Virus variant, vaccine progress, red tier discussed in Butte County Public Health press conference
OROVILLE >> While Butte County Public Health officials said the county’s move earlier this week from the purple Tier 1 to a less restrictive red Tier 2 is a good sign, they cautioned residents not to let their guard down.
As of Tuesday, when the state released its latest tier assignments in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, Butte County had a daily case rate of 6.6 cases per 100,000 and a 3.6 percent positivity rate. Those numbers represent a sustained trend of declining cases after the county experienced its most dramatic surge that began in November before hitting its peak in December and continuing into January.
Butte County’s move out of the purple tier came after nearly four months in the most restrictive tier, which requires nearly all non- essential business sectors to close indoor operations.
“Hopefully you join me in recognizing that moving to the red tier from purple is encouraging,” said Butte County Public Health Director Danette York. “We did this once before — before the surge — and it really helps. We’re excited that we can open our economy some more.
“But it’s reminder to not let our guard down. We still have to take actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially now with more variants being found. We don’t want to see another surge like we are coming out of right now (and) made it past. And while we’re making great progress to get everyone who wants vaccinated the vaccine, we still have a lot of work to do.”
The topic was one of several discussed during a virtual press conference Thursday among Butte County Public Health staff. Additionally, the county health department provided an update on the county’s vaccine progress, the status of youth and adult recreational sports per the California Department of Public Health’s latest guidance, as well as the B117 variant of the virus that was first detected in the county earlier this week.
The latter discussion centered around the revelation earlier this week when the county health department announced a case of the more contagious variant, which originated in the United Kingdom and has since spread to more than 200 countries, was detected in the county.
York said the individual who tested positive for the B117 variant contracted the virus while traveling outside of the county. However, now that at least one case has been detected in the county, York said it is possible the variant is spreading in the community. However, monitoring the potential spread is complicated by the fact that few labs test for the variant.
“We’ll be watching it closely, but again, very few labs are able to test for it. It’s quite the complex test. So, we may or may not know when there is community spread,” York said.
In a follow- up, Butte County Public Health was asked how a person would be able to find out if they contracted the B117 variant. Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Bernstein began by stating the occurrence of an infection, including the B117 variant, “doesn’t necessarily alert the individual infected that they’ve got an infection. It could be a mild infection, although this particular one may cause more severe illness.”
Bernstein explained further that the technology needed to determine the type of variant of the virus requires more sophisticated laboratory work, which are limited in the county, and the amount of virus found in a person at the time he or she is tested has to be of a sufficient level so that test can be done.
“Bottom line, there are a number of factors involved in determining whether or not the individual is infected with the variant,” Bernstein said. “I would say that the most important thing for individuals in the county has been described … please continue to exercise the precautions that are very effective in preventing one from getting infected — masking, distancing and avoiding crowds.
“But I wouldn’t, at this time, be worried about whether it’s a variant, or whether it’s flu, or whether it’s COVID-19 until the clinician has given you that diagnosis.”
Vaccine progress
Butte County Public Health and Enloe Medical Center piloted the state’s MyTurn COVID-19 scheduling system during a vaccine clinic on March 5 at Chico’s Silver Dollar Fairgrounds.
Butte County Public Health public information officer Lisa Almaguer called the clinic a “success,” and as a result, the county is planning to formally begin scheduling all community vaccination clinics in Chico through the system beginning Friday, March 19.
For now, Almaguer said the best way for residents to find more information on upcoming clinics is through the county’s COVID-19 vaccine webpage at www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19/ vaccine. First dose vaccine appointments are currently available in both Chico and Oroville. Second dose clinic signups are also underway for people who received their first dose at Enloe’s Meriam Park clinic or Sliver Dollar Fairgrounds between March 5-11.
The latest groups to be named eligible vaccination include people ages 16- 64 with at least one severe health condition, as defined by the CDPH, which can be found at tinyurl. com/4uwd5tva.
Additional ly, public transportation workers (taxi drivers, tow truck drivers, Butte Regional Transit workers), as well as employees of public works and public utility companies, are also eligible.
According to numbers provided by Butte County Public Health, the county has been allocated 100,355 doses, with 60,729 administered. A total of 24,633 people have completed the vaccine course.