Recent increase in Covid-19 deaths despite lower case rates, could be due to lower testing numbers

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM) — The recent increase in deaths and hospitalizations that have been reported in Humboldt County, despite a lower case rate, have some public health officials concerned.

Looking at the numbers, in March there was 1 death reported for every 62 cases. The month before, in February, it was 1 death per every 153 cases. In January when just over 1,000 cases were reported there was 1 death per every 125 cases.

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Ian Hoffman does not think it’s due to a coronavirus variant circulating in the community that is more deadly.

“More than likely what we’re seeing is just that our case rates are actually lower because people aren’t getting tested. I think that’s really what we’re seeing with this over the last couple weeks is the drop in testing reflecting a lower case rate, but there is still virus circulating out there in the community,” Hoffman says.

Covid-19 testing is available 7 days a week at the OptumServe site in Eureka.