December 8, 2020 – Two additional casualties and 35 new confirmed cases reported in Nevada County today. Total positive cases stand at 1,811 with 1,251 released from isolation. 541 active cases with 18 hospitalizations – 4 in ICU.

Thirty-one of the thirty-five new cases are in western Nevada County.

“Social gatherings are still a significant driver for new COVID cases in Nevada County,” Nevada County Public Health Director Jill Blake said in a news release. “We continue to see the most cases in sectors like healthcare, including skilled nursing facilities; food service; schools and daycare; and offices. Cases are spiking around the state and Nevada County is no exception. Although it is hard to change our holiday plans, we can begin to lower the increasing impact to our hospitals, businesses and our community by sticking with our household, maintaining at least a 6 foot distance from others, and wearing a mask when at work or out in our communities.”

Current COVID Guidelines

The State continues to implement a county-by-county tier system for areas who are not under a Regional Stay at Home Order triggered when ICU capacity is under 15 percent. Nevada County remains in the State’s Purple “Widespread” Tier today.  It is projected that Nevada County and the Greater Sacramento region’s ICU capacity could drop below 15% this week and was updated to 18.8% today. 

Once announced, counties in that region would move into a regional Stay at Home Order by 11:59pm the next day and would remain in effect for a minimum of 3 weeks. Learn more about the possible regional Stay at Home Order at COVID19.ca.gov. 

To help keep the community informed, protect essential workers, and to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed, Nevada County plans to send out a CodeRED Emergency Alert to residents and visitors if Nevada County does move into a Stay-at-Home Order due to regional hospital capacity. Learn more and subscribe to CodeRED Emergency Alerts at www.readynevadacounty.org/codered or call 1-833-DIAL211 for assistance

The State is planning to send out a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) to counties who are in the Southern California and San Joaquin Valley regions and are currently under the regional Stay at Home Order. Subsequent WEA messages could be sent to other regions of the state, like Nevada County, if they move into stay-at-home status. Any messages are informational only, and individuals who receive wireless alerts should not contact law enforcement or call 9-1-1.