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Ninety confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported to the Del Norte County Public Health Branch between July 1-25, according to the Department of Health and Human Services director.

Although there is no confirmation that the increase in cases is due to the Delta variant, since counties surrounding Del Norte have had confirmation of the more contagious version of the novel coronavirus, it’s likely it’s in the community as well, DHHS Director Heather Snow told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Monday.

“There were positive cases related to gatherings over the Fourth of July, but mainly within households,” Snow told the Outpost via email. “The increase in cases have been mainly reported as workplace and household transmission.”

Most of Del Norte’s confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred among unvaccinated individuals, Snow said.

The increase in cases come as the Del Norte Healthcare District get ready to launch an incentive system both for those who have been fully inoculated against the disease as well as to urge people to get the COVID-19 shot.

Once the program is fully implemented, there will be weekly drawings of $500, $250 and $100 for adults, according to district chairman Dr. Kevin Caldwell. Another incentive aimed at 12-17-year-olds provide $5 gift cards to local merchants on their first vaccine and $20 on their second shot, Caldwell said.

“In the big picture our thought was, ‘We just want to shine a spotlight on the problem and get as much publicity about it and the importance of now, more than ever, do people need to get vaccinated,’” Caldwell told the Outpost, adding that his colleague, Healthcare District Director Mike Young proposed the program. “The money stuff is just sort of a hook to get people’s attention.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker, 29.4 percent of Del Norte County’s population has been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus while 33.8 percent have received at least one dose.

Caldwell said the Healthcare District and those involved in the incentive program, want to get 50 percent of Del Norte County’s population fully vaccinated. The Healthcare District is working with Amber Wier, program director for NorCal 4 Health, and Debra Wakefield, who has volunteered to administer the vaccine, according to Caldwell.

According to Snow, DHHS is assessing whether it can offer any incentives “additional to what the state has done,” though there are funding limitations. For her employees, she said she’s offering a voluntary incentive of a paid day off for those who have received the shot.

“It’s important that we create a safe and healthy environment for both staff and clients,” she said. “Currently at least 51 percent of our employees are vaccinated and although vaccination is not mandatory, I am hoping we will reach 70 percent.”

Snow noted that when person vaccinated against COVID-19 becomes positive, they tend to be less symptomatic than those who are unvaccinated.

According to Caldwell, the new surge in Delta variant cases nationwide is what spurred the Del Norte Healthcare District to implement its incentive program. Not only is the Delta variant more contagious, he said, it’s impacting younger people.

But for those who are vaccinated, though they’re not immune to the disease, “you won’t be hospitalized and you won’t die,” Caldwell said.

“That’s holding pretty good. The numbers are pretty startling,” he said. “Of hospitalized patients, 97 percent are not vaccinated and of dead patients, 100 percent are not vaccinated.”

In his own practice, Redwood Medical, Caldwell said few of his patients ask his opinion on the vaccine. The vast majority don’t want even want to talk about it, he said.

“I think in the last two weeks, I’ve probably only had a real discussion with three patients,” he told the Outpost, adding that in his office those who aren’t vaccinated must wear a mask. “And those three, they were open and they were like, by the end, ‘Yeah, I think I’ll do it.’ I don’t know if they have done it, but they said they would. But that’s the minority.”

In addition to spearheading an incentive program, the Del Norte Healthcare District will hold a vaccination effort at the Del Norte County Fair, Caldwell said. He said the fair board also agreed to do some public service announcements urging people to get the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services is still in the process of hiring for the public health officer and deputy public health officer positions.

Former public health officer, Dr. Warren Rehwaldt retired June 30. The county's contract with deputy public health officer, Dr. Palak Patel, also expired June 30.

“We are working with qualified candidates to explore employment details and will make an announcement when this has been finalized,” Snow told the Outpost.

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