Calaveras Enterprise

Public Health reports 1 death and 2 new cases of COVID-19 in Calaveras County




Covid

Covid

The following press release was issued by Calaveras County Public Health.

On Friday, October 16, 2020, Calaveras Public Health confirmed 1 additional death from COVID-19 in Calaveras County. The individual was a male over the age of 65 who resided in District 1. The individual tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to  recover. HIPAA privacy rules regulate the sharing of protected health information. No  additional information will be reported about this individual. 

The two additional cases include one male between 18-49 years of age and one male  over the age of 65. Both cases reside in District 5. There are no new cases reported in  the remaining Districts.  

Everyone is at risk for COVID-19 and should take precautions to avoid getting exposed  to the virus. Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at increased  risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19. This means that they may be  hospitalized, require a ventilator to help them breathe, or may even be fatal. COVID-19  can be very serious and Calaveras Public Health asks that you follow the safety guidelines.  

 

 

Calaveras Public Health urges those who would like to get tested for COVID-19 to  please do so, especially: 

People who have symptoms of COVID-19 

People who have had close contact with someone that is confirmed to have  COVID-19 

People who have been asked or referred to get tested by their healthcare  provider 

No-cost testing for COVID-19 is available to anyone 3 years of age and older. The  OptumServe COVID-19 testing site located at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds is  open Tuesday-Saturday from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Walk-ins are accepted. During the 

first week of November the COVID-19 testing site is moving to Tuolumne County. The  state testing site which is shared with Tuolumne County will be located at the Mother  Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora. The hours of operation will remain the same with  appointments and testing starting on November 3rd. If you would like to be tested for  COVID-19 please register online or call (888) 634-1123. 

Calaveras Public Health urges people to take preventive actions to prevent the spread  of COVID-19. Be sure to practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, get tested,  wash your hands often, stay home if you are sick, and avoid any gatherings especially where physical distancing and masking is not being followed. 

To date, Calaveras Public Health reports a total of 333 confirmed cases of COVID-19.  Of those cases, 310 cases have since recovered while 6 cases remain active. There  have been a total of 17 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 reported in Calaveras  County.  

Calaveras Public Health staff continues to investigate new cases to determine any  possible persons who may have had close personal contact with the positive  individuals. Close contacts may be contacted by the health department and monitored  for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 illness.  

The best ways to avoid exposure to COVID-19 are to: 

Stay home if you are sick 

Stay at least 6 feet away from people outside of your household

Wash your hands often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds 

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when around others 

Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms of COVID 19 include: 

 

Fever or chills 

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

 

A person who has tested positive with COVID-19 may not have all or any of these  symptoms. A person who has tested positive but does not have any symptoms is  considered asymptomatic and can still pass on the virus to others while they are  infectious.  

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing signs, seek  emergency care immediately: 

Trouble breathing 

New confusion or weakness

Bluish lips or face 

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

Inability to wake or stay awake

 

Calaveras County remains in the moderate county risk level (orange) on the state’s 4- tier COVID-19 system. Calaveras Public Health urges people to help the county lower  its risk by taking necessary steps to prevent being exposed to the virus. Visit Blueprint  for a Safer Economyto find specific business information and the county’s latest status. 

Calaveras Public Health held a successful no-cost drive thru flu shot clinic on October  15th. Over 400 doses of vaccine were given out to community members. The event was  held in collaboration with Mark Twain Medical Center. Calaveras Public Health  encourages everyone to protect themselves by getting the flu vaccine. While getting a  flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, it is shown to reduce the risk of flu illness,  hospitalization, and death. Please speak with your local medical provider or pharmacist  for flu vaccine. 

Calaveras Public Health would like to recognize Dr. Dean Kelaita for 20 years of service  as the Calaveras County Health Officer. The role as Health Officer is of essential  significance within the public health system and works side-by-side with a team of  dedicated and committed public health professionals. Calaveras Public Health will  continue to guide the community through the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the  health of all people living in Calaveras County as we work to secure an interim Health  Officer. We wish Dr. Kelaita well. 

To receive information and resources related to COVID-19 visit the Calaveras County COVID-19 website.  

 

 

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