LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Public Health officer has confirmed several more COVID-19 cases in the community.
On Thursday, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace reported that the county’s COVID-19 case total had risen to 166.
Of those, 25 are active – and currently being monitored by Public Health staff – while 140 are recovered and one has died, Pace said.
Pace said one patient currently is hospitalized, bringing the total hospitalizations to 13.
Public Health departments across California reported more than 428,000 cases and nearly 8,200 deaths statewide as of Thursday night.
The California Department of Public Health said that local health departments have reported 20,575 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 112 deaths statewide.
Approximately 6,448 tests have been conducted in Lake County to date, according to the Lake County COVID-19 dashboard.
There have been 6,778,304 tests conducted in California, which represents an increase of 113,306 over the prior 24-hour reporting period, the California Department of Public Health said.
Despite documentation of 29 new local cases since Pace’s July 16 report, “COVID-19 activity remains manageable in Lake County,” he said.
Five of Lake County’s six neighboring counties – Colusa, Glenn, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo – are on the state’s watch list. The sixth neighboring county, Mendocino, will proactively restrict activities starting Friday, July 24, at 11:59 p.m.
Case counts for Lake’s neighboring counties as of Thursday night were: Colusa, 250 cases, two deaths; Glenn, 259 cases, 1 death; Mendocino, 234 cases, 4 deaths; Napa, 711 cases, 8 deaths; Sonoma, 2,404 cases, 24 deaths; and Yolo, 1,275 cases, 37 deaths.
“Given the degree to which all of our surrounding counties, and a growing number of suburban and rural communities throughout California, have been affected, we have been fortunate,” said Pace. “Maintaining this status will depend on all residents taking action to avoid inadvertent transmission of the virus.
In order to maintain local control and keep businesses open, Pace said it’s important that people practice hand washing, hygiene and social distancing; limit social gatherings, particularly indoor activities with individuals outside of your immediate household; wear masks; and comply with health orders, which are designed to limit risk.
“Masks work, and evidence is mounting that non-N95 face coverings are appropriate for even many individuals with underlying chronic lung disease,” Pace said.
He said maintaining local control also will depend on the sustained availability of clinical and other staff to provide medical care, contact tracing and case management services.
“Over the life of the pandemic, a relatively small group of people have invested hundreds of hours of overtime to ensure our communities are safe and businesses can remain open,” Pae said.
“Unfortunately, the preponderance of the evidence suggests we will be living with COVID-19 for quite some time, and more support will be needed to continue to sustain our local response,” said Pace.
Pace asks that if you are available, have relevant training or experience, and believe you can help, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Editor's note: The Sonoma County numbers have been updated based on a late Thursday night posting from the county.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.