San Andreas, CA…On Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Calaveras Public Health reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 in Calaveras County. The additional cases include two females and four males between 18 to 49 years of age, four males between 50-64 years of age, and one female and three males over the age of 65. Five cases were reported in District 1, Districts 2 and 4 each had one case, District 3 had four cases, and District 5 had three cases.

“We must continue to practice preventive actions that help slow the spread of COVID-19. Practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, get tested, wash your hands often, and stay home if you are sick,” said Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer. “It is also best to avoid gatherings with people you don’t live with. All of these
measures can add up and help slow the spread.”

To date, Calaveras Public Health has reported 161 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 131 cases have since recovered while 29 cases remain active. There has been one reported death related to COVID-19 in Calaveras County.

The best ways to avoid exposure to the virus are to:
 Stay home if you are sick
 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 staff continues to investigate new cases to determine any possible persons who may have had close personal contact with the positive individuals. Close contacts may be contacted by the health department, assessed and monitored for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 illness.

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

The state’s electronic laboratory reporting system, CalREDIE, has been experiencing a backlog of COVID-19 lab reports. Despite these issues, Calaveras Public Health staff continue to work diligently to confirm local cases and provide the most accurate data available to the public. However, recent data published by Calaveras Public Health may reflect an underreporting of COVID-19 cases in the county. The state is working to address the backlog in CalREDIE and any new cases attributed to the backlog will be reported to local health departments when it is resolved. Given these delays Calaveras

Public Health urges anyone with a positive lab result to call 754-6460 to connect with a staff person who can provide information, services, and support.

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 now available to those age 3 and older. People are highly encouraged to register online. People without Internet access should call (888) 634-1123. To receive information and resources related to COVID-19 visit the Calaveras County COVID-19 website.