Wildfire evacuations during COVID-19 pandemic

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM) – Fire evacuations are growing increasingly difficult as fire season rages on during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Concerns over safety precautions at evacuation centers are a major focus right now, but what should you do if you test positive for COVID-19 before being forced to evacuate? Humboldt County Deputy Health Officer Josh Ennis explains what the county recommends in that kind of situation.

“If you do have COVID obviously you are going to be on isolation orders and that can complicate the evacuation process. What we will attempt to do is have our public health nursing staff reach out to isolated individuals and touch base with them in advance of the need for evacuation,” Ennis said.

If individuals have not been contacted by public health staff, Ennis encourages community members in isolation to reach out. Ennis said this will help in establishing a more robust plan before an evacuation occurs.