Tehama County health officials say there's been a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Cases of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are also expected to start rising soon, as we enter the fall and winter seasons.
"The key thing with both COVID-19 and the flu is you want to start those antiviral treatments as soon as you possibly can," said Tehama County Public Health Officer Tim Peters.
He recommends everyone to get a flu-shot. He also advises the COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 and older, people with pre-existing health conditions, and people who plan on becoming pregnant. It should also be given to children from 6 to 23 months.
It should also be given to children from 6 to 23 months.
The late summer surge in COVID has become a yearly event, Peters said, and the recent rise in cases was seen across the state.
"It's kind of this bimodal pattern where we'll have a surge of cases here in the summer, this one, particularly in late summer," he said. "Then I would expect we'll probably see another surge of COVID-19 sometime in the winter.”
Tehama public health will host a free flu vaccine clinic on Oct. 18 at the Government Center Parking Lot in Red Bluff. They’ll only offer the flu shot, Peters said, noting COVID-19 vaccines are available at local pharmacies.
