Students housed at Comfort Inn

CPH students housed at Comfort Inn

Finding some comfort in housing

by Frank Rocha

Cal Poly Humboldt housing department has contracted with the Comfort Inn off-campus to provide more housing options for students. This plan is being implemented as a temporary solution to the impacted housing crisis Humboldt County has been experiencing.

After receiving the newsletter email sent by housing, Comfort Inn resident Gabriela “Gaby” Mendez Garcia jumped at the chance for any available housing right before the fall semester began.

“What made me decide [the Comfort Inn], it was really last minute. As long as I find housing at this point. I'm grateful for it,” Mendez Garcia said.

Two weeks into the fall semester, students are still trying to find housing on or off-campus. Residencies are filling up quickly, according to the Comfort Inn on Sept. 4, there are only three rooms available out of 49. The rooms offered at the inn are exclusively for upperclassmen students.

Room amenities Transportation

Residents can expect regular hotel room amenities as well as free maid service, an indoor pool, a modestly-sized gym, limited free parking and complimentary continental breakfast every morning from 6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Mendez Garcia believes there is plenty of food to go around and is glad to get a complimentary breakfast every morning.

“It’s kind of like the J here on campus, but a little less (items available),” Mendez Garcia said. “You can get as much as you want during breakfast. I’am okay with it.”

The Comfort Inn is located about a seven minute drive from campus, a little more than two miles away. Comfort Inn residents have to rely on public transportation or ride sharing applications to get around. A shuttle service is in the works of being implemented by the university.

“I believe the shuttle service is being worked on and should be posted soon, this is in addition to the public bus service...Cal Poly Humboldt will offer shuttle service for an extra convenience for the residents,” said Stephen St. Onge, associate vice president of student success, in an email to El Leñador.

There is no word on when that service will be fully offered or how much it would cost for residents to use. More information on the shuttle service will be released in the future, according to St. Onge.

Comfort Inn in Arcata houses Cal Poly Humboldt students for the 2022-23 school year. | Photo by Frank Rocha

Safety at the Comfort Inn

The inn recently installed a perimeter fencing around the property that is key card accessed by residents and employees only. The camera surveillance system, University Police and hotel staff patrol the property regularly, providing a 24-hour help desk service. Additionally, two Cal Poly Humboldt Resident Assistants stay at the Comfort Inn.

“I feel like it's calmer over here,” said Mendez Garcia. “I'm from Oakland, I haven’t felt unsafe or anything. But I do carry around my pepper spray for sure.”

According to the housing website, staying at the Comfort Inn saves you $1,326 per year on traditional housing rates for a double. Overall, Mendez Garcia and other residents believe it has not been a sorry experience since their time staying at the Comfort Inn. Many are just grateful they have a place to their name and are not “hounding” for a place to stay weeks already into the school year.

New COVID-19 booster coming to Humboldt County

by Ricardo Lara Nava

Nuevo refuerzo de COVID-19 que llega al condado de Humboldt

por Ricardo Lara Nava traducido por Desiree Osornio

On September 1, the CDC authorized updated COVID-19 booster vaccinations that specifically target OMICRON and developing variants. Two days ago theFDA authorized the use of the new booster from Pfizer in partnership with BioNTech and Moderna.

When is the new booster available in Humboldt?

Terrence Mcnally, Emergency Preparedness Program Coordinator at Humboldt County Department of Human and Health Services, communicated with us through email on September 6, saying,

“The boosters received state approval this morning and Humboldt County distribution is being coordinated. Public Health will receive boosters in coming days. We’ll announce when Public Health clinics will begin administering the new bivalent boosters as well as walk-in clinic times and locations. The boosters will be available for the general public.”

If you have COVID-19

On August 11, the CDC sent out a new set of COVID-19 guidelines on what to do if tested positive. According to the press release: • If you test positive for COVID-19, you stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. Wear a high-quality mask when you must be around others at home and in public. • Physical distance is just one component of how to protect yourself and others. It is important to consider the risk in a particular setting, including local COVID-19 Community Levels and the important role of ventilation, when assessing the need to maintain physical distance.

Where to get tested for COVID?

As of Sept. 2, COVID.gov will stop sending COVID-19 rapid tests to homes. On their website they state, “Ordering through this program will be suspended [on Friday, Sept. 2] because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.”

However, the DHHS still offers COVID-19 testing by appointment at lhi. care/covidtesting or calling 888-634-1123. You can get tested at these locations after making an appointment:

Eureka

Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, Eureka 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week Closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 4 to 5 p.m.

McKinleyville

Azalea Hall, 1620 Picket Road Mondays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m.

Trinidad

Trinidad Town Hall, 409 Trinity St. Alternate Tuesdays: Sept. 13 and 27 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m.

Fortuna

Fortuna River Lodge, 1800 Riverwalk Dr. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m. Closed Sept. 28

Hoopa

Tsewenaldin Inn – 12482 State Highway 96, Ca 95546 Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m.

Arcata

Arcata D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D St. Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m. Closed Oct. 14, Nov. 18

Photo Courtesy by CDC

El 1 de septiembre, el Centro de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) autorizó la actualización de las vacunas de refuerzo de COVID-19 que se dirigen específicamente a OMICRON y a las variantes en desarrollo. Hace dos días, la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA) autorizó el uso del nuevo refuerzo de Pfizer en asociación con BioNTech y Moderna.

Cuándo estará disponible el nuevo refuerzo en Humboldt?

Terrence Mcnally, Coordinador del Programa de Preparación para Emergencias del Departamento de Servicios Humanos y de Salud del Condado de Humboldt, se comunicó con nosotros por correo electrónico el 6 de septiembre, diciendo "Los refuerzos han recibido la aprobación del estado esta mañana y se está coordinando la distribución en el condado de Humboldt. Salud Pública recibirá los refuerzos en los próximos días. Anunciaremos cuándo las clínicas de Salud Pública empezarán a administrar los nuevos refuerzos bivalentes, así como los horarios y lugares de las clínicas sin cita previa. Los refuerzos estarán disponibles para el público en general".

Si tienes COVID-19

El 11 de agosto, el CDC envió una nueva serie de instrucciones sobre el COVID-19 sobre lo que hay que hacer si la prueba es positiva. Recomiendan, según el anuncio de prensa • Si das positivo en la prueba de COVID-19, quédate en casa al menos 5 días y aléjate de los demás en tu casa. Es probable que seas más infeccioso durante estos primeros 5 días. Usa una mascarilla de alta calidad cuando tengas que estar cerca de otras personas en casa y en público. • La distancia física es sólo un componente de la forma de protegerte a ti y a los demás. Es importante tener en cuenta el riesgo en un entorno concreto, incluidos los niveles comunitarios de COVID-19 locales y el importante papel de la ventilación, a la hora de evaluar la necesidad de mantener la distancia física.

¿Dónde hacer la prueba del COVID?

A partir del 2 de septiembre, COVID. gov dejará de enviar las pruebas rápidas de COVID-19 a domicilio. En su sitio web indican: "Los pedidos a través de este programa se suspenderán [el viernes 2 de septiembre] porque el Congreso no ha proporcionado fondos adicionales para reponer las cantidades de pruebas del país".

Sin embargo, el DHHS sigue ofreciendo pruebas de COVID-19 con cita previa en lhi.care/covidtesting o llamando al 888-634-1123. Puedes hacerte la prueba en estos lugares después de pedir cita:

Eureka

Edificio Wharfinger, 1 Marina Way, Eureka De 7 a.m. a 7 p.m., los siete días de la semana Cerrado de 11 a.m. a mediodía y de 4 a 5 p.m.

McKinleyville

Azalea Hall, 1620 Picket Road Lunes, de 8 a 6 p.m. Cerrado de 11 a.m. a mediodía y de 3 a 4 p.m.

Trinidad

Trinidad Town Hall, 409 Trinity St. Martes alternos: 13 y 27 de septiembre De 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. Cerrado de 11 a 12 y de 2 a 3 de la tarde.

Fortuna

Fortuna River Lodge, 1800 Riverwalk Dr. Miércoles, de 8 a 6 p.m. Cerrado de 11 a.m. a mediodía y de 3 a 4 de la tarde . Cerrado el 28 de septiembre

Hoopa

Tsewenaldin Inn - 12482 State Highway 96, CA 95546 Jueves, de 9 a.m. a 4 de la tarde Cerrado de 11 a.m. a mediodía y de 2 a 3 p.m.

Arcata

Arcata D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D St. Viernes, de 8 a 6 p.m. Cerrado de 11 a.m. a mediodía y de 3 a 4 de la tarde Cerrado el 14 de octubre y el 18 de noviembre