vaccine

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are some promising signs that the COVID-19 surge is over in El Dorado County. If current data continues in the direction it has been headed, El Dorado County is likely near the peak of the post holidays COVID-19 surge.

The surge of cases and hospitalizations began two weeks after Halloween, then continued through the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays.

The El Dorado County Public Health Director Dr. Nancy Williams says we won't reliably know until another week or two has passed if the surge has hit its peak.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Fewer than ten reactions from one batch of Moderna vaccines distributed in California has prompted state officials to pull it from circulation. Providers of the vaccine from this batch have been asked to pause the administration of lot 41L20A of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to possible allergic reactions that are under investigation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A major step in preparing to open schools back up to in-person classes, teachers and staff from Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) are receiving the first of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The news of the available vaccines came earlier than the District expected. They hope to have all staff members receive the first vaccine within the next two weeks, and the second required injection within the next six weeks.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - During both the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisor meetings on January 5, questions were asked of the health care professionals as to when the public can expect to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Most of us might agree, 2020 was the annus horribilis of our lifetime. But just as the darkest cloud has a silver lining, 2020 has offered one thing about which we can all brag and be proud. I can't think of what that one thing might be just now, though it does occur to me that learning how to cut our own hair might be a thing to celebrate and be genuinely proud, unless of course you're a barber.

I should think that my being the first person in our village to grow moss on my face should amount to something to brag about, though my dear mother covers her eyes when she greets me.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The overnight snowstorm brought more than powder as the first shipment of the Pfitzer-BioNTech vaccine for the coronavirus arrived in South Lake Tahoe at Barton Hospital.

El Dorado County received a total of 975 doses with about five hundred doses shipped to South Lake Tahoe Thursday, Marshall Hospital in Placerville will receive theirs on Sunday. The local doses will be administered to Barton's healthcare workers and skilled nursing residents, beginning Friday, December 17.

The Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may be in South Lake Tahoe by the end of next week, pending authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine gained approval by a panel of 22 experts on Thursday by a vote of 17-4 in favor of recommending the FDA give it the green light (one panelist abstained).

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. = After consultation with the Douglas County officials, the towns, public safety agencies, and Douglas County Emergency Management it was determined in-person public holiday events in the towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden have been canceled. This includes the 25th annual Parade of Lights hosted by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. County officials said the action was deemed necessary for the safety of the community, due to the most recent State directive limiting public gatherings to no more than 50 people.

We are a very small congregation; we are following all the guidelines from State, County, City and our governing body Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Tattoo, hair, and massage parlors are allowed to remain open and deemed as “essential” for Personal Care Services.  What about Spiritual Care Services?

When we are at church, we are one in Christ, in prayer, taking authority over the enemy and over the fallen things in this world. There is a supernatural power in the “two or three” gathering together!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another nine residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, two are in El Dorado Hills, two in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, two in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, four in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, and a -1 for the Lake Tahoe Region due to a previously reported case not being a resident.

Of these new cases, one is under the age of 18, three are in the 18-49 age group, three in the 50-64 group, and two aged 65 or older.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another nine residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, three are in El Dorado Hills, two in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, two in Greater Placerville, one in South County and two in the Lake Tahoe region. The health officer has not given a reason for the discrepancy of numbers of reported cases not matching the regional totals.

Of these new cases, five are in the 18-49 age group, one in the 50-64 group, three aged 65 or over.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT) has been providing increased support to the South Lake Tahoe community, distributing hundreds of pounds of cat and dog food along with numerous other services.

The food distribution from when HSTT shut down to the public due to COVID are as follows:

Dry dog food: 1719 lbs total ~ 171 lbs a week
Dry cat food: 178 lbs total ~ 18 lbs a week
Canned dog food: 636 cans ~ 64 cans a week
Canned cat food: 467 cans ~ 47 cans a week
Cat litter: 130 lbs total ~ 13 lbs a week

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has unveiled his plan for the state to reopen under phase one starting May 9, 2020. Outdoor malls, restaurants, hair salons, and barber shops are among those able to reopen with new standards for safety.

"We must stay safe so we can stay open," said Sisolak of the ability to move into phase 2 by the end of May, or sooner.

"The beginning of the reopening of our economy is not the end of the coronavirus," said Sisolak during a press conference Thursday afternoon. "It's still with us, as strong as ever. It will not go away until there's a vaccine."

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - El Dorado County today declared a public health emergency to ensure appropriate resources and funding are available to the County in its response to novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's that time of the year when people are experiencing coughs, fevers, sore throats, body aches and runny or stuffy noses. It's flu season!

El Dorado County health officials said they saw an earlier start than normal of the flu season this year and now all regions of the country are seeing elevated widespread levels of flu-like illness.

Seasonal influenza activity in the United States has been elevated for five weeks and continues to increase, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

I’ve had this article in my head for months, bouncing around the walls of my brain, trying to decide where to go with it. There is an epidemic continuing to spread in this country. One that is curable without a vaccine, without drugs, without changing one’s diet. It’s called a Lack of Kindness.

Locals and tourists alike can feel it in South Lake Tahoe, as if a cloud of hate has descended over the lake. Pleasantries seem to be a forgotten art, as has simple kindness like holding a door open for another, or letting a car back out of a parking space, or a simple smile to a stranger.

Over 3,300 confirmed cases of the flu have been reported to the Washoe County Health District this flu season, leading to at least seven fatalities. These numbers have health officials urging everyone to take preventive measures to keep from contracting the nasty virus now circulating across the country. Of particular concern is this season’s H3N2 influenza virus which appears to be extremely virulent among young children and older adults.

Flu season is ramping up and the El Dorado County Public Health is reminding people to get vaccinated. Two Washoe County residents in their 80s died this week due to the flu.

“Thanksgiving week was the first week this fall that the numbers of people in the U.S. who saw their healthcare providers for flu-like symptoms were higher than baseline, heralding the onset of the flu season,” said El Dorado County Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams. “Vaccination can prevent the flu.”

Due to the recent increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Carson City, Douglas and Lyon Counties, the health departments in those communities are reminding members of the community to get vaccinated.

Low-cost community flu vaccination clinics will start in South Lake Tahoe on September 28 and on October 5 on the West Slope.

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Nursing will be conducting the clinics through mid-November for just $10 per vaccine. No one will be denied service due to inability to pay.

A horse living in the Greenwood community of El Dorado County has been infected with West Nile Virus according to county health officials.

"The horse is recovering and expected to survive, but the case reminds us that the virus is circulating and horse owners need to take precautions," said Fred Sanford with the El Dorado County Environmental Management Division (EMD). "Horses exposed to West Nile Virus (WNV) are vulnerable to serious complications and even death. Fortunately, a vaccine is available from many veterinarians that can protect horses."

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Division will begin conducting low-cost community flu vaccination clinics in South Lake Tahoe this fall. Seasonal influenza vaccine will be available in nasal mist and flu shot forms at the clinics.

A controversial bill that abolishes "personal belief exemptions" for vaccinations won overwhelming approval in the California Senate on Thursday, bolstering supporters' hopes that it will also clear the Assembly and be signed into law.

The measure by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan, of Sacramento, and Ben Allen, of Santa Monica -- introduced after a outbreak of measles in December at Disneyland sickened 136 Californians -- passed 25-10 after the two senators agreed to compromises aimed at easing its passage.

April 12 to 18 was national Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. Cancer from the neck up is typically associated with the tongue, throat, and voice box. But oral, head, and neck cancers can also occur in the mouth, lips, thyroid glands, nasal cavity, or sinuses.

Traditionally, tobacco and alcohol users were considered the populations at greatest risk. Now, according to new research from the American Academy of Otolaryngology, about ten percent of new cases of oral cancer is attributed to human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted infection.