MENDOCINO Co., 1/5/20 — Four more people have died in Mendocino County of COVID-19 since the New Year, bringing the total number of deaths confirmed from the virus to 31 people. So far, the highest number of new positive cases has been reported on New Year’s Eve, with 71 new cases reported. Two additional deaths from COVID-19 occurred in the county in the week prior to the new year.
Mendocino County has seen a significant surge of new positive COVID-19 cases in the last two months, and the increase in deaths from the virus is a lagging indicator of the surge, as most people who ultimately do not survive COVID-19 struggle with the virus for several weeks prior to their deaths. As such, it is likely that additional fatalities may be expected in the coming weeks due to the steady increase in cases through the winter holiday season.
As of January 4, the county has reported 2,663 positive coronavirus cases since the virus was first detected here, meaning the current death rate among confirmed cases is about 1.16%. The majority of deaths from the virus have been of elderly residents of the Ukiah area, where the majority of the positive cases have been located, but at least two of the recent deaths were of residents of North County.
The current seven day rolling averages for the daily new positive case rate is 26.86 cases a day, and the seven day average positivity rate for those being tested is 5.91% as of January 4.
A significant portion of the recent positive cases are tied to an ongoing outbreak at the Mendocino County jail, which so far has included a total of 80 inmates and 12 staff members testing positive for the virus, according to an update from Sheriff Matthew Kendall at the January 5 board of supervisors meeting. Kendall noted that dozens of inmates have been released from isolation or released from the jail since the outbreak was first identified in the week prior to Christmas; 44 inmates and 6 staff members are currently in isolation. One inmate of the jail has been hospitalized in connection with the outbreak.
A lot more people need to stand up for their rights as law abiding citizens and go to the courthouse and request a petition for filing paperwork to sue the sheriff’s department and the jail and sheriff Kendall for not locking down Mendocino County and the due to a threat of Corona virus outbreak that is ran rampant all over the world, consequently the rest of the world is on lockdown how come sheriff Kendall and the rest of the unintelligent police force that Adam got a high school diploma let alone a college degree can run our politics and our health care procedures and not lock us down when that was mandated from them, I’d like to see a lot more citizens at the courthouse it’s only $70 to file a petition and you can at least get 10 to 2 million Let me know my phone number is 707-234-9913
Obviously lockdowns don’t work. We don’t live in an area that allows such lockdowns either. Thanks to sheriff Kendall for protecting our rights.
While I certainly sympathize, I dont understand why everyone feels like death is a bad thing. Its part of life, and there is NO getting around it. Its is 100% something to celebrate, cherish and make the most of with the short time we have here, and we are LUCKY to have the opportunities we do. Even IF we have stupid obstacles in our paths…. Please dont fear death. Its a rebirth at the very least. Enjoy this life. Even if it sucks. Matt Kendall is a good feller. My hats off too the guy.
We hope that vaccinations will come to all of us, but that is not the only remedy to this virus. Though we need the vaccinations and hopefully soon we can all get them, we can still do much by wearing masks, socially distancing at a minimum of 6′, by washing our hands frequently and be mindful of those around us when we are out in public to ensure safe distances away. And above all, stop gathering in groups without wearing a mask and that includes all members of your family and social circles. You can’t keep track of everyone’s behavior. You never know where they have been or who they have been exposed to.