COVID-19 tracker

Tuolumne County reports three new cases of virus

Tuolumne County tallied three new cases of coronavirus ontuesday, with one new inmate case at the Sierra Conservation Center state prison outside Jamestown.

The two community cases were identified as a man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s.

As oftuesday, the county had recorded 3,985 total coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, with 2,569 community cases and 1,416 SCC inmate cases. SCC inmate cases have accounted for 35.5% of the county’s cases.

There were 19 active cases in the county ontuesday, and one Covid-positive individual was hospitalized.

A total of 59 COVID-19 fatalities have been counted by the county Public Health Department since the pandemic began early last year.

The county also remains in the purple tier for widespread risk of COVID-19 transmission because the county’s case rates and testpositive rates have increased to 7.9 per 100,000 people and 3.4%, up from 5.2 and 2.1%, county Public Health staff saidtuesday.

Dr. Eric Sergienko, the county’s interim health officer, said ontuesday there’s still some hope for a move into the red later this week or next if the state increases the maximum case rate for the red tier to 10 per 100,000 as anticipated.

Continuing to follow all preventive measures — physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and staying home when sick or experiencing symptoms — as well as vaccinations, will help Tuolumne County move back on the path to the red tier, county Public Health staff said.

Statistics

All data as of March 9 unless otherwise noted:

Tuolumne County Total cases: 3,985 (2,569 community; 1,416 SCC inmates)

Deaths: 59 Recovered: 2,491 Active cases: 19 Active hospitalized: 1 Tests conducted: 75,194 (55,793 community; 19,401 SCC inmates)

Vaccines given: 18,971

Calaveras County Total cases: 1,934 Deaths: 49 Recovered: 1,844 Active cases: 41 Active hospitalized: 1 Tests conducted: 24,031 Vaccines given: 12,908

California: 3,513,678 total cases; 54,621 deaths; 50,223,971 tests conducted; 10,772,859 vaccines given.

United States: 29,113,788 total cases; 528,287 deaths.

World: 117,817,568 total cases; 2,614,600 deaths.

Sources: tuolumne County Public Health Department, Calaveras County Public Health Division, California Department of Public Health, John Hopkins University.

Testing

When you should get tested: Five days after travel or close contact with others outside of your household; as soon as possible if experiencing symptoms; and/or every 14 to 28 days if regularly working with the public.

Testing is available from:

• Local health care providers;

• Adventist Health Sonora, call first: (209) 536-5166;

• Optum Serv state testing sites:the Mother Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and Groveland Youth Center, 18950 Highway 120 — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays.

Appointments to state testing sites are recommended and can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling (888) 634-1123.

Vaccinations

•Thetuolumne County Public Health Department continues to distribute COVID-19 vaccine doses to people in Phase 1A and 1B of a state vaccine distribution plan, individuals 60 and older, people 16 to 64 in high-risk groups, as well as education workers, childcare workers, emergency services workers, and food and agriculture workers. Call (209) 533-7440 to make an appointment, or visit www. tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/1317/ Covid-vaccine online for more information.

• CVS and Rite Aid stores intuolumne and Calavers counties are offering COVID-19 vaccinations for people 65 and older, sign up here: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine or www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/ covid-qualifier.

• Adventist Health Sonora

has been hosting weekend vaccination clinics at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds for people 65 and older. Find out more information by going to www.adventisthealthsonora.org/covidvaccine or call (209) 536-5165.

•The Safeway pharmacy in Sonora is now offering vaccines to people 65 and older, who can register at mhealthsystem. com/3127tuolumne.

•The Calaveras County Public Health Division has a clinic at Frogtown, 2465 Gun Club Road, outside Angels Camp. Register for appointments at https:// bit.ly/3dzqvdh or call (209) 419-7314.

•To find out if you’re eligible and register for available vaccination clinics, visit: https://myturn.ca.gov/.