San Andreas, CA…On Friday, October 9, 2020, Calaveras Public Health confirmed 2 additional deaths from COVID-19 in Calaveras County. They include two females over the age of 65 who resided in District 1. The two individuals tested positive for COVID-19 and were unable to recover. Both fatalities are linked to an outbreak among residents of Avalon Health Care San Andreas. Monitoring of any new cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff and infection control measures at Avalon Health Care is ongoing. HIPAA privacy rules regulate the sharing of protected health information. No additional information will be reported about these two individuals.

“To family members and friends who are grieving a loved one who passed away from COVID-19, our thoughts are with you during this difficult time,” said Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer.

The additional case includes one male between 50 to 64 years of age who resides in District 1. There are no new cases reported in the remaining Districts.

Everyone is at risk for COVID-19 and should take precautions to avoid getting exposed to the virus. Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19. This means that they may be hospitalized, require a ventilator to help them breathe, or may even be fatal. COVID-19 can be very serious and Calaveras Public Health asks that you follow the safety guidelines.

Calaveras Public Health urges those who would like to get tested for COVID-19 to please do so, especially:
 People who have symptoms of COVID-19
 People who have had close contact with someone that is confirmed to have COVID-19
 People who have been asked or referred to get tested by their healthcare provider

No-cost testing for COVID-19 is available to anyone 3 years of age and older. 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. Walk-ins are accepted. During the first week of November the COVID-19 testing site is moving to Tuolumne County. The state testing site which is shared with Tuolumne County will be located at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora. The hours of operation will remain the same with appointments and testing starting on November 3rd. If you would like to be tested for COVID-19 please register online or call (888) 634-1123.

“Let’s all do our part and take preventive actions to mitigate 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 especially where physical distancing and masking is not being followed. If we do all of these things, we can continue to keep sectors open and at the same time protect the health and well-being of everyone in our county,” stated Dr. Kelaita.

To date, Calaveras Public Health reports a total of 330 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 306 cases have since recovered while 8 cases remain active. There have been a total of 16 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 reported in Calaveras County.

Calaveras Public Health staff continues to study 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 and monitored for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 illness.

The best ways to avoid exposure to COVID-19 are to:
 Stay home if you are sick
 Stay at least 6 feet away from people outside of your household
 Wash your hands often. Use 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

Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms of COVID-19 include:
 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

A person who has tested positive with COVID-19 may not have all or any of these symptoms. A person who has tested positive but does not have any symptoms is considered asymptomatic and can still pass on the virus to others while they are infectious.

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

Calaveras County remains in the moderate county risk level (orange) on the state’s 4-tier COVID-19 system. Calaveras Public Health urges people to help the county lower its risk by taking necessary steps to prevent being exposed to the virus. Visit Blueprint for a Safer Economy to find specific business information and the county’s latest status.

Calaveras Public Health invites the public to a no-cost drive thru flu shot clinic on October 15th from 9AM-4PM at Calaveras High School. The clinic is for those 10 years of age and older. Please speak with your local medical provider or pharmacist for flu vaccine to those under 10 years of age. As COVID-19 continues and we head into flu season, Calaveras Public Health encourages everyone to protect themselves by getting the flu vaccine. While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, it is shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

To receive information and resources related to COVID-19 visit the Calaveras County COVID-19 website.