Adams County moves to yellow during weekly health alert level reassessment; no other changes made to health alert levels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adams County moves to yellow during weekly health alert level reassessment; no other changes made to health alert levels
CALDWELL, IDAHO – Daily incidence rates continue to edge up across the majority of the district. Based on data available for October 11, 2020 – October 24, 2020, Adams County was moved from the gray to the yellow alert level. No other changes were made to the health alert levels. The information used to in determining county health alert levels is listed below.
ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Adams County will move to the yellow health alert level, with many new cases of COVID-19 reported between October 11, 2020 and October 24, 2020. Adams County had an incidence rate of 3.03 daily new cases per 10,000 people which shows a surge in COVID-19 cases. Many of these new cases can be traced to one cluster of COVID-19 cases. Due to the size and kindred relationships within the community, this cluster has spread quickly throughout the community. One school in Adams County is experiencing a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within the school.
CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate[1] and an increasing rate of cluster outbreaks from community gatherings. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 3.05 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up. Only 53.7% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are continuing to see cases exposed through out of town travel as well as community gatherings. Eight congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks[2]. Some healthcare facilities in Canyon County are nearing capacity for inpatient and ICU bed and have concerns about critical care staffing. These hospitals are considering cancelling elective surgeries to conserve resources. Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting an outbreak or transmission within the school.
GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Gem County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to an increasing incidence rate and relatively low positivity rate. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.13 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. One congregate care facilities in Gem County is facing a sustained COVID-19 outbreak. 70.59% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending down and points to some community transmission. Multiple sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 were identified in Gem County schools, with no evidence of transmission within the schools.
OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Owyhee County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.05 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. Only 29.03% of cases report knowing where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is very concerning and points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks as a result of exposure in workplaces and households. There were multiple sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 within Owyhee County schools during the two-week date range with no evidence of transmission within schools.
PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red
Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level, due to a high COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as a very high positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.43 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing. Only 43.40% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which in decreasing and points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks within local workplace settings, households, and as a result of community events. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 16.00%, which is increasing and is very high. Payette County has made progress in controlling COVID-19 within their community, but we would like to see a much lower positivity rate before movement between levels. One Payette County school is seeing a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within schools.
WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Washington County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a high daily incidence rate and a high positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.81 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 11.46%, which is increasing and much higher than we would like to see. Only 48.65% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. Multiple Washington County schools are currently seeing sporadic, imported cases with no evidence of transmission occurring within schools.
WEEKLY CASES BY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The following table represents data on confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases among students and staff where investigations began between October 18, 2020 and October 24, 2020.
The following table represents data on the number of staff and students currently in quarantine and isolation on the day the data are pulled and may not account for individuals who have been released from quarantine or are just entering quarantine.
Those in quarantine have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and are being asked to stay home for 14 days to monitor for symptoms. Those in isolation are currently positive for COVID-19 and are asked to isolate away from others for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms to prevent further spread of the infection.
Region 3 data are available on the Southwest District Health website at: https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/. Please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.
[1] The incidence rate measures how many cases occur each day, and standardizes this value by population. SWDH measures the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population using the following calculation: daily confirmed and probable cases are averaged over the two-week period. This value is divided by the county population, and then multiplied by 10,000 to find the daily incidence per 10,000.
[2] According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “Long-term care facility means a nursing home, assisted living facility, or intermediate care facility. There are just over 400 long-term care facilities in Idaho. Outbreak means at least one lab-confirmed COVID-19-positive case associated with a facility.”
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Media Contacts:
Katrina Williams Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov