Kern, most of state maintained ‘low’ ranking for COVID-19 last week

Kern County and much of the state maintained a low ranking for COVID-19 transmission last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eleven counties in northern California were at a “medium” ranking and none were at high.

The CDC 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 69.92 percent of counties had a low transmission rate with 25.85 percent at medium and 4.23 percent at high.

LOCAL NUMBERS

The latest data from Kern County Public Health on Feb. 10 showed four COVID-19 deaths countywide since Feb. 3 and a total of 2,609 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. The department does not release death data by community, citing privacy concerns.

The department reported 12 new cases in the 93561 ZIP code since Feb. 3. The total number of cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 is 10,526.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported no active cases among the incarcerated population at the California Correctional Institution on Feb. 10. It reported two active cases among CCI staff as of Feb. 8.

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.

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

■ Get your COVID-19 and flu vaccine.