San Andreas, CA…On Monday, July 20, 2020, Calaveras Public Health confirmed the first death of a Calaveras County resident from complications related to COVID-19 illness. The individual was a male over the age of 65 who resided in District 4. The individual tested positive for the virus. He was unable to recover and passed away in hospice at home. The individual had underlying health conditions. HIPAA privacy rules regulate the sharing of protected health information. No additional information is available about the individual.

“We are deeply saddened with the loss of life related to COVID-19 and offer our deepest condolences to the family. We must stay vigilant and continue to do our part to protect ourselves, our family, and our community,” said Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer. “Please remember that this was someone’s parent, sibling, friend, or neighbor. Our actions can be life-altering and affect real people in our community, so let’s do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to save lives.”

Everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus. Some people are more likely than others to become severely ill. This means that they may need to be hospitalized, require a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die. Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19.

The best ways to avoid exposure to the virus are to:
 Stay home as much as you can
 Stay at least 6 feet away from people outside of your household
 Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
 Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
 Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when around others

Calaveras Public Health urges people to stay home as much as possible and avoid crowded places, confined spaces, and close contact with people not from your household. Local businesses must continue to follow directives to protect employees and customers.

No-cost testing for COVID-19 is available to anyone who would like to get tested. The OptumServe COVID-19 testing site located at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds is open Tuesday-Saturday from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Testing is available to those age 12 and older. People are highly encouraged to register online by going to www.lhi.care/covidtesting. People without Internet access should call (888) 634-1123.

Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

 Fever or chills
 Cough
 Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
 Fatigue
 Muscle or body aches
 Headache
 New loss of taste or smell
 Sore throat
 Congestion or runny nose
 Nausea or vomiting
 Diarrhea

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing signs, seek emergency care immediately:

 Trouble breathing
 New confusion or weakness
 Bluish lips or face
 Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
 Inability to wake or stay awake

To receive information and resources related to COVID-19 visit the Calaveras County COVID-19 website at https://covid19.calaverasgov.us.