Lake County health officials reported this week that Lake County now has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest coronavirus case rate in California, reaching 50 per 100,000 residents, far exceeding the state average and that of any other county statewide. We went from 1 percent positivity rate in mid June (with approximately 10 active cases) to more than 250 cases and counting, with officials warning that it may reach 300 by next week.
Perhaps just as troubling is the fact that officials noted during the most recent COVID update to the Board of Supervisors this week that the positivity rate increase is the highest at 51% for the 20-44 age range. Public Health contracted epidemiologist Sarah Marikos added that as of July 25, among 28,000 fully vaccinated individuals in the county, 68 positive cases were identified, indicating a 0.238% positivity rate among the post-vaccinated. Pointing out that 99.76% of individuals who are fully vaccinated have not tested positive for COVID-19, Marikos said the positivity rate is seven times more likely in the county among the unvaccinated.
By contrast, the Press Democrat reports that in nearby Sonoma County, the daily COVID-19 transmission rate stands at 9.5 new cases per 100,000 people. Test positivity is about 4.4% at press time.
As District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska pointed out during this week’s meeting, it is important for teens who are eligible to get vaccinated before school starts, since only 19% of 12 to 17-year-olds have been vaccinated countywide.
Health officials also stated that this latest spike, which correlates with the state’s June 15 action to eliminate California’s mask mandate indoors and in person gatherings, mimics the trend in the rest of the state.
But as Dr. Charlie Evans, Lake County’s acting Public Health Officer, said at the meeting, “There’s a clear path – (out of the current predicament) vaccination. We know if you get vaccinated, it’s 95% sure you won’t get the virus. Those who are not vaccinated have to rethink. I strongly urge you all to get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe and effective.”
Despite the anti-vaccine rhetoric which has become prevalent in many parts of the state and the country, most credible sources and members of the scientific community have reached consensus that the COVID vaccines are the strongest weapon we have for getting through this latest surge and back on track towards the low case totals we were experiencing prior to the re-opening a month and a half ago. We strongly concur and believe there really is little justification for most people to resist vaccination as doctors state vaccines are recommended for and can be administered to most people with underlying medical conditions.
County health and administration have made it easy for those who are unvaccinated (at press time 41.3 percent of the population in our county) to get inoculated, especially in the wake of the Delta variant’s detection in Lake County.
We urge those unvaccinated this late in the game to put aside their reservations, the vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective and widespread complications or problems have not been documented, contrary to ubiquitous internet chatter and memes and conspiracy theories online. Further, we believe our county government has shown great leadership by passing a resolution last week urging people to mask indoors and the county has made drive-to COVID testing and vaccination available to residents. It’s time to think about our neighbors, family members and fellow residents, don’t be selfish, get vaccinated today, if you have not yet done so, and help us get back on the right side in the fight against this deadly virus.
—The Editorial Board, Lake County Record-Bee
