Nevada County Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Kellermann has amended his August 18^th order on face coverings to include further mandates for crowded outdoor settings and large events. The order becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on August 27, 2021.

In addition to last week’s requirements for face coverings indoors, the amended order:

• Requires that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings outdoors in crowded settings.
• Prohibits indoor and outdoor gatherings or events where 2,500 or more people will be in attendance, until further notice.
• Requires that events with 500 attendees or more develop and implement a plan to verify vaccination status, or proof of a negative test preferably within the 24 hours of the event but no longer than 72 hours prior to the event.

Nevada County is experiencing an unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases admitted to its two hospitals. As of August 24, 2021, Nevada County’s case rate was 49.1 cases per day per 100,000 and the test positivity rate was 12.0%, one of the highest in California. 

The hospitals in Nevada County are at capacity, and all hospitals in the region are reaching their inpatient limit. There is very limited capacity for transferring patients within the region. Regional emergency departments have been overwhelmed with patients seeking diagnosis and care for COVID-19 to the point where those with other emergency conditions are finding delayed care or having to go elsewhere for help.  

Rising case rates, increasing test positivity, and the high numbers of hospitalizations are largely due to the predominance of the highly infectious Delta variant, which has been labeled as “younger, sicker, quicker.” The Delta variant is highly contagious and may have increased the risk of hospitalization compared to the original virus. 

Large gatherings will lead to further spread of COVID-19, creating an additional burden for the medical system in Nevada County.

“The steps we’re taking today are the limit the spread of the virus in our community,” Kellermann said of the amended order. “The Delta variant is highly transmissible, but there are simple ways to protect ourselves and those we love. Mask up indoors and out, avoid gatherings, and if you can, get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Read the full order here.

Today, Nevada County Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Kellermann issued an order requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings and businesses. The order also strongly recommends that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings outdoors in crowded settings. The order goes into effect at 12:01 am on Friday, August 20^th.

Additionally, the order clarifies that all schools, private or public, and settings where students from more than one household gather for purposes of education, must follow the requirements of the California Department of Public Health for wearing face coverings for students, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

The Health Officer’s order comes on the heels of soaring case rates and hospitalizations connected to the highly infectious Delta variant, which has been labeled “younger, sicker, quicker” in comparison to the original virus. Case rates have risen over elevenfold–from 5.5. to 61.2 per 100,000 residents–since the statewide transition to Beyond the Blueprint on June 15, 2021. Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital has been experiencing the highest volume of patients admitted since the beginning of the pandemic.

Though the three vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. have been shown to be safe and effective, over 30% of Nevada County residents remain unvaccinated.

“With the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, we must use the tools we know to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus. Masking is the least disruptive and most immediately impactful additional measure we can take,” Kellermann said.

Kellermann recommended that all individuals, especially those who are unvaccinated or at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, take personal measures to reduce risk in addition to masking.

See the full text of the Order

With 443 cases last week, Nevada County is experiencing the largest surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic. Cases have increased by 1200% since the week of July 1st.

Similar dramatic increases are being seen across the state. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently reported that California’s statewide case rate more than quadrupled from a low in May. The huge increase in infections is already taxing the healthcare system, with local and regional hospitals heavily impacted.

“There has been a substantial increase in COVID-19 patients coming to the hospital, which have resulted in more admissions,” said Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital President Dr. Brian Evans. “Our winter peak was 15 hospitalized patients, and we have now seen numbers as high as 29 in the last few days. The number of admissions fluctuates on a daily, and even hourly basis. The substantial majority of admissions for COVID are unvaccinated individuals. Nationally, unvaccinated patients make up well over 90 percent of admissions. At Sierra Nevada, we are having a similar experience. If you haven’t received your COVID vaccination, I strongly encourage you to do so.”  

According to the State’s COVID-19 hospitalization data, there are currently 25 COVID patients admitted to local hospitals. Evans said that over 90% of those admitted to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital are unvaccinated.

As cases continue to surge throughout State, local officials are urging Nevada County residents to take precautions. “We would be beyond the Purple Tier if we were not Beyond the Blueprint,” said Health and Human Services Director Ryan Gruver, referring to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which state officials abandoned in mid-June.

 “The dismantling of the tier system happened to correspond with the introduction of the highly contagious Delta variant,” said Nevada County Public Health Director Jill Blake. “Unfortunately, this may have given people a false sense of security in terms of disease transmission risk.”

Surge in COVID Cases is Linked to Delta Variant

According to state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) is up to 60% more infectious than the Alpha strain, and many more times more infectious than the original COVID-19 strain.

Public Health officials first confirmed the appearance in Nevada County of this highly transmissible variant from samples taken in early June. Over 80% of current COVID-19 cases statewide are confirmed to be from the Delta variant.

 “This variant is so contagious that people who are fully vaccinated can still get the virus,” Trochet said.  “And those who are unvaccinated are at much greater risk.” According to the CDPH, COVID-19 case rates are 600% higher in unvaccinated people than those who are vaccinated.

Breakthrough Cases in Nevada County

Breakthrough cases currently constitute approximately 20% of new weekly COVID-19 cases. Public Health officials consider any infection in a fully vaccinated person to be a ‘breakthrough’ case.

Breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated individuals are not uncommon, given that the vaccines are not 100% effective. Age and underlying health conditions can contribute to a lesser immune protective response to the vaccine. With 28% of Nevada County residents over the age of 65, our community is uniquely vulnerable to breakthrough cases.

While such cases are expected, officials are concerned by recent evidence that those who are vaccinated may be able to spread the virus, even if they have no symptoms.

Vaccines Continue to Be the Best Way to Prevent Serious Illness and Death

All three available vaccines continue to provide a high level of protection against the Delta variant. In fact, the vast majority of new cases are among the unvaccinated. Out of 100,000 Californians, 33 unvaccinated individuals will contract COVID-19 each day, compared to 7 vaccinated individuals, according to the CDPH.

While vaccines have been effective against the Delta variant, the virus continues to mutate as more people get sick. “If we allow people to continue to get infected, we will get a variant that escapes the effectiveness of vaccines,” Dr. Trochet said. “If everybody had gotten the vaccine when it was first available, we would not be here now. But it’s not too late to prevent this from getting worse.”

As families prepare to send kids back to school in the coming weeks, this is particularly important to protect children under 12 who are not currently able to receive a vaccine.

To schedule a vaccination, online at go to MyTurn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255.

Tips to Stay Safe and Limit the Spread

With the recent rise in cases, the Nevada County Public Health Department issued a recommendation on July 29^th encouraging vaccinated individuals to wear a mask in indoor public spaces. Both the CDC and the CDPH released similar recommendations the same week.

In California, unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a mask in indoor public places like stores, restaurants, and theaters. Everyone is required to wear a mask in certain public settings, including on public transit and in schools. To learn more about the State of California’s mask requirements, go to https://covid19.ca.gov/masks-and-ppe.

Local health officials are also encouraging residents to rethink attending large gatherings where people may be unvaccinated and unmasked. “I would think long and hard about attending large gatherings,” said Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet. “There are certain groups who are at higher risk, vaccinated or not. It would be better to not to go than to be exposed,” Trochet added.

Those who do decide to attend crowded events should wear a mask to protect themselves and others.

More Information

To schedule a vaccination, online at go to MyTurn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255. For updates and information on COVID-19, go to MyNevadaCounty.com/Coronavirus. 

The significantly more contagious COVID-19 Delta variant has been found in Nevada County. Six cases were reported to Nevada County Public Health on June 30, 2021. The specimens were collected between June 3rd and June 15, indicating that the Delta variant has been circulating in the county for at least 4 weeks. Patients with this variant were located on both the eastern and western sides of our county.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that the Delta variant is now responsible for about one in every four new infections across the country. However, as the Delta variant is spread much more easily from person to person than the original virus, it is anticipated to become the most common variant in the U.S.

Experts are warning that the Delta variant is our greatest threat to the elimination of Covid-19. It is estimated to be the cause of 90% of Covid-19 cases in Britain and India. “The Delta variant is much more transmissible than the original coronavirus. Our best defense is to become immunized,” said Nevada County Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Kellermann. “If you have previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2, although you do develop antibodies, you are not necessarily protected against this Delta variant”. 

Public Health urges all residents to become immunized as all the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States continue to provide strong protection against all currently identified variants of the SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta variant. Dr. Kellermann added, “You are only partially protected against the Delta variant after one shot of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine; protection is much higher if you are fully vaccinated. Please complete the two-dose series as soon as possible, even if it is outside the recommended timeframe.”  Full protection against the virus occurs two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Those traveling this holiday weekend are urged to continue following all safety measures, including testing and quarantine guidelines. Do not travel if you are sick, have a recent positive COVID-19 test result, are in quarantine, or are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test after being exposed to the virus.

 Now, more than ever, people should continue to follow public health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and all variants. This includes:

• Wearing a face covering in indoor public settings, public transportation, and businesses if unvaccinated. Vaccinated persons may choose to wear a face-covering to offer additional protection, especially if they will be in crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Practicing good hand hygiene.
• Getting tested for COVID-19 if you have been exposed, even if you are asymptomatic.
• Staying home if you feel sick.
• If unimmunized, please schedule a vaccine appointment through MyTurn.ca.gov. Most vaccine centers gladly welcome walk-in visits.

Vaccinations remain widely available throughout Nevada County. To view a full list of vaccine sites in Nevada County, visit: www.MyNevadaCounty.com/GetVaccinated.

For more information about variants in California, please visit www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-Variants.aspx. 

As of May 13th, all Californians age 12 and over are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.

All Pfizer clinics in MyTurn will show available appointments for patients as young as 12 years old. Any minor arriving for a vaccine appointment must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attest to their age. Pfizer vaccines are currently offered at the Whispering Pines clinic in Grass Valley, Dokimos Pharmacy in Nevada City, and the Tahoe Forest Hospital clinic at Sierra College in Truckee. Schedule your family’s appointment online at MyTurn.ca.gov or call or 1-833-422-4255.

Make An Appointment

Access to COVID-19 vaccines continues to expand in Nevada County. Nevada County Public Health has launched a new vaccine clinic at the Sierra College campus in Grass Valley. With 210 appointments per day, five days a week, the clinic provides a significant expansion in appointment availability.

The clinic at Sierra College will administer the Moderna vaccine, which is available for anyone 18 years and over. Clinic hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, beginning May 4^th. Vaccines will be administered in the Sierra College Gymnasium (Building N13), located at 250 Sierra College Drive. Parking in the Sierra College lot is free, so please do not purchase a parking permit at the campus entry.

Appointments for the clinic are already available at MyTurn.ca.gov.

“We want to make it easy for anyone who is eligible for a vaccine to get one quickly and conveniently,” said Nevada County Public Health Director Jill Blake. “With the addition of this clinic, we now have vaccination appointments available six days a week in Western Nevada County, and our hope is that the addition of a weekend day makes scheduling an appointment easier for those who work or go to school Monday through Friday.”

All Californians age 16 and over are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. Nevada County’s Whispering Pines (Pfizer) clinic serves individuals age 16 and over Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The new site is the result of a Nevada County Public Health department request to the State for additional vaccination capacity. “This is a real win for our community, and it is the result of the hard work and collaboration of Public Health, Sierra College, and the State” said Public Health Officer Scott Kellermann. “Between Whispering Pines, Sierra College, Dokimos, and other local and regional retail pharmacies, anyone should be able to find an appointment to best meet their needs.”

The clinic at Sierra College is operated by OptumServe, which also runs the testing site on Colfax Avenue in Grass Valley. Space for the new clinic was generously donated by Sierra College.

“If you’ve been hesitant, politely waiting to get vaccinated, please don’t delay,” Public Health Officer Scott Kellermann said. “The immunizations are safe. Vaccination will not only protect you, but also prevent your spreading the virus to the ones you love. The sooner we all get vaccinated, the safer we will be.”

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment go to MyTurn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255. For information on all vaccine providers serving Nevada County, go to MyNevadaCounty.com/GetVaccinated.

Due to the steep terrain at Sierra College, Public Health officials recommend that individuals with limited mobility schedule their vaccination at the Whispering Pines clinic, where parking is closer to the clinic entrance.

Nevada County Public Health received notice that two specimens for SARS-CoV-2 taken in mid-March were determined to be the B.1.1.7 variant. One specimen was taken from a COVID-19 patient on the East side of Nevada County and the other was from a patient on the West side.

 “Like the discovery of the B.1.429 variant reported in Nevada County last week from a specimen in February, this is a reminder that every time an individual gets sick with COVID-19 it is an opportunity for the virus to mutate while it replicates within the body,” said Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet. “Everyone who receives a positive lab indicating they have COVID-19 should maintain isolation precautions, limiting contact with others in their household and in the community to reduce the spread of the virus.”

The B.1.1.7 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in the United Kingdom. It is designated as a variant of concern because it is approximately 50% more transmissible than the original virus, and may cause more severe disease, based on the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with this variant. It appears to be susceptible to current monoclonal antibodies. The currently available vaccines continue to be effective against it. For more information about B.1.1.7  and other COVID-19 variants, visit the CDC website.

The best way to prevent infection is to get vaccinated. Until enough people are vaccinated, we should all continue to wear a mask while in public, maintain social distancing, wash our hands frequently. These actions help to protect others as well as ourselves. 

The Nevada County Public Health department announced today that it has confirmed the first identified instance of the B.1.429 Variant of COVID-19 in Nevada County. Public Health officials requested genetic sequencing of a positive test in February, after a person who already had COVID-19 was re-infected. Results from the State lab came back yesterday.

 B.1.429 is one of the West Coast variants and is listed as a Variant of Concern by the CDC. Evidence suggests that these variants are more easily transmissible, can lead to more severe disease, and may be less responsive to treatment. As of April 1, 2021, there were 6,287 known cases of the B.1.429 variant in California.

“This adds urgency to the need to vaccinate as many people as we can, before a variant emerges that is not susceptible to our current vaccines,” said Nevada County Deputy Public Health Officer Glennah Trochet. “And for those who are not yet vaccinated, it is crucial to continue to wear masks, social distance, and avoid gatherings. Every time someone gets infected with this virus, they provide an opportunity for the virus to mutate as it replicates millions of times within their body.”

Last week, the Public Health department expanded vaccine eligibility at their Whispering Pines clinic in Grass Valley to anyone age 16 or over. Appointments are released on MyTurn.ca.gov every Friday at noon.

Though this is the first confirmed case of a variant in Nevada County, health officials caution that it is very likely that variants are already widespread in the county. “Because it is currently so difficult to get whole genomic sequencing, we do not know how widespread this particular variant is and if there are others circulating in Nevada County, but it is safe to assume that there are,” Trochet said.

“This is just another reminder that this pandemic is not over,” said Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Kellermann. “We’re seeing our case rates rise and are concerned about the increasing numbers of infections in younger adults. We must do everything we can to limit the spread. I’m asking every individual to do their part—wear a mask, avoid gatherings, and get vaccinated.”

For more information about B.1.429  and other COVID-19 variants, visit the CDC website.

The Nevada County Public Health department releases vaccine appointments on MyTurn.ca.gov every Friday at noon. Learn about additional vaccine appointment options at MyNevadaCounty.com/Get Vaccinated.

After only two weeks in the Red Tier, Nevada County once again met the metrics for the Purple Tier, meaning COVID-19 is widespread and case rates are increasing.  Nevada County will remain in the Red Tier this week but will likely return to the Purple Tier on Wednesday, April 13^th.

“Communities that have strictly adhered to guidelines are opening up, while Nevada County is at risk of moving backward,” said Nevada County Public Health Director Jill Blake. “We know how COVID-19 spreads, and we know how to prevent the spread. The science is clear,” Blake said. “When we say that the virus is ‘widespread’ in our community, we mean just that: it’s everywhere. We’re seeing it in schools, workplaces, social settings, and businesses. The virus continues to be transmitted through unmasked gatherings, whether that’s in a restaurant, a bar, a workplace, or a private home.”

With certain restaurants and bars fully open–in defiance of health orders–large gatherings of people from multiple households and mask-burning demonstrations during a global pandemic, cases will increase. County officials attribute the case rise to local, organized opposition to proven public health prevention methods, particularly in Western Nevada County.

Local Public Health officials expressed disappointment and concern about the upward trend in cases. This week, with the State’s update to county metrics under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, Nevada County jumped from an average daily rate of 6.9 cases to 12.7 cases. “This is an alarming trend,” said Nevada County Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Kellermann. “And this data is from the week before Spring Break and the Easter holiday. We have yet to see the result of gatherings that may have taken place last week.”

Kellermann urged Nevada County residents to take individual actions to protect the health of the community as a whole. “The good news is that we all know how to protect ourselves and those we love. Wear a mask. Avoid gathering. And, of course, getting vaccinated is the best protection for yourself, your family, your friends, and your neighbors,” added Dr. Kellermann.

“We are seeing fewer cases in people 65 and older,” said Dr. Kellermann. “Although this is good news, we are finding that younger individuals are becoming infected. Although much less likely to die than older folks, a significant number of those infected will have symptoms of long COVID-19, like persistent lethargy, brain fog, and pulmonary conditions.”   

Nevada County Public Health has opened vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and over for their Whispering Pines Grass Valley clinics, which use the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments can be made on MyTurn.CA.Gov; new appointments are added every Friday at noon. Vaccine appointments through other local vaccine providers can be found at www.MyNevadaCounty.com/GetVaccinated.

“We are in a race against time regarding the variants. If we adhere to the guidelines of masking and distancing and get immunized – we will win.” Kellermann said. “You all are aware that through working together, much has been accomplished by this community. We need to do that now. We all have a part to play. We can do better.”