The percentage of people who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 in Del Norte County held steady this past week, according to public health officials at the weekly COVID briefing on Thursday.This despite 343 new cases in the last two weeks, and most were younger unvaccinated people.The weekly COVID-19 surge meeting revealed that victims of the virus between 18 and 49 make up nearly three times more than any other age group. It’s a troubling trend which continues to be demonstrated in the numbers: 1,878 cases. Younger people occupy 55% of all new cases. 343 new infections presented in the past two weeks.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');10,550 people or 46% of Del Norte County residents are still without the vaccine. 45.8% are vaccinated, and just over 8% have had at least one shot of vaccine.County Supervisor Valerie Starkey suggested that in addition to discussing the importance of being vaccinated, people continue to need information about what to do if they get the virus. “If you get it, you need to know what options are available to you,” she said.Currently, Monoclonal Antibody treatments are available if caught early enough. Public Health official Doctor Aaron Stutz urged everyone to see a doctor if you develop symptoms.“We don’t want people dying in their homes because they’re worried about going to a doctor,” he said.Starkey also applauded the continued cooperation between agencies at her recent Board of Supervisors meeting.“I appreciate the collaboration especially with the huge surge in cases in the past couple of weeks,” she said.60% of Del Norte County staff are now vaccinated, according to county officials. When the September 30 order applying to medical workers goes into effect, Supervisor Starkey said she is concerned about staff levels. “I think it’s something we have to be prepared for.”Her sentiment is shared by Del Norte Schools Superintendent Jeff Harris, who continues to urge parents to keep children home from school if they’re symptomatic and to practice the protocols at home that they have at school - wash hands frequently, keep the mask on and if anyone in the home feels sick, get tested and wait for results before going out.County officials additionally requested that all events which may attract large groups be cancelled or postponed to avoid the spread of COVID due to close contact partly because Del Norte County has yet to get to the half way point in vaccination rates. It remains one of the counties in California with the fewest vaccinations and the highest incidence of new cases.With the recent failure to recall Governor Gavin Newsom, it’s expected that the governor’s stand on aggressive policies to limit the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant will continue. Despite the news two of his own children tested positive for the virus, Newsom is expected to continue advocating for vaccinations. The people, he said, “Voted yes to science, yes, to vaccines, yes to ending this pandemic.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });