San Andreas, CA….On Friday, August 21, 2020, Calaveras Public Health confirmed the second death of a Calaveras County resident from complications related to COVID-19. The individual was a female between the age of 50 to 64 years of age. This individual tested positive for the virus. She was unable to recover and passed away in a hospital outside of the county.  HIPAA privacy rules regulate the sharing of protected health information. No additional information is available about the individual.

Calaveras Public Health also reports 16 new cases of COVID-19 in Calaveras County. The additional cases include one female and one male between 0 to 17 years of age, seven females and two males between 18 to 49 years of age, three females and two males between 50-64 years of age. There were nine cases reported in District 1, four
cases in District 2, and three cases in District 5. There are no cases to report from Districts 3 and 4.

An outbreak is also being reported among staff and residents of Avalon Health Care San Andreas. An investigation is currently underway between Calaveras Public Health epidemiology staff and Avalon infection control representatives to determine the extent of the outbreak and other residents or staff that may have been infected.

“We are thinking of the family and the community who are grieving a loved one who passed away from COVID-19. We must remain vigilant and continue to take actions that protect ourselves, our loves ones, and our community,” said Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer.

“It requires people to commit to doing what we know works to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, get tested, wash your hands often, stay home if you are sick, and avoid any gatherings where physical distancing and masking is not being followed.”

To date, Calaveras Public Health has reported 197 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 168 cases have since recovered while 27 cases remain active. There have been a two total reported deaths related to COVID-19 in Calaveras County.

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 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

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.