Update: Two COVID-19 Deaths In Tuolumne And One In Calaveras County

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Update at 6:54 p.m. written by Tracey Petersen: Tuolumne County – Tuolumne Public Health reports two new deaths bringing its total to 38.

The deceased include a male in his 70s who was hospitalized and a female in her 80s who was a resident of a local care facility and is one of today’s reported cases. Health officials advise that an investigation is ongoing.

There are a total of 19 newly identified community COVID-19 cases and 6 new Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) inmate cases reported by public health for a total of 25. Public health says 18 of the new cases appear to be isolating. A total of 8 individuals have been released from isolation and 2 are currently hospitalized.

Today’s community cases in Tuolumne County residents include 2 males and 3 females under 20, 3 males their 20s, 1 female in her 30s,1 male in his 40s, 2 males and 1 female in her 50s, 2 males and 1 female in her 60s, 1 male and female in their 70s and one female in her 80s who sadly passed.

Tuolumne County has a total of 3,304 cases split between 2,118 community cases and 1,186 inmate cases. Total recovered community cases are listed as 1,956 with 124 active community cases and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports 78 active inmate cases today.  Total tested 23,138.

Public Health updates that over 400 individuals were vaccinated today (Friday, Jan. 15) during a Public Health point of dispensing (POD) event for pre-identified individuals following the CDPH Phased guidelines. In the written update they add, “The department continues to work with its healthcare partners to coordinate the continued administration of vaccine according to; State guidelines, the availability of vaccine that Public Health and healthcare providers have on hand, and resources to administer. We ask the public to please continue following our website and local media for updates. Details regarding testing sites are below.

Original post at 5:15 p.m. written by Sabrina Biehl: Calaveras County – Calaveras public health reports one new COVID-19 death today, further details are not being released. Today the county’s report added 23 new COVID-19 cases. A total of 76 are defined as active COVID-19 cases. As reported here an increase in cases part of resolving a backlog with the state’s CalRedie system. Public health says the case count is approximate and may change or even decrease due to duplicates, incorrect addresses, or individuals found not to reside within Calaveras County and notes that hospitalization data comes from the California Department of Public Health and has a one-day lag. The report has 11 hospitalizations today down from 12 yesterday. Total cases is 1,240 with 548 men and 681 women, the majority, 566 cases, are between 18-49, and 295 are over 65.  The zip codes with the most cases are in the Valley Springs 95252 and Campo Seco 95226 areas. A total of 1,141 or 92% have recovered.

As reported here Calaveras has a new COVID-19 call center at 209-754-2896 to provide community members with verified information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and other frequently asked questions.

Calaveras Public Health partnered with Dignity Health Mark Twain Medical Center to vaccinate people living in Calaveras County who are 65 years of age and older. Persons 65 years of age and older interested in getting the vaccine should call (209) 754-2564. Those who call will need to provide their full name, date of birth, and phone number. COVID-19 vaccines, including their administration, are free. More information on vaccine phases is on our COVID-19 page here.

Tuolumne County is planning mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics as detailed here. For those who qualify as Phase 1A, the Tuolumne County vaccine interest form has been posted here.

A mobile COVID-19 testing team shared between Tuolumne, Mariposa and Calaveras Counties, and Yosemite National Park. The traveling sites, which will be open at the Groveland Community Hall on Mondays and Tuolumne Memorial Hall on Thursdays from 7 AM to 7 PM, began operations today. One note regarding the Tuolumne site; it will NOT be open next Thursday, January 21st due to a scheduling conflict. The first day of operations in Groveland will be Monday, January 18th.  Walk-ins will be accepted, but it is recommended to schedule an appointment up to one week ahead of time and can be set up at the same LHI website as for the Mother Lode Fairgrounds testing site which is open 7 days a week: www.lhi.care/covidtesting. More details, including Calaveras testing dates, are in our events calendar here.

The San Joaquin Valley Region has 0% of normal ICU bed capacity available. View the regional and county-specific ICU statistics by visiting our updating COVID-19 Information section here.

If you are having COVID-like symptoms, self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider or your local hospital, more information is at the regional website www.valleycovidhelp.com.

The Tuolumne COVID-19 call center is open during normal office hours for people who have questions or concerns, call 209-533-7440 for information.

Public health officials relay it is very important for the public to remain vigilant about following recommended safety measures and business/activity guidelines in order to keep themselves and those around them safe and healthy.
Those measures include:

• Practice physical distancing at all times. Keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others who aren’t part of your household bubble.
• Wearing a Face Covering in public.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently
• Avoid gatherings of any size with people who are not part of your household.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid unnecessary travel, and limit your outings to essential tasks.