I was off the grid for the last week so this is the first time I've had to update you in a while. 

Sadly, while I was gone, the virus continues to spread like the wildfires in Northern CA. The difference is that we're actively trying to put out the fires and most of our county leadership seems to be sitting on its hands, doing nothing. One would think there would be a sense of urgency when August was our highest month ever for infections and deaths - even exceeding the major surge of last winter.

From the NY Times: "An average of 72 cases per day were reported in Humboldt County, a 20 percent increase from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 18 residents have been infected, a total of 7,469 reported cases. Right now, Humboldt County is at an extremely high risk for unvaccinated people."

More grim stats from the Northcoast Journal: "August ... saw more than 2,000 new cases locally, eclipsing the combined totals for the post-holiday surge months of December and January. August also saw records of 98 new hospitalizations and 22 deaths, accounting for 30 percent of the total hospitalizations and 29 percent of the total deaths recorded locally through the duration of the 18-month pandemic.

A state database shows a record 42 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 locally with nine under intensive care, as hospital capacity remains an acute concern among health officials. 

After recording a test-positivity rate of 10.1 percent in July — the highest for any month since the pandemic began — the rate in Humboldt County jumped to 15.9 percent in August, far outpacing state (4.7 percent) and national (10.6 percent) rates."

Of course, you're aware of this. You have signed and possibly even donated to get the message out. We're up to 285 supporters. Our next goal is 500. In order to get there, we need to share. Please post the petition link - https://www.change.org/SupportAHumboldtVaccineMandate - on your social media pages. Send it in emails. Tell your friends to sign it. And get in touch with the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and tell them that you want them to do something. You can find their contact information here. 

If you're fed up, don't just be angry. Do something. 

Thank you.