Health officials in Shasta County are urging people to celebrate New Year’s Eve with members of their own households.
Public Health Officer Karen Ramstrom said in a media call Wednesday that the county saw upticks in COVID-19 cases following holiday gatherings earlier this year.
“We highly encourage people to just celebrate with your household,” Ramstrom said. “Maybe have a Zoom happy hour, or a glass of Champagne with your remote friends and family.
If you recall, Halloween was not great for us, and, so, I worry that that can happen again.”
Thus far, 73 Shasta County residents have died from COVID-19. Twenty-six of those deaths have been reported in December.
Ramstrom said she expects the death toll to increase. Elsewhere in the North State, Butte County has reported 90 deaths from the disease.
In the Yuba-Sutter region, 67 people have died. Regional stay-at-home orders remain in effect for the 13 counties comprising the Greater Sacramento region, including the North State counties of Butte, Colusa, Plumas, Yuba and Sutter.
Case numbers for all California counties can be found on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.