For this type of report, the Emergency Operations Center takes the questions from the media, and staff read them on camera to officials for their answer. The resulting video, called a media availability, is then provided to newsrooms at the end of the day.
Here are some of the main points discussed during the media availability session on 31 December with a summary of answers from dr. Ian Hoffman, Humboldt County Public Health Officer, followed by questions we would like to answer if necessary.
Question by North Coast News: With the news of a new coronavirus variant on its way from the UK to the US, is the new variant being tested in Humboldt County? Can current testing methods detect this, and if so, will the country release data on when the variant will be discovered here?
Answered by Dr. Hoffman:
Yes, really a good question. Something that has come up to me a lot in the last few days. We know it’s not just in the US. This is in California.
There are reports from San Diego that there are four cases that have been detected there. It is in several states across the US We are therefore investigating locally for this. There are tests available, and I’ll let you know if I keep them posted.
Media follow-up questions that we cannot ask due to the format:
Is there a COVID-19 genetic mapping program in the state CA, or does it rely on the CDC for this information?
1 min. 5 sec. Within:
Question by North Coast News: The Washington Post reported yesterday that approximately 20% of the coronavirus vaccines distributed nationwide have actually been administered. Do these numbers also reflect the province of Humboldt? Why, or why not, do the numbers differ?
Answered by Dr. Hoffman:
I would say our numbers here are probably much higher than that. Do we currently have approximately 5,500 vaccines in Humboldt County? The vast majority of those go to St. Joseph’s hospital system. They got just over 2,000 of them. And they applied it as quickly as possible. They also run a hospital; they see the vast majority of COVID patients in Humboldt County. They went through about 1,200 of them, so more than 50% of their 2,000.
In addition, other hospitals went through thousands more, so I think it is safe to say that we have already been given very close to 50% of the vaccine we have in the country, and we are working hard to get the rest of it through as quickly as possible.
Media follow-up questions that we cannot ask due to the format:
If the country did not administer the vaccine we currently have, will the state wait for us to get through this grant before the country is given another grant?
2 minutes 15 seconds in:
Question by North Coast News: Are there local statistics on the impact on mental health caused by the pandemic?
Answered by Dr. Hoffman:
This is really a great question. I have to say I do not have the answer to that. I would suspect that the Department of Health and Human Services would possibly do this, and therefore I would address the question to them.
Thank you, Humboldt County, from all of us at Public Health, have a safe and happy new year.
Community members with questions or concerns are encouraged to call 441-5000 for additional information.
For updates on the distribution of vaccines in California, visit cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19Vaccine.aspx.
Local information is also available online at humboldtgov.org or call during business hours [email protected]
Local COVID-19 vaccine information: humboldtgov.org/vaccineinfo,
Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/dashboard,
Follow us on Facebook: @ HumCoCOVID19,
Instagram: @ HumCoCOVID19,
Twitter: @ HumCoCOVID19, en
Humboldt Health Warning: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert
