Coronavirus updates: Third Shasta County coronavirus patient confirmed
Damon Arthur Mike Chapman Jessica Skropanic Matt Brannon
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Third Shasta County coronavirus patient confirmed
Public health officials announced Monday a third confirmed case of coronavirus in Shasta County.
There were also new cases reported in Siskiyou and Butte counties Monday, bringing to nine the total number infected in the North State.
The individual in Shasta County is a man in his 40s who had "close contact" with the second patient, a woman in her 70s, according to the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency.
The patient is in isolation and recovering at home, according to Kerri Schuette, Shasta County HHSA community relations program manager.
"Shasta County Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom and public health's communicable disease team are working to identify others who are at risk of infection and will issue quarantine orders as necessary," a press release announcing the case stated.
The county confirmed its second coronavirus case on Sunday. The first was confirmed on March 8.
On Monday afternoon the Siskiyou County Public Health Department received confirmation of a third positive COVID-19 test in the county, a 50-year-old man. The two earlier cases in Siskiyou County were a 64-year-old woman and a 50-year-old woman.
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The Butte County Public Health Department website says three people have tested positive for the disease, but does not indicate whether those infected are men or women. It also does not include their ages.
Second Shasta County coronavirus patient had traveled to Sacramento area
Shasta County health officials gave more information Monday about the county's second confirmed coronavirus patient. The patient, a woman in her 70s, had recently traveled to the Sacramento area, a region where the virus has been spreading from person to person.
The woman is at a local hospital, which officials declined to identify. Asked for an update on the woman's condition, the chief nursing officer for Shasta Regional Medical Center, Mark Mitchelson, answered.
"She's been stable, and doing well, progressing. That's pretty much all I can say," Mitchelson said.
As of Sunday evening, local authorities had reported six North State cases of coronavirus — two each in Shasta, Siskiyou and Butte counties.
So far, though, there have been no coronavirus deaths reported in the area.
Health officials reported the two cases in Butte and Siskiyou counties over the weekend. The first Shasta County case was reported March 8, while the second confirmation was announced late Sunday.
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There is no connection between the first and second coronavirus patients in Shasta County, according to Kerri Schuette, Shasta County Health and Human Services community relations program manager. The first patient was confirmed on March 8 and has since recovered.
Health officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom said there is "absolutely" risk for community transmission in regards to the second case.
Director of Shasta County Public Health Brandy Isola said the agency is looking into who the second patient had contact with.
"(Our team has) reached out to all of the closest contacts of the patient, all of the folks who are at highest risk of getting infected with the disease as a result," Isola said. "We are now working on that next layer of contacts."
Following Gov. Gavin Newsom's request Sunday, President Trump agreed to declare a major federal disaster in California.
The president's major disaster declaration will assist in California's COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts. The move frees federal funds to help with mass care and emergency assistance, unemployment assistance and disaster legal services, The Associated Press reported.
Redding hospitals will no longer allow visitors with some exceptions
Redding's two main hospitals have announced plans to end in-person patient visitation, except in rare circumstances, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The change begins Tuesday at midnight for Shasta Regional Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center in Redding. The announcement comes one day after Shasta County health officials confirmed a second coronavirus case in the community.
As for the exceptions, Shasta Regional patients can have visitors in end-of-life scenarios, said Mark Mitchelson, chief nursing officer for the hospital.
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At Mercy, exceptions can be made for those visiting the neonatal and obstetrics units, as well as situations where a patient is dying, according to chief operating officer Robert Folden. However, he said visits in those exceptional cases will likely be limited to one visitor only.
"I would hope the community would again welcome that we're trying to keep patients safe and we're trying to bend that curve, that response curve to the virus itself," Folden said.
Mitchelson said Shasta Regional will also postpone the majority of elective treatments.
Whiskeytown closes tent campgrounds
Tent camping is no longer permitted at the following campgrounds at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: Oak Bottom, Peltier Bridge, Horse Camp and Dry Creek.
National Park Services officials made the move Monday in keeping with the guidelines from the CDC and recommendations from public health officials the local to state levels to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus.
"With limited staffing does to the pandemic, closing the tent campgrounds allows on site park staff to further prioritize the work of keeping trailheads and day use areas open," the park service said in a statement.
The agency said it would provide updates on the Whisketown website at https://www.nps.gov/whis/index.htm and on social media.
Except for the campgrounds, the visitor center and areas that remain closed because of the July 2018 Carr Fire, the rest of the park is still open to the public. Additionally, park entrance fees are being waived.
By the numbers: COVID-19 cases in California
California had 1,733 confirmed cases and 27 deaths as of 2 p.m. Sunday, the state Department of Public Health reported.
Here's how California's 1,733 cases broke down by age range:
Age 0-17: 25 cases
Age 18-49: 837 cases
Age 65 and over: 415 cases
Unknown: 14 cases
U.S. has about 46,000 cases
The U.S. has the third-highest total number of confirmed cases of any country. The country had 46,332 confirmed cases, and 560 people had died from the virus as of Monday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Cases were reported in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the CDC.
There were 378,679 cases of the virus worldwide. The global death toll reached 16,572 across more than 160 countries, territories and areas. The number of cases that have now recovered is up to 101,344.
Availability of student meals expands
Places where students can get breakfasts and lunches have expanded starting Monday, March 23, 2020.
Shasta County Superintendent of Schools Judy Flores made the announcement Sunday and distributed fliers online showing the updated locations for pickup and bus route drop-offs.
Children must be present with an adult during the distribution of breaksfasts and lunches.
Caltrans asks drivers to be cautious
The state Department of Transportation reminds the traveling public to practice social distancing while they're on the road.
"While driving to your destination and stopping at gas stations, rest areas and other (places), please remember to physically distance yourself from others due to the #COVID19 emergency, as per California Governor Gavin Newsom's directions," according to a Facebook post from Caltrans' District 2.
No COVID-19 cases in Trinity County
The number of coronavirus cases in Trinity County remained at zero as of Monday morning, according to the county's Office of Emergency Services Manager Edward Prestley.
He said the county had a total of 27 tests with 19 of them coming back negative and eight still pending.
Trinity County is having Shasta County Public Health perform its COVID-19 tests in Redding.
North State cases up to 6; Trump declares disaster in California
As of Sunday evening, local authorities have reported six North State cases of coronavirus — two each in Shasta, Siskiyou and Butte counties.
That was a woman in her 70s, and she is being isolated at a local hospital, according to Shasta County Public Health.
"She recently traveled to an area in California with known community transmission," according to a public health statement.
"Shasta County Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom and public health's communicable disease team are working to identify others who are at risk of infection and will issue quarantine orders as necessary," public health spokeswoman Kerri Schuette said in a news release.
No other information about the patient was available.
California has had 1,468 cases and 27 deaths while across the county there have been 15,219 cases and 201 people have been killed by the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
This developing story will be updated live throughout the day. Stay with Redding.com for the latest news on the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.