Courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The surge in local coronavirus cases continues with 81 new cases reported to the Del Norte Public Health Branch over the weekend, according to local health officials.

This includes nine new cases among the county’s incarcerated population and 72 new community cases. There are currently 231 active COVID-19 cases in Del Norte County and 17 people in the hospital, according to the Public Health Branch.

According to Department of Health and Human Services Director Heather Snow, Public Health isn’t yet tracking the number of vaccinated individuals who are positive for COVID-19, though she said it may be a “matter of time.”

Inside Pelican Bay State Prison, 26 inmates are positive for COVID-19, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Population COVID Tracker.

In the last 14 days, 49 prison employees as of Friday reported they were positive for COVID-19, according to CDCR’s employee status web page, which is updated weekly.

Ten people have died in Del Norte County from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to the county's COVID-19 Information Hub.

The Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services has blamed the latest surge on the emergence of the Delta variant locally. Both DHHS and Sutter Coast Hospital last week called on residents to forego large gatherings without mentioning the Del Norte County Fair, which concluded Sunday.

On Sunday, District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey again urged Del Norters to forego large gatherings, “such as a fair,” adding that the intensive care unit at Sutter Coast was at capacity due to the number of COVID patients admitted.

“At this time, the only way to change the trajectory is to STOP attending large gatherings of 25 or more people, WEAR your mask at all times in public, STAY home if you have any illness and GET your vaccination as soon as possible,” Starkey stated via Facebook. “Oh, and WASH YOUR HANDS frequently!”

Starkey and her colleagues on the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider appointing Dr. Aaron Stutz to replace Dr. Warren Rehwaldt as the county’s public health officer.

Stutz is Siskiyou County’s health officer, works part-time in the local emergency room and is familiar with the Del Norte County community, according to a staff report by Snow. The $39,000 contract with Stutz will be from Aug. 10 to Nov. 10, according to Snow.

“The short contract length will allow us time to explore options of possibly developing an agreement with Siskiyou County as an alternative to a contract with Dr. Stutz directly, while securing him as Health Officer in the meantime,” Snow’s report states. “We anticipate either bringing back an amendment to this agreement for a longer contract period to the Board or will pursue an agreement with Siskiyou County for continued coverage.”

Snow will also ask county supervisors to approve a $109,200 agreement with Dr. Palak Patel to continue as deputy public health officer.

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Flynn Center, 981 H Street in Crescent City. The public can also participate remotely by clicking here.

Individuals who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 must wear a mask or a face covering, though it’s strongly advised that all people wear a mask in indoor public settings.

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