OROVILLE — Nearly two months had passed without COVID-19 claiming another life in Butte County, but on Monday, Butte County Public Health announced a county resident between 20 and 29 years old recently died due to complications from the virus.
The young adult resident is one of 187 people in Butte County to perish after contracting the virus, and the first since March 26, according to Butte County Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard. Butte County Public Health spokesperson Lisa Almaguer wrote in an email the county has “several more deaths under investigation right now.” The county health department reviews death certificates to confirm COVID-19 as the official cause of death. That process can take days, weeks or months, depending on the case.
In the earliest months of the pandemic, Butte County Public Health announced each individual COVID-19 death, but stopped during the summer months of 2020 as the virus began to spread at higher rates and deaths increased exponentially.
However, the county health department still issued press releases in rare instances for deaths of young residents. To date, one person between 18 and 24, one person between 25 and 34 and three people between 35 and 44 have died from the virus in Butte County, according to the county dashboard. A substantial number, 127, have been 75 or older.
“BCPH expresses its sincere condolences to the person’s family and friends,” the county health department said in a press release.
“It’s important for the public to recognize COVID-19 is still very serious and can cause severe illness and death to people at any age. It is vital to know the emergency warning signs for COVID-19 and seek healthcare early, especially if you are at higher risk due to age or underlying health conditions.”
Health conditions including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, immunocompromised state and cancer, among others, have shown to cause COVID-19 complications. Butte County Public Health also noted monoclonal antibody treatment is “effective at decreasing the likelihood of hospitalization and death” from the virus, though the treatment must be administered within 10 days of symptoms appearing, “underscoring the importance of seeking health care early.”
Warning signs of the virus include, but are not limited to:
- Trouble breathing;
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest;
- Confusion;
- Inability to wake or stay awake;
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips or nails beds.
Butte County Public Health also reinforced the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine in order to prevent severe illness and death.
As of Sunday, 153,501 shots, both first and second doses, had been administered in Butte County. As a whole, 31.8 percent of the county is fully vaccinated, and 38.1 percent have received at least one dose. By comparison, 53 percent of all California residents have received at least one dose.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, including a complete list of vaccination clinic sites in the county, visit Butte County Public Health’s website at www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19/vaccine.
Vaccine clinic opens in Chico
A new COVID-19 vaccination clinic site is set to open Tuesday for Butte County residents 12 and older looking to get immunized against the virus.
The new site, located at 560 Cohasset Road, will be open to the public with both appointments and walk-ins accepted, according to Butte County Public Health, which opened the site in coordination with Enloe Medical Center.
New Chico Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic opening Tuesday, May 25th at 560 Cohasset Rd. Open to the public. Book your vaccine at: https://t.co/ktFE3YRBvC pic.twitter.com/MRtZ7u9lK5
— Butte Public Health (@BC_PubHealth) May 24, 2021
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone 12 years of age and older who reside or work in the county. The clinic will be open Monday through Thursday from 1-5 p.m.
On each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, the clinic will be offering the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only vaccine approved for people between 12 and 17. Earlier in May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to include 12- to 15-year-olds, and Butte County Public Health announced on May 13 that age group was eligible, effective immediately.
On each Wednesday, the clinic will administer the Moderna vaccine, which is available to everyone 18 and older.
The clinic will be closed on Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day.
Additionally, the clinic will offer the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Friday, May 28, from 1-3 p.m. That vaccine is only available on that particular date.
Appointments can be made online at myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255. Butte County Public Health said appointments are encouraged, though walk-ins will also be accepted.
