LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With more than 1.1 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 19,000 deaths across California, state officials on Tuesday issued the latest data and rankings for counties, with the majority remaining under the tightest restrictions.
As of Tuesday, 45 of California’s 58 counties have been placed in the purple tier, the most restrictive of the four tiers in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Those 45 counties account for 37.9 million, or 94.6 percent, of California’s population, the state said.
Last week more than half of California’s counties were placed in the purple tier.
So far this week, four have been raised to purple: Colusa, Del Norte, Humboldt and Lassen. No counties dropped out of the purple tier, based on state reports.
Lake County on Tuesday remained in the red tier, the second-most restrictive, but with cases continuing to rise, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace warned that the county could move into the purple tier later this week or early next.
As of Tuesday, Lake County had 877 cases – an increase of 75 over the previous week – and 19 deaths, with six people currently hospitalized, according to Lake County Public Health.
The 19th person to die locally, confirmed this week, was over age 65, with chronic medical issues. The individual died at home, Pace said.
Pace said a large percentage of Lake County’s increasing caseload is due to an ongoing outbreak in the Lake County Jail.
The outbreak has moved into a second wing of the jail facility and 16 new cases were recently documented, Pace said.
He said the sheriff’s office is taking steps to contain the spread, including weekly testing of inmates and staff and rapid testing of newly booked individuals; physical separation of COVID-19-positive inmates and close contacts; masking whenever possible and increased disinfection; and implementation of best practices advised by Lake County Public Health and state infectious disease specialists
“We have also recently seen clusters in businesses and family units around the county,” said Pace.
He said an estimated one-third of all Lake County cases come from household spread, and another one-third stem from community spread – including seeing friends and family outside of work or home.
Because of the rising case numbers, Pace said Lake County will probably move into the purple tier, possibly as early as this weekend but more probably by early next week.
He said restricting high-risk activities is the state’s strategy to control the outbreak and limit spread.
As such, if Lake County goes to purple, Pace said the county will have 24 hours to move restaurants to outdoor dining only, stop indoor worship services and require that gyms and fitness centers open for outdoor activities only.
A move into the purple tier also will stop the further opening of schools, although those that already are open can remain open, Pace said.
“These changes would remain in place until our numbers improve for at least two consecutive weeks,” he said.
Pace is asking community members to take COVID-19 seriously this Thanksgiving by limiting travel and indoor gatherings as much as possible.
“Safe practices taken now will really help us in a few weeks. If you must travel out of the state, self-quarantining for 14 days is recommended, when you return,” Pace said.
Acknowledging that the pandemic has made 2020 a challenging year, Pace nonetheless urged continued caution.
“We must remain vigilant and careful during these coming few months, because we are entering a risky phase; one that could easily strain our healthcare system,” Pace said.
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Public Health officer: Lake County could soon be placed in state’s most restrictive COVID-19 tier
- Elizabeth Larson
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