmed COVID-19.

As of yesterday, the total verified number of positive cases in Curry County reported by Public Health was 20, with 14 recovered cases, 6 active cases, zero hospitalizations and zero deaths.

Ward said Curry County Public Health is investigating all cases to identify any possible contacts and exposures and to isolate and monitor all individuals relevant to the case.

"Public Health will reach out to anyone suspected of exposure to COVID-19," Ward said. "Please remember, it is important that we all follow the OHA and CDC guidelines and Governor’s directives about social distancing, wearing facial coverings in public buildings and protecting yourselves by staying home to slow the spread and save lives."

She added that Curry County Public Health will only post confirmed positive cases once the official lab results are received, verified and confirmed by the Health Officer. 

Curry County updated its testing data yesterday to show 1197 completed tests with 1177 negative results, 14 recovered cases, six active cases and zero deaths.

Curry County updates its data on Facebook from time to time and also reports basic information HERE.

Del Norte County

Pelican Bay State Prison

Pelican Bay State Prison is located in Del Norte County, but nearly a third of the facility's staff live in Curry County.

The California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports results of its testing to the Public Health department in Del Norte County. If employees live outside Del Norte County, the health department passes that information on to the county of residence.

There was no change in CDCR's data this morning. It continued to show 28 positive staff among PBSP staff with 18 of those returned to work.

So far, no inmates at the prison have tested positive. CDCR publishes COVID-19 related information regularly HERE.

About Our Report

Our morning report, published at about 8 a.m., is part of our effort to provide the communities served by the Curry Coastal Pilot and Del Norte Triplicate with the latest relevant information about COVID-19.

Although the communities we serve are in two different counties and two different states, residents frequently travel to neighboring communities for work, shopping and recreation. The virus is not contained by city, county or state boundaries. And we all need to know the rules at play in the jurisdictions we might visit.

Unless there is urgent information that must be shared, we plan to make just one post daily with the best information we can gather — and compile what is relevant for our Friday print editions.

If you have a suggestion for information you would like to see in this daily report, please send an email to: [email protected].

Unfortunately, all jurisdictions do not report information in the same format, so some information has not been provided for us to share and there is sometimes a lag in the time information is reported locally and when it is compiled into state or national statistics.

What you need to know about COVID-19:

• Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.
• Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chill
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Testing

Del Norte County provides a website HERE with information about testing, which includes some options for Oregon residents, as well as California residents. Testing may also be available through Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City.

CVS Pharmacy in Crescent City also provides testing, appointment required, for California residents only. Information HERE. 

In Curry County, check this website for testing information. Also the State of Oregon has a new website HERE to assist you in finding testing (does not include California locations).