Posted By Thadeus Greenson@ThadeusGreenson on Fri, Dec 18, 2020 at 11:04 AM click to enlarge Submitted St. Joseph Hospital hospitalist Paul Shen (right) and registered nurse Casey Schuetzle with a patient in the hospital s medical surgical unit. In a draft of a rare joint statement, the Rural Association of Northern California Health Officers likens the current state of COVID-19 to a wildfire engulfing the entire region and urges residents to redouble efforts to curb the virus’ spread, warning if they wait for further state restrictions it may be too late. While the statement is reportedly still being finalized, Del Norte Health Officer Warren Rehwaldt included its draft in a letter to county residents.