>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," WE KICK OFF A NEW PROJECT TO EXAMINE PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUE HUMBOLDT COUNTY RESIDENTS AND WHAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY, ARE DOING TO GET THEM FIXED.

WE START WITH THE DEARTH OF DENTISTRY IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

ALSO COVID-19 ONCE AGAIN REARS ITS UGLY HEAD WITH TWO REPORTED DEATHS AND LOTS OF INFECTIONS.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR RYAN HUTSON WILL BRING US THE DETAILS.

COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".

LIVE CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", I'M JAMES FAULK, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WELL MAINTAINED TEETH MEAN A LACK OF TOOTH PAIN, BUT IT GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT.

A SOCIETY JUDGE PEOPLE HASHLY IF THEIR TEETH ARE NOT PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, PERFECTLY WHITE AND ALL THERE.

IT CAN COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THOSE TEETH MEET THOSE STANDARDS.

IF THEY DON'T, ANGUISH AND ANXIETY.

HOW MANY DENTIST VISITS AND SHOTS INTO THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH AND HOW MANY DENTAL SURGERIES WHEN WE WERE KIDS THE COST SEEMED AN ABSTRACTION, SOMETHING MOM AND DAD TOOK CARE OF IN THE SHADOWS, BUT WHEN YOU BECOME THE PARENT OR FACED WITH PAIN IN YOUR OWN DENTAL WORK THE NUMBERS CAN QUITE LITERALLY BREAK YOUR BANK.

IT SEEMS WE HAVE NO CHOICE, PAY UP OR BECOME A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN.

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE WORK, THAT IS ON YOU AS WELL ESPECIALLY IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FACING DENTAL PATIENTS AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND GET MORE AND BETTER DENTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO SEE EVERYONE'S DENTAL ISSUES ADDRESSED AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

LET'S FIND OUT.

TOGETHER JOURNALIST LINDA STANSBERRY AND I ARE STARTING A NEW SERIES WHAT IS WRONG WITH HUMBOLDT AND HOW DO WE FIX IT.

THANK YOU, LINDA.

LET'S START WITH THE BASIC QUESTION.

IS HUMBOLDT COUNTY WORSE OFF THAN ELSEWHERE IN TERMS OF DENTAL HEALTH CARE.

>> YES.

DENTAL HEALTH CARE IS ONE OF THE MANY HEALTH CARE EQUITY ISSUES WE HAVE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

WE HAVE HUGE GAPS IN OUR ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, PRENATAL CARE, YOU NAME IT.

DENTAL HEALTH CARE STANDS OUT BECAUSE DENTAL EMERGENCIES, UNLIKE OTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCIES REALLY FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE SPECTRUM OF WHAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS PREPARED TO ADDRESS.

IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AT THE HOSPITAL AND THE HOSPITAL YOU ARE FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL OUT OF THE AREA, BUT IF YOU HAVE A GUM INFECTION, A BADLY NEEDED ROOT CANAL OR CHIPPED OR CRACKED TOOTH YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR A SPECIALIST TO TREAT IT AND WE HAVE VERY FEW ENDODONTIC SPECIALISTS IN THE AREA.

PEOPLE OFTEN DEFER TREATMENT UNTIL PROBLEMS BECOME EXPENSIVE.

KIND OF LIKE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON A CAR OR HOUSE.

LITTLE PROBLEMS BECOME BIG PROBLEMS.

IF YOU QUALIFY FOR CALL DENTAL, YOU MAY FIND TREATMENT BUT FIND IT HARD TO ACCESS.

WE HAVE SIX CLINICS AND THE WAIT TIME IS MONTHS AND MOST DON'T HAVE SPECIALISTS TO TREAT MORE COMPLICATED ISSUES.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT OF THE AREA TO RECEIVE CARE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION OR STAYING IN ANOTHER TOWN YOU ARE REALLY OUT OF LUCK.

ONCE AGAIN THIS PROBLEM HAS A COMPOUNDED IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY MOST VULNERABLE ECONOMICALLY.

THERE ARE CURRENT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

I SPOKE WITH SUSAN SEAMAN, THE MAYOR OF EUREKA TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR CURRENT DENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND HOW TO FIX IT.

SUSAN SEAMAN, MAYOR OF EUREKA AND ADVOCATE FOR BETTER DENTAL CARE.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE WORKING ON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, LINDA.

LET THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

I HAVE BECOME AN ADVOCATE SINCE I BECAME MAYOR.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ORIOLE CARE COMMITTEE AND TRYING TO DEVISE SOME PLANS TO GET BETTER ACCESS FOR EVERYBODY IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY DENTAL HEALTH CARE.

>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS ORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT?

>> I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

WAS THE PROJECT OF LAUREN McEWEN, WHO WORKED AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

SHE HAS BEEN THE ADVOCATE OF THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND SHE JUST RETIRED THIS MONTH.

I FEEL LIKE WE JUST LOST AN IMPORTANT VOICE ALTHOUGH I KNOW SHE IS STILL OUT THERE AND STILL WISHING US GOOD LUCK.

BEFORE SHE LEFT SHE MADE SURE TO KEEP THESE TWO COMMITTEES GOING, ONE OF THEM IS ORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM WHICH HAS REALLY TURNED INTO SORT OF A TASK FORCE AND A WORKING GROUP TO WORK SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ACCESS TO DENTAL HEALTH CARE ISSUE AND THEN THEY HAVE THE DAG, DENTAL ADVISORY GROUP.

>> I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP VACUUM ON THIS ISSUE.

SO THERE'S A SENSE THAT WE HAVE A PRESSING NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS TO DENTAL HEALTH CARE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY ANY ONE PERSON'S JOB, SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FULFILL THAT?

>> THAT IS THE CASE WITH SO MANY ISSUES, RIGHT?

AND ONE OF THE REASONS I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP IS BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS TALK ABOUT SOMETHING TO REALLY BE A CATALYST FOR GETTING STUFF TO MOVE FORWARD.

LAURA WAS SORT OF IN CHARGE OF THAT AND I REACHED OUT TO HERE AND WE DEVELOPED THIS TASK FORCE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT AS SHE WAS LEAVING THE OFFICE, SHE SET UP A MEETING WITH SOFIA PERRERA WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SHE SAID THOUGH WE ARE KIND OF IN THIS MURKY AREA WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A REAL PLAN, SHE IS COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT FALL OFF THE RADAR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF ACCESS OF DENTAL HEALTH CARE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY?

>> IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY THEY WILL HAVE A STORY ABOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

I WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS BECAME SUCH A BIG ISSUE FOR ME.

IT FIRST BECAME AN ISSUE WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH ON THE CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE AND I STARTED TO REALIZE HOW MUCH OF AN EFFECT ACCESS TO JUST GOOD DENTAL HEALTH HAD ON CHILDREN.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE REASON KIDS MISS SCHOOL.

AND THEN I REALLY STARTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE MISSING IN TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR DENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE MUCH BETTER FOR CHILDREN THAN WE ARE FOR ADULTS.

BUT THEN I HAD A YOUNG LADY WHO I KNEW WHO WAS IN HER 20s, TOTALLY FUNCTIONAL, YOU KNOW, NICE WOMAN WHO HAD NEED FOR A ROOT CANAL.

REALLY BAD ROOT CANAL.

BECAUSE SHE LET IT GO FOREVER.

SHE HAD MEDICAL AND DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A DENTIST.

BY THE TIME SHE WENT TO SEE A DENTIST IT WAS SO TERRIBLE THEY WERE LIKE, YOU'VE GOT TO GET THIS PULLED AND YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT OUT OF THE AREA AND SHE GOT AN APPOINTMENT FOR THREE MONTHS LATER.

THREE MONTHS WITH EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND SHE WAS LITERALLY KEEPING TRACK OF EVERY OVER THE COUNTER PAINKILLER SO SHE DIDN'T OVERDOZE BECAUSE SHE WAS TAKING THE MAXIMUM EVERY DAY.

SHE WAS FORTUNATE.

SHE ENDED UP GETTING INTO ONE OF THE ONE CLINICS HERE WHO WAS ABLE TO DO THE ROOT CANAL WITHOUT PULLING THE TOOTH SO HAPPY ENDING THERE.

THE ISSUE IS STILL THERE.

PEOPLE ARE POSTPONING OR LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN.

IT IS A NIGHTMARE.

AND SO THE FIRST TIME I HAD A MEETING, I MENTIONED IT DURING A COUNCIL MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT SOMEBODY STOOD UP AND SAID, I WAS HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DENTAL HEALTH CARE.

HE STILL HAD A BANDAGE ON HIS NECK.

I GOT AN INFECTION IN MY TOOTH, ENDED UP IN A COMA.

I WAS FLOWN OUT OF THE STATE, I THINK HE WAS IN OREGON TO GET SOME SURGERY.

HE RETURNED HOME AND STILL HAD THE BANDAGE.

HE SAID WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR TEETH SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> I 100% BELIEVE EVERYONE I KNOW HAS HAD ISSUE WITH ACCESSING HEALTH CARE, DENTAL HEALTH CARE, AFFORDING IT, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE F THEY HAVE THE MONEY AND THEY CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, GETTING THE TRANSPORTATION TO LEAVE THE AREA TO ACCESS IT.

SO CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE GAPS WE HAVE IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> I'M NOT EVEN TOUCHING AFFORDABILITY.

WE HAVE PATIENTS WHO HAVE INSURANCE AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW HELPFUL DENTAL INSURANCE IS NOT.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE COVERED YOU STILL FEEL LIKE YOU ARE AT A FINANCIAL LOSS.

WE HAVE MEDICAL DENTAL.

WE DO NOT HAVE A PRIVATE PRACTICE DENTIST IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY THAT TAKES MEDICAL DENTAL.

IT IS ONLY THE CLINICS THAT TAKE IT.

THERE IS YOUR BIG GAP.

TO SERVE EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAS MEDICAL WE WOULD NEED ABOUT 50 MORE DENTISTS, THAT IS 5-0.

FOR OUR REGULAR DENTISTS WHO ARE PRIVATE PRACTICE WE WOULD NEED ABOUT 30 MORE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SERVE ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE INSURANCE.

SO BETWEEN THE TWO THAT IS ABOUT 80 DENTISTS THAT WE COULD USE RIGHT NOW.

80 TO 85, NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THE POPULATION IS GROWING WITH CAL POLY, CLIMATE REFUGEES, THE POTENTIAL FOR THE WIND FARM.

WE ARE EXPECTING GROWTH IN THIS COMMUNITY SO WITH THAT WE NEED MORE DENTISTS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT 45% OF OUR CURRENT DENTISTS SAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING RETIRING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

NO SMALL ISSUE.

>> NO.

I'M SURPRISED PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

>> WE HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH DOCTORS.

WE BUILT THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND I'M HOPING THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM FOR DENTISTS OFFERED THROUGH OPEN DOOR COULD BE ONE WAY TO HELP MEET THIS NEED.

MY DREAM WOULD BE TO SOMEHOW CREATE PARTNERSHIP FROM RESIDENTS GOING TO THE CLINIC, HOOKING THEM UP WITH DENTISTS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT RETIRING AND HAVING THEM MOVE INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE AND BRINGING IN MORE RESIDENTS AND TRAINING THEM UP THAT WAY.

SOUNDS EASY, BUT IN ORDER TO BRING IN MORE RESIDENTS, WE NEED ANOTHER DENTAL INSTRUCTOR, WHICH IS A DENTIST THAT HAS SPECIAL TEACHING CREDENTIALS.

SO WE NEED TO RECRUIT ONE OF THOSE.

AND WE NEED MORE HYGIENISTS AND DENTAL ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT THOSE RESIDENTS >> SO IT IS A WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF DENTAL SPECIALISTS WE NEED TO SLOT INTO THESE ROLES.

THIS KIND OF GETS TO THE THEME OR THE TITLE OF OUR SEGMENT, WHICH IS, WHAT'S WRONG WITH HUMBOLDT AND HOW TO FIX IT.

WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH HUMBOLDT IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DENTISTS.

AND HOW TO FIX IT IS, WELL, PARTIALLY, GET MORE DENTISTS.

WHAT'S STANDING IN OUR WAY?

WHAT ARE OUR OBSTACLES?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT IS A WHOLE ECOSYSTEM.

WE NEED DENTISTS, DENTAL ASSISTANTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO PUT OUT THERE ENCOURAGING OUR LOCAL COLLEGES TO CONSIDER A HYGIENIST SCHOOL.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PATHWAYS, WHICH IS A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE HOSPITALS AS WELL IS GROWING OUR OWN.

IT IS A LOT EASIER TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA WHO ARE CONNECTED TO THE AREA TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE AND TO STAY HERE.

SO AND THEY DON'T ALL HAVE TO GROW UP TO BE DENTISTS.

THEY COULD GROW UP TO BE DENTAL ASSISTANTS OR OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

>> WELL, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THAT IS A FAIRLY WELL-PAYING JOB WITH GREAT BENEFITS, INCLUDING DENTAL BENEFITS SO MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A CAREER CHANGE OR CAREER PATHWAY.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOUSING AND HOW IT IMPACTS THIS AREA OF PROFESSIONALS?

>> THIS IS AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

HOUSING IS A REAL ROADBLOCK FOR GROWING THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WE NEED.

SO IF WE WERE TO HAVE THIS MIRACULOUS GROUP OF DENTISTS, LIKE I WAS SAYING, A WHOLE DENTAL SCHOOL SAYS WE ARE ALL GOING MOVE TO HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND SAVE THEM AND SERVE THEM AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL AND WE HAVE NOWHERE FOR THEM TO LIVE.

EVEN IF WE HAD HALF OF THEM, 40 PEOPLE COME UP AND SAY WE NEED 40 DIFFERENT HOUSES FOR OUR FAMILIES, THAT'S A REALLY BIG LIFT.

MEDICAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, CHILDCARE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE PART OF ANY DISCUSSION WE HAVE.

IF WE ARE GOING TO GET A NEW BUSINESS OR GROW A BUSINESS BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, HOW MANY MORE DENTISTS DO WE NEED TO SERVE THEM?

HOW MANY MORE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS?

HOW MANY MORE DOCTORS?

IF WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT COMPLETE DISCUSSION WE ARE JUST GOING END UP WITH A MESS, SO -- >> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE ISSUE, TOO, OF SPOUSES, PARTNERS OF PROFESSIONALS WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT HERE AND WHAT THAT ENTAILS.

>> PARTICULARLY IN THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL INDUSTRY WE WILL RECRUIT FOLKS TO COME UP HERE AND THEIR PARTNERS JUST AREN'T COMPLETELY SOLD WITH THE IDEA OF HUMBOLDT.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP CONNECT THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS AS STRONGLY AS WE WANT TO CONNECT THE ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL.

BECAUSE IF YOU COME UP HERE AND YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE OR PARTNER DOESN'T WANT TO BE HERE, IT IS REALLY HARD FOR YOU TO STAY.

>> THEY OFTEN ALSO HAVE CAREERS WHICH THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PURSUE IN THIS REGION.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE THE RISE OF REMOTE WORK MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS?

>> I THINK THAT THE CAREER THING IS BECOMING LESS OF AN ISSUE.

WE ARE GETTING A LOT -- WE HAVE THE NEED FOR A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS UP HERE.

THERE USED TO BE A TIME WHEN IT WAS VERY HARD TO FIND A JOB IN HUMBOLDT.

IT IS NOT HARD ANYMORE.

SO IF YOU HAVE A SKILL AND YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE TALENTED AND HAVE CERTAIN SKILLS, WE WILL EMBRACE THE WHOLE FAMILY AND BE GLAD FOR THAT, SO -- >> I LOVE THAT BECAUSE I AM SEEING A HUGE JOB MARKET FOR SPECIFIC NICHES IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

HR PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAVE A HUGE NEED FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK IN HR.

WHAT ELSE >> ACCOUNTING.

TRADES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU COME UP AND YOU ARE A DENTIST AND YOUR SPOUSE IS A PLUMBER, WOW, WE LOVE YOU.

SO ALL KINDS OF TRADES, ENGINEERS.

THIS IS A VERY SMALL ONE, BUT JUDGES.

WE NEED JUDGES.

WE NEED TEACHERS.

>> LAWYERS.

>> LAWYERS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THE NEED FOR THOSE SO MUCH, BUT, YOU KNOW -- >> THERAPISTS.

>> FOR SURE.

ANYBODY WHO WORKS IN MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, ACCOUNTANTS, SO THERE IS A -- NOW WE HAVE LOTS OF ENERGY, WIND ENERGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY SERVICES.

WE CAN USE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE UP HERE.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL EMERGING FIELDS RIGHT NOW.

>> YES, WE DO.

>> I WOULD SAY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NICHE FOR YOURSELF AND IF YOU'RE NEW TO A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY OR PROFESSION, A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH AND LEARNING AND TRAINING.

>> THE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IS THE THING WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD AT OR AT LEAST THE 30 YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE, I THINK MUCH LONGER, WE HAVE A VERY ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE HER.

SO, YEAH, IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, START YOUR OWN BUSINESS, THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS.

>> MAKE YOUR PITCH.

YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF EUREKA.

IF WE ARE TRYING TO BRING IN DENTISTS AND THEIR SPOUSES, WHAT IS YOUR PITCH FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR?

>> A SIMILAR PITCH TO MOST RURAL COMMUNITIES, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOUR INVOLVEMENT HERE COULD BE LIFE CHANGING.

IF THAT'S WHAT MOVES YOU, THAT'S GREAT.

THEN YOU HAVE THE REGULAR, THE WEATHER IS AMAZING.

THE IS NATURE IS WONDERFUL.

SMALL TOWN FEEL.

BUT IT IS -- I HAVE WRITTEN ON MY WALL, YOU'RE HUMBOLDT OR YOU ARE NOT.

I HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY DON'T ALWAYS FALL IN LOVE LIKE I DID AND SOMETIMES THEY NEED TO FIND WHAT MAKES IT WORK FOR THEM.

WHICH IS WHY I THINK CONNECTING THEM WITH PEOPLE IS REALLY THE WAY TO DO IT.

>> IF YOU LIVE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WAITING TIME AT THOSE CLINICS WITH BE MONTHS.

>> WOW.

LET'S SEE THAT NEXT GRAPHIC.

IF THEY WERE ALL TRYING TO SERVE EVERYONE, 55,202 PATIENTS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, THEY WOULD EACH HAVE TO HAVE 9,200 PATIENTS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

AN ADDITIONAL 84 DENTISTS ARE NEEDED FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> YES.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, RECRUITMENT, YOU HAVE TO WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE UP HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE ASKING A LOT.

>> IS IT?

I LOVE HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

>> I LOVE IT, BUT THAT IS A LOT.

WHAT IS DENTIST BAIT?

A SUGAR FACTORY UP HERE?

>> I WILL SMILE REALLY BIG SO THEY GET A GOOD LOOK AT MY TEETH.

MAYBE THAT WILL BRING THEM IN.

>> LINDA, THANK YOU AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

>> THANK YOU, JAMES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> NEWER VARIANTS OF OMICRON HAVE HIT HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

COVID IS FAR FROM OVER.

RYAN HUTSON HAS THE STORY.

>> THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.

SINCE THE START OF 2022 IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, WE HAVE LOST SEVEN FULLY VACCINATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND 23 MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT FULLY VACCINATED HAVE ALSO DIED.

SINCE DATA COLLECTION BEGAN, THE COUNTY TOTALLED 24 DEATHS IN VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS FAR OUTNUMBERED BY THE 127 UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUAL LIVES LOST TO COVID-19 ACROSS THE COUNTY.

A RURAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOARD OF HEALTH OFFICERS CALLED RANCHO NOTES RECENTLY THE EVOLVING SURGE IS NEWER VARIANTS OF OM, ICON WHICH IS PASSED MORE WITH BA4 AND BA5 SUB VARIANTS OUT AND ABOUT IN CIRCULATION.

LOOKING AT THE STATE'S DATA SHOWING CURRENT INFECTION RATES HUMBOLDT COUNTY IS CONSIDERED HIGH RATES WITH COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RATES SURGING.

THE BA5 VARIANT IS ABLE TO DODGE SOME AMOUNT OF VACCINE IMMUNITY AND NATURAL IMMUNITY.

DOCTORS HAVE ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE SPIKE IN PROTEIN TO ALLOW IT TO AVOID -- THE EMERGING VARIANTS ARE PROVING TO BE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AND ABLE TO INFECT VACCINATED PERSONS IN LARGER NUMBERS THAN PREVIOUS VARIANTS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS RECENTLY MADE NOTE THAT THE VIRUS HAS EVOLVED TO HAVE A SHORTER INCUBATION PERIOD AVERAGING TWO TO THREE DAYS.

AND REMINDS THE PUBLIC THIS VIRUS IS AIRBORNE AND DOES SPREAD EASILY THROUGH THE AIR FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK AND GET TESTED.

FOR "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", THIS IS RYAN HUTSON.

>> ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LINDA STANSBERRY FOR COMING ON THE SHOW TODAY.

SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST OF THE HIGH CALIBER IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY SO SHE PART OF OUR TEAM.

WE HAVE A PODCAST ON SPOTIFY RIGHT NOW AND SOON ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST SERVICES.

PREDICTABLY IT IS CALLED WHAT IS WRONG WITH HUMBOLDT AND HOW DO WE FIX IT.

IF YOU HAVE IDEAS ABOUT ISSUES THAT BOTHER PEOPLE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES OR INEQUITIES, PLEASE SEND US YOUR IDEAS AT WHAT'S WRONG WITH HUMIDITY AT KEET-TV.ORG.

WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS SHOW ABOUT YOUR NEEDS.

THAT IS ALL OF OUR TIME THIS EVENING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

STAY TUNED.

STAY INFORMED.