Two Del Norte County residents died from complications with COVID-19 earlier this month, according to the county’s public health department.The deaths were reported April 12, and the department announced them April 15.“That was the first time that we have lost two persons over such a short time frame. Both persons were elderly and had underlying health conditions, but it shows that it can still happen,” Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, the county’s public health officer, wrote in an announcement about the deaths.#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('');Both individuals were in their 70s and died at Sutter Coast Hospital, according to the department. The additional deaths mean seven have now died with the virus.Meanwhile, the county is entering its 11th week in the red tier of virus restrictions, where it has remained longer than any other county in California.After state health officials changed the requirements to drop to the strictest tier of restrictions, Rehwaldt said last week the county would be unlikely to return to the purple tier any time soon. As of Tuesday, the county had reported 58 new cases of the virus in the past two weeks. The same day, the county was reporting 27 active cases in the community, one of the lowest rates in several weeks.Cases are down across the state, with average new cases, hospitalizations and virus-related deaths approaching their lowest rates in months. As of Tuesday, the state’s seven-day average daily case rate was down 11% from two weeks prior, the LA Times reported.On the vaccination front, around 12,800 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Del Norte County, according to state health officials.As of Tuesday, administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine remained paused state- and nationwide as federal officials review the use of the vaccine.County health officials are still holding weekly vaccination events on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds. Limited clinics are also available at Smith River Elementary School. Registration is available online at https://myturn.as.me/schedule.php or by calling 707-951-6679.Sutter Health is also offering clinics on Thursdays and Fridays. More information is online at www.sutterhealth.org/coast/for-patients/health-alerts/covid-19-vaccine.A handful of local pharmacies are also offering vaccines: RiteAid is making appointments online at www.riteaid.com/covid-19, Safeway is making appointments online at www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html​ and Walgreens is making appointments online at www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19​ or by phone at 1-800-WALGREENS.Walmart is also making vaccine appointments online at www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });