Glenn County issues updates

Vaccine distribution moves forward, youth sports programs get guidance

WILLOWS >> Vaccine shipments delayed by winter storms across the U. S. have now arrived in Glenn County, according to a press release from the county health department.

As Glenn County Public Health continues to move through vaccine distribution, all of the vaccine clinics scheduled for the current week are going on as planned. The county is currently prioritizing second dose clinics for county residents who received their first dose approximately one month ago.

Following the end of the week, Glenn County Public Health is scheduling first dose clinics in March for eligible residents. Eligible groups include Phase 1A health care workers and priority groups in Phase 1B including people 65 years of age and older, essential emergency services and education staff.

All residents on the existing wait list will be contacted to schedule a vaccine appointment. Additionally, the county health department will be rolling out a new COVID-19 vaccine interest survey allowing residents 65 and older to register online for the wait list. Public health staff will use the list to make appointments for future vaccine clinics. The survey link, which will go live on Monday, March 1, can be found at www.countyofglenn.net/dept/health-human-services/public

Glenn County Public Health reported on Feb. 19 it has administered 2,223 first doses and 846 second doses of the vaccine to date.

Outdoor contact sports

Also on Feb. 19, the California Department of Public Health announced updated guidance for outdoor contact sports, specifically for youth and adult recreational sports organizations. Under the new guidance, sports including football, soccer, baseball and softball are now permitted to resume as early as Feb. 26 in purpleand red- tier counties where the case rate is at or below 14 cases per 100,000.

Glenn County’s case rate

per 100,000 was above the 14- case threshold when the guidance was released last week, but it dropped to 12.7 cases per 100,000 as of the state’s latest update on Feb. 23. Glenn County Public Health confirmed on Wednesday the county now meets the requirements for outdoor contact sports to return. That includes the county’s primary three high schools, Hamilton High, Orland High and Willows High.

“It is important that all sporting organizations follow the guidance to ensure sports remain open in our community,” the county health department stated Wednesday.

Further details on the state’s latest sports guidance can be found at www. cdph. ca. gov/ Programs/ CID/ DCDC/ Pages/ COVID-19/outdoor- indoorrecreational-sports.aspx.