All six counties have moved out of the red health alert level; Counties within Southwest District Health’s jurisdiction continue to see declining daily incidence rates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
All six counties have moved out of the red health alert level; Counties within Southwest District Health’s jurisdiction continue to see declining daily incidence rates
CALDWELL, IDAHO – COVID-19 continues to spread throughout District 3. Some areas within District 3 are experiencing a downward trend in COVID-19, with declining daily incidence rates and positivity rates. However, some areas in District 3 are still experiencing elevated rates of COVID-19 incidence. This is based on data available for the date range January 24, 2021 – February 6, 2021. Adams, Canyon, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington counties are at the yellow COVID-19 health alert level this week. Gem County remains at the orange health alert level. For the first time in recent months, all counties within the District 3 jurisdiction are below the red health alert level. As of February 6, 2021, the daily district-wide incidence rate per 10,000 population is 2.22.
Thank you to residents of District 3 for continuing to follow current recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a reminder, all six counties in the district continue to experience community spread, which puts people living in and visiting these communities at higher risk for exposure. It is the goal of Southwest District Health to work our way back to a place where we have no community spread and with your help we can see that we are trending in the right direction.
The information used in determining county health alert levels is provided below.
ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Adams County will remain in the yellow health alert level, with a decreasing incidence rate and positivity rate. Adams County saw a daily COVID-19 incidence of 1.18 daily new cases per 10,000 people, which is steadily decreasing. Many of these new cases can be traced to workplace exposure. Evidence collected through investigations during the two-week period show community transmission in Adams County, with 66.67% of cases able to identify a potential exposure source. Additionally, the test positivity rate for Adams County is 2.04%, which is decreasing and meets our goal of 5.00% or less. One case of COVID-19 was reported in Adams County schools, with no evidence of transmission within the school.
CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Canyon County will move to the yellow health alert level due to a decreasing daily incidence rate and positivity rate. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 2.33 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is steadily decreasing. Canyon County has a positivity rate of 7.48%, which is also decreasing and nearing our goal of 5.00% or less. Only 61.28% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which points to community spread. SWDH investigators are seeing cases exposed through social gatherings, community events, travel, workplaces and households. Fifteen congregate living facilities are reporting cluster outbreaks. Multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting cluster outbreaks, with transmission occurring within the schools.
GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Gem County will remain in the orange health alert level, with a decreasing incidence rate and positivity rate. Gem County has a daily incidence rate of 2.60 daily cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing but still falls within the orange level. The test positivity rate for Gem County is 7.66% which is decreasing and nearing our goal of 5.00% or less. Three congregate care facilities in Gem County are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. 70.45% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending slightly down and indicates an increase in community transmission. Of the individuals who could identify their exposure source, most were attributed to household and workplace exposure. Multiple sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 were reported in a Gem County school with no evidence of transmission within the school.
OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Owyhee County will remain in the yellow health alert level this week, due to a very low daily incidence rate and decreasing positivity rate. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.21 daily cases per 10,000 people, which continues to decrease. The test positivity rate is 6.25% which is decreasing and nearing our goal of 5.00% or less. 68.75% of cases can identify an exposure source, which increased substantially but still indicates sustained community transmission. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks in Owyhee County primarily from social gatherings, workplaces, and household exposure. No cases of COVID-19 were reported in Owyhee County schools during this date range.
PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Payette County will move to the orange health alert level, with a decreasing positivity rate and incidence rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 1.61 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 5.04%, which is also decreasing and nearing our goal of 5.00% or less. 51.35% of cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is decreasing and indicates an increase in community transmission. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks within local workplace settings, including Idaho and Oregon workplaces, as well as through household exposure and social gatherings. Multiple schools in Payette County are reporting sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with no evidence of cluster outbreaks.
WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Washington County will move to the yellow health alert level, due to a decreasing daily incidence rate, and positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.25 daily cases per 10,000 people, which decreased by nearly 60%. The positivity rate for Washington County is 3.53%, which decreased and meets our goal of 5.00% or less. 44.00% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which decreased sharply and points to an increase in community transmission. Of the cases who could identify a potential exposure source, most were associated with household and workplace exposures. No cases of COVID-19 were reported in Washington County schools.
WEEKLY CASES BY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The following table represents data on confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases among students and staff attending in-person classes where investigations began between January 31, 2021 – February 6, 2021.
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 ten 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 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except for observed holidays) at 208-455-5411.
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Media Contacts: Ashley Anderson Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov
Katrina Williams Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov