Coronavirus in Shasta County: Woman dies of COVID, outbreak low but rising
Shasta County Public Health confirmed the death of a woman in her 70s from COVID on Wednesday.
She was the 627th person Shasta County Public Health said died of the disease since March 2020.
As of Wednesday, Public Health confirmed 17 COVID deaths in April.
In March, the deaths confirmed totaled 52 and were linked to spikes in coronavirus outbreak in January and February.
COVID outbreak in Shasta County remained low overall throughout April, according to state and county Public Health data.
Since April 1, the number of patients hospitalized per day with the virus ranged from two to six people. Each day, no more than four of those patients were sick enough with COVID to be in the intensive care unit.
However, an increasing number of COVID tests sent to state labs came back positive over the past two weeks, suggesting cases may slowly be rising again. From April 20 to Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health reported 1% of tests came back positive — up from .7% the week of April 13-19, and .2% during April 6-12.
Data on cases is incomplete because people seldom report results from home COVID tests.
During the past week, Shasta County's counts place it in what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider moderate outbreak level, according to the state. For daily updates go to the county's COVID dashboard at www.co.shasta.ca.us/ready/covid-19/data.
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California conducting COVID antibody study
Tuesday April 26, 2022
Some North State residents will receive invitations to participate in the state's COVID-19 antibody study.
The California Department of Public Health is asking households in Shasta County and six other counties to take an at-home antibody test to help the state track the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies and how the numbers change over time.
Public Health randomly selected households to invite to participate. Those who agree receive a free at-home blood test and report their results to the state.
People don't have to be vaccinated to participate, Shasta County Public Health said.
For more information go to www.calscope.org.
5 more Shasta County residents die from COVID-19
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Shasta County Public Health has confirmed that two women and three men died due to the coronavirus.
Public Health confirmed the deaths on Wednesday in its weekly COVID update. One of the women was in her 60s and the other was in her 70s. All three men were in their 80s. Health officials do not release any other identifying information about the residents, including the date of their deaths, to protect their privacy.
All told, the county has lost 626 residents since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Public Health also reported five people are in the hospital because of the contagious virus, and two of them are in the ICU.
7 people die of COVID, Shasta County vaccination rate lowest among kids
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Another seven people in Shasta County died of COVID, Public Health announced Wednesday.
Three men and a woman were in their 60s, a woman was in her 70s and two women were in their 80s.
With the deaths of the three men and four women included, the county lost a total of 621 people to the virus.
COVID outbreak in Shasta County remained low in April, despite rising case numbers nationwide, according to Public Health.
From April 6 to Tuesday, the county's seven-day test positivity rate — the percentage of COVID tests sent to labs that came back positive — dropped to .2%. That's half of what they were the week prior — March 30 to April 5, and a quarter what they were from March 23 to 29.
Data on cases is incomplete because results from most home COVID tests are not included.
COVID hospitalizations also dropped to three or four patients per day from April 7-12, compared to four to six per day April 1-6.
COVID deaths confirmed by Shasta County Public Health during the first half of April were less than half of what they were during the first half of March:
April 1-13: 11 COVID deaths confirmed
March 1-14: 29 COVID deaths confirmed
COVID-19 outbreak grew steadily nationwide in April, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant called BA.2 — a subvariant omicron — now makes up more than 85% of U.S. cases.
More: COVID-19: New coronavirus omicron variant BA.2 enters Shasta County, health authorities say
It's likely people will see rising hospitalizations and deaths from the virus this spring, the CDC said.
Shasta County vax rate lowest among kids
In April, the percentage of fully vaccinated people in Shasta County remained 24% lower than the state's overall rate, according to Public Health data.
As of Wednesday, 53% of Shasta County residents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — meaning they had the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or both of the Moderna or Pfizer two-dose series. A quarter of those vaccinated received a booster shot.
The county lags behind California's overall vaccination rate, which is 77%. The state's booster rate is 39%.
Not all age groups have the same percentage of vaccinated people. The vaccination rate among county residents ages 65 and older is seven times higher than among children. Here's a breakdown of percent vaccinated by age:
Ages 5-11: 11%
Ages 12-17: 31%
Ages 18-49: 46%
Ages 50-64: 68%
Ages 65 and older: 77%
More: Can you win a court case against someone who gives you COVID-19? We asked a Redding attorney
Four die of COVID in Shasta County
Wednesday April 6, 2022
Four more Shasta County residents died of COVID-19, Public Health reported Wednesday.
They were a woman in her 70s and a man and two women in their 80s.
Their deaths raised the total number of county residents who died from the virus to 614. Of those, 270 are women and 344 are men.
Outbreak in Shasta County is at one of its lowest points since last summer, according to county and state Public Health branches.
From March 30 to Tuesday, the county's seven-day test positivity rate — the percentage of COVID tests that come back positive — dropped to .4%. That's half of what it was last week: .8%.
Case number data is incomplete because it doesn't include results from most home tests, widely used since late January.
During the same period, an average of six to seven people were hospitalized with COVID per day. One month ago, daily hospitalizations numbered in the 40s.
Also on Wednesday, Public Health announced it is offering free second COVID-19 booster shots at its facility at 2650 Breslauer Way in Redding. Hours are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays. To make an appointment call 530-225-5591.
More: Can you win a court case against someone who gives you COVID-19? We asked a Redding attorney
Second boosters are recommended for people age 50 and older who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More: New coronavirus omicron variant BA.2 enters Shasta County, health authorities say
COVID boosters and vaccines are also available at Shasta County clinics and pharmacies. See a list of sites and how to schedule a booster or COVID test online at the county's website: ShastaReady.org.
Deaths by age group covid
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COVID cases/deaths by gender
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Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Coronavirus in Shasta County: Woman's death brings toll to 627
