16 new deaths reported in county
OROVILLE » Following a rise in COVID-19 cases, Butte County Public Health has announced four additional deaths over the weekend. The county office warned in a news release additional deaths are expected to be verified this week but the office is waiting on reviews of medical records and the confirmation of death certificates before making any announcements.
The county health office confirmed the deaths were in the age range ranges of 55 to 64, 65 to 75 and 75. Of the 17,562 confirmed cases within the county, 4,040 have been attributed to those age ranges. The age range with the most positive cases remain 18- to 24-year-olds.
Deaths attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be high among the higher age groups. Of the 221 confirmed deaths, 144 have been in the 75 and above age category.
“Typically, hospitalizations increase 1 to 2 weeks after an increase in the number of cases and lives lost increases 1 to 2 weeks after the increase in hospitalizations. Then there is an additional delay in reporting deaths as we gather
the needed information to determine that the death was due to COVID-19,” said Linda Lewis, a public health researcher for Butte County Public Health, in a news release. “Tragically, many of these deaths could have been avoided if more people had been vaccinated.”
Butte County Public Health said in Monday’s release that of the 25 deaths of people below the age of 80 since April 15, only 4 percent were fully vaccinated.
According to county data, 44.34 percent of the county remains unvaccinated. Residents in the county who are only partially vaccinated account for 7.61 percent.
“Since this latest surge started in late July, the death toll due to COVID-19 in Butte County has increased by 19. Sixteen of those deaths have been reported in the past seven days,” Butte County Public Health wrote in its news release. “Since the start of the pandemic, Butte County has endured the loss of 221 residents, with an additional 56 probable deaths.”
The county said in the release it defines probable deaths as having been determined from a “rapid” antigen test in contrast to a viral PCR test.
The current wave of COVID-19 cases peaked during the week of Aug. 24 to 30 when 949 cases were confirmed. From Sept. 7 to 13, the county reported 766 cases.
Butte County Public Health is encouraging those who have yet to get vaccinated to do so “as soon as possible” and for those who haven’t received their second dose of a twodose vaccine, to reschedule even if outside of the recommended time frame.
COVID-19 vaccines are still widely available throughout the county. A list of clinics providing the vaccine can be found on Butte County’s website.
For more information on COVID-19 in Butte County visit http://www. buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19 or call the Butte County COVID-19 hotline at 552-3050.