Page 4 - Scott Kellermann News Today

As of Thursday morning, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nevada County had reached 4,425. There are 125 new cases since Thursday, April 8, indicating a 3% increase. Of the 4,425 total cases, 4,267 have been released from isolation and 83 are presently active. Nevada County’s total death toll is 75, with no deaths in the past week. Nevada County has administered 58,238 vaccine doses so far. Officials from Nevada County’s Department of Public Health encouraged residents to sign...

According to a release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because it is approximately 50% more transmissible than the original virus and may cause more severe disease, although “currently available vaccines continue to be effective against it.” Last week, county officials said that the first confirmed case of the B.1.429 variant, a West Coast variant also designated a variant of concern by the CDC, had been identified in Nevada County as well. In that case, Public Health had...

Special to the Sierra Sun County officials announced Wednesday that two specimens taken from COVID-19 patients mid-March, one each from western and eastern Nevada County, were determined to be the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first discovered in the United Kingdom. According to a release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because it is approximately 50% more transmissible than the original virus and may cause more severe disease, although “currently available vaccines continue t...

Nevada County is now likely to remain in the red tier barring “extenuating circumstances,” thanks to changes to the state’s reopening blueprint announced this week. The new changes reflect the state’s race to get its vaccination rate up and hospitalizations down, rather than the focus on case and positivity rates represented by the blueprint. With the new changes, a county will only move into a more restrictive tier if hospitalizations among vulnerable residents, including those vaccina...

By John Orona | Staff Writer A COVID-19 variant thought to be more transmissible and less susceptible to treatment may already be widespread throughout Nevada County, according to public health officials. On Tuesday the county announced the first known case of variant B.1.429, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a variation of concern due to its “moderate resistance” to neutralization from antibodies and high viral RNA load. The variant was identified throug...

From a release: The State has announced changes to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy that would make it more difficult for counties to move backwards in the Tier system. Based on these changes, it is possible Nevada County will remain in the Red Tier next week instead of moving backwards to the Purple Tier as previously expected. “If our numbers hold, we will not move backwards on Wednesday,” said Nevada County Public Health Director Jill Blake. State health officials said changes to the me...

From a release: The Nevada County Public Health department announced Wednesday that it has confirmed the first identified instance of the B.1.429 Variant of COVID-19 in Nevada County. Public Health officials requested genetic sequencing of a positive test in February, after a person who already had COVID-19 was re-infected. Results from the State lab came back Tuesday. B.1.429 is one of the West Coast variants and is listed as a Variant of Concern by the CDC. Evidence suggests that these varian...

As of Thursday morning, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nevada County had reached 4,370. There are 89 new cases since Thursday, April 1, indicating a 2% increase. Of the 4,370 total cases, 4,183 have been released from isolation and 112 are presently active. After eight weeks without a death, Nevada County lost one more resident this week, bringing the pandemic’s local death toll to 75 people. Nevada County has administered 51,525 vaccine doses so far. Officials from Nevada Co...

California could get rid of its color coded tier system and lift most COVID-19 restrictions June 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday. According to Newsom, the vast majority of people who want vaccines will be able to get both doses by mid-June, two months after eligibility opens to all Californians 16 and older. “We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” Newsom said in a release. “We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here – wearing ma...

FROM A RELEASE: Nevada County’s COVID case rate has kept our communities countywide in the State’s Purple Tier. We are one county and can only open when, together, we have numbers that align with the State’s blueprint. The past year has been challenging and frustrating, but the science is very simple and settled — each one of us must remain vigilant, avoid gatherings, wear our masks, limit indoor activities with others, practice social distancing, and take all precautions to avoid spre...