Current COVID-19 testing and quarantine information

Alexandra Gonzalez February 4, 2022February 5, 2022 0 Comments COIVD-19, COVID-19 Testing, Guidelines, Humboldt County

Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Humboldt County. As of Feb. 1, there have been a total of 17,509 cases since the pandemic began. The Department of Human Health Services, the Center for Disease Control, and the California Department of Public Health recommends the following:

When to get tested

You should immediately get tested for COVID-19 if you are feeling any symptoms – regardless of your vaccination status. COVID-19 symptoms can feel like a common cold seasonal allergies or flu.
After being exposed to someone with COVID-19.

What to do after being exposed

If you were fully vaccinated when exposed, you do not need to quarantine unless you develop symptoms. Vaccinated people should get tested 5-7 days after close contact with someone who has recently tested positive, even if they don’t develop symptoms.
If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated, get tested right away and quarantine for at least five days. If you test negative, retest 5-7 days after your exposure date.
If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months and have had no new symptoms since your recent exposure, you do not need to get tested.

The CDC recommends people take precautions until 10 days after exposure and avoid being around people who are at high risk.

What to do if you test positive?

Community: If you tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status:

Stay home for five days and isolate yourself from others in your home.
If you have symptoms, end isolation after five full days and if symptoms are no longer present or are resolving.
If you did not have symptoms, end isolations at least five days after your positive test.

Cal Poly Humboldt students: Same as above. Students should also contact the Student Health & Wellbeing Services. You can email health@humboldt.edu or call 707-826-3146.

Isolation guidelines

The CDC recommends that people who test positive for COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to be isolated regardless of their vaccination status.

People who have a positive viral test for COVID-19 should isolate, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
People with symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate, including people who are awaiting test results or have not been tested.

Isolation recommendations for multi-family homes

For those who may share a room with someone who has symptoms, the CDPH recommends:

Make sure the room has good airflow
Maintain at least six feet between beds if possible.
Sleep head to toe, or with faces at least six feet apart.
Use a separate bathroom or one that can be disinfected after use.

When to seek help

If you experience any one of the following emergency warning signs, call 911 and get medical attention immediately:

Trouble breathing.
Bluish lips or face.
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
New confusion or inability to arouse.
New numbness or tingling in the extremities.
Other serious symptoms.

Free at-home rapid antigen testing

Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.

Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
To order visit: www.covidtests.gov

Free masks

Rite-aid, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and local pharmacies are offering free N-95 masks. People can get three masks per person.

Recommendations for Masks

Make sure no air is flowing from the area near your eyes or from the sides of the mask.
For cloth masks, multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric is recommended
Masks should have a nose wire
Use fabric that blocks light when held up to a bright light source

The CDC states that while all masks and respirators like an N95 provide some level of protection, properly fitting respirators provide the highest level of protection.

Who can get vaccinated and/or boosted and where?

According to the CDC, adults, and children, age five years and older can now get Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now authorized for everyone 12 years and older in the U.S.

Vaccines in your area can be found at www.vaccines.gov.

Where to call for information about testing sites and vaccination information for Spanish speakers?

To get local information about the current vaccine and testing locations, Spanish speakers can call the Joint Information Center at 707-441-5000 and ask to speak to a Spanish call taker.

Testing Sites:

To schedule a test at one of the OptumServe sites listed below, go to www.lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123. Making an appointment in advance is strongly encouraged.

Eureka

Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, Eureka

7 a.m. – 7 p.m., seven days a week

Closed from 11 a.m. – noon and 4 – 5 p.m.

McKinleyville

Azalea Hall, 1620 Picket Road

Mondays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Closed from 11 a.m. – noon and 3 – 4 p.m.

Trinidad

Trinidad Town Hall, 409 Trinity St.

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Closed from 11 a.m. – noon and 2 – 3 p.m.