Update: 46 New COVID-19 Cases In Tuolumne, 30 In Calaveras

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Update 5:14pm: Calaveras reports 30 new cases since yesterday, 78 active cases and one hospitalization. Since the pandemic began they have had 256 Covid-19 positive people who are 17 and under and 478 Covid-19 positive people 65 and over. Their previous highest active cases peaked at 123 the week before New Year’s Day (December 28, 2020) and after New Year’s Day (January 7, 2021).

Original Post 3:42pm: Sonora, CA – Tuolumne County Public Health is reporting 46 new COVID-19 cases in the county today. A total of 5 of today’s cases are Sierra Conservation Center inmates. There are 263 active cases including 16 who are hospitalized. The image compares yesterday’s cases by episode date to today’s. The episode date is the earliest available date a case may have been positive based on symptom onset, test sample collection date, or lab result date and shows a few of the newly reported cases were identified today but several go back to July 26. The chart demonstrates a known wait of three or more days for an individual and the county to get results from COVID tests. A second chart in the (image box) compares active cases during the November-December surge to current active cases.

Tuolumne Public Health has added an additional age category dividing the 0-17 group into two groups with ages 0 to 11-year-olds and 12 to 17-year-olds. There have been 86 cases among children in the past couple of weeks including 6 more today with 38 cases age 0-11, and 48 cases age 12-17.

The gender and age breakdown for the 41 community cases is 2 females and 1 male age 0-11, 0 females and 3 males 12-17 years of age, 8 females and 3 males age 18-29, 4 females and 1 male age 30-39, 4 females and 3 male age 40-49, 1 female and 2 males age 50-59, 2 females and 3 males age 60-69, 2 females and 2 males age 70 to 79.

A total of 3 of the 41 new cases were vaccinated, 2 with Moderna, 1 with Pfizer. Out of 537 cases since June 15 when the first vaccinated individual was reported to have a break-through Covid infection 55 total have been identified; 29 Moderna, 17 Pfizer, 5 J&J, 2 not identified and 2 others partially vaccinated. Public health notes that 72% of the vaccine doses administered by Public Health have been the Moderna vaccine. They state “The small number of cases among vaccinated individuals does not necessarily demonstrate a lesser level of protection of one vaccine over another.”

A total of 21,987 Tuolumne residents are fully vaccinated and 3,573 are partially vaccinated.

The California department of corrections reports 123 active cases at the Sierra Conservation Center (SCC). A total of 68% of the 3,317 inmates the prison manages, which includes all southern fire camps, are fully vaccinated and 1,417 inmate cases have been resolved. The associated staff of 1,178 is 39% are fully vaccinated.

There are two new State Public Health Orders, the first order requires workers in health care settings to be fully vaccinated or receive their second dose by September 30, 2021. The second public health order directs hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities to verify that visitors are fully vaccinated or have tested negative for COVID-19 in the prior 72 hours before indoor visits.

The State testing site at the Tuolumne Memorial Hall is open Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. Expanded days of operation are expected to be implemented next week and will include testing Friday through Tuesday from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. In addition, the site is in the process of being relocated to Sonora, Tuolumne Public Health says they will release more information as details are confirmed. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted. Please note that the site may close briefly for meal breaks. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Testing is also available through Rapid Care or the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contacting your healthcare provider.

Vaccine appointments can be made at local pharmacies and through myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255. Anyone 12 and older is eligible for the COVID vaccine, Pfizer is approved for children ages 12 to 17. If you have questions about MyTurn and the registration process, call Tuolumne Public Health at 533-7440 or email Health@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov

Public Health continues to strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, as the most important step we can take to reduce the spread of disease and prevent serious illness and death. In addition, the continued practice of other preventive actions like wearing a mask in public, keeping your distance, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and staying when sick will help slow the spread of the virus. The California Department of Public Health and local COunty Health Department issued statewide masking guidance for universal masking indoors as detailed here. Adventist Health detailed their response to the situation here. Tuolumne County has reinstated the mask mandate for those entering its county government buildings detailed here.

Mariposa has 7 new cases, 46 active cases and two residents hospitalized with COVID-19. Mariposa’s highest active case count was 54 on January 4th.