Delta variant didn’t hit Placer County as hard as 2020’s winter surge, new data show

The delta variant didn’t hit Placer County quite as hard as anticipated, new data show, falling short of the impacts of 2020’s winter COVID-19 surge.

According to the county’s epidemiology report, cases and deaths peaked in August but showed signs of decline by September.

Nearly 5,500 cases were reported in Placer County during the height of the delta variant surge in August. By October that number had dropped to 2,065. The highest number of deaths occurred in September, with the county reporting 65 people dying of COVID-related complications.

Hospitalizations hit a peak on Sept. 4 with 56 people hospitalized in ICU beds. The majority of those were adults 50 and older. Twenty-eight people under the age of 49 were hospitalized with COVID-19 through September and October, including two children under the age of 5.

While September had the third highest number of deaths since the start of the pandemic, the number still didn’t approach the record number of cases and hospitalizations set in December 2020. During last year’s winter surge, 7,115 cases were reported and 93 people died.

Of the 450 deaths in Placer County since the start of the pandemic, 29 people were fully vaccinated before becoming ill and later dying, according to the epidemiology report. The county said all 29 had multiple comorbidities – meaning they had multiple medical conditions or diseases – and two were immunocompromised.

“Deaths in August-September 2021 averaged 72.4 years, compared to age 80.8 years in December-January of 2020-21,” the county said.

And 13 people or 45% of those who died were fully vaccinated and residents of long-term care facilities, which have some of the highest vaccination rates, ranging between 68 to 90% among residents and staff.

Epidemiologists attempted to interview more than 4,556 people to investigate exposures. Of those, 1,913 responded, showing household transmission remains the leading cause of exposure, the epidemiology report said.

Placer County continues to show signs of improvement as it emerges from the delta variant surge. As of Monday, the case rate now stands at 15.2 cases per 100,000, and the test positivity rate is 4.5%.

Prior to this surge, Placer County was among the most vaccinated counties in California, reporting more 400,000 doses administered and more than half of its adult population fully vaccinated. Nearly half, 47.7%, of its youth population is also fully vaccinated.

Unlike Sacramento County, Placer County did not reinstate its mask mandate, instead asking residents to voluntarily use “high-quality” masks while indoors, such as surgical or KN95 masks.

This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 9:54 AM.