Kern County, most of state moved to medium COVID-19 transmission rate over last week
Kern County and most of California were considered to have medium COVID-19 transmission last week. Only Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and 12 other counties in the northern and eastern parts of the state were determined to have a low transmission rate. No California counties were at high transmission rate last week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses transmission rankings to measure COVID-19 community levels by county throughout the United States. On a map, counties colored green are identified as having low transmission rates; yellow indicates medium transmission rates and counties colored orange have high transmission rates.
Indicators for community levels are related to new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population and the percentage of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, both on a seven-day average. If it’s less than 10 percent, the transmission rate is considered low. But as metrics rise, the level is adjusted, first to medium and then to high.
Across the country, the CDC reported that more than 38.27 percent of counties had a low transmission rate with 41.87 percent at medium and 19.88 percent at high.
LOCAL NUMBERS
The latest data from Kern County Public Health on Jan. 6 showed four COVID-19 deaths countywide since Dec. 23. The department does not release death data by community,
citing privacy concerns.
The department reported 80 new cases in the 93561 ZIP code since Dec. 23. The total number of cases reported
since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 is 10,433.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported 16 active cases among the incarcerated population at the California Correctional Institution on Jan. 6. It reported two active cases among CCI staff as of Dec. 21.
TESTING AND VACCINATIONS
The health department reminds residents they can find testing locations by going to kernpublichealth.com, clicking on the COVID-19 button and looking for “find a testing site near you.”
Current vaccination information is available online at kernpublichealth.com/ coronavirus-vaccine. According to the California Department of Public health, COVID-19 vaccinations are now available for children under 5. Children can now get vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if they are 6 months or older.
FREE TEST KITS
The federal government is again offering free COVID-19 at-home test kits. Information is available online at covid.gov/tests.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS
The local public health department reminds people to do the following to help prevent respiratory illness, including COVID-19: Wash hands often Avoid being around people who are sick
Cover coughs and sneezes
Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
Stay home when you are sick
Get your COVID-19 and flu vaccine