Payette County moved from health alert level red; Multiple counties at health alert level orange
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canyon and Washington Counties moved to health alert level red
CALDWELL, IDAHO – Daily incidence rates continue to increase across the majority of the district. Based on data available for October 25, 2020 – November 7, 2020, Canyon County and Washington County have moved from the orange alert level to the red alert level. The remaining counties’ health alert levels are at the orange alert level. The information used in determining county health alert levels is listed below.
ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Adams County will remain in the orange health alert level, with many new cases of COVID-19 reported between October 25, 2020 and November 7, 2020. Adams County had an incidence rate of 5.71 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is increasing slightly. Many of these new cases can be traced to one cluster of COVID-19 cases. Most individuals who have contracted COVID-19 can determine where they were exposed to the virus, and there has been no evidence of community transmission occurring within Adams County. For this reason, Adams County will remain in the orange alert level, even with an incidence rate in the red level. Multiple schools in Adams County have sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with one school experiencing a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within the school.
CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red
Canyon County will move to the red health alert level due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate1 and an increasing positivity rate. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 4.90 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up and right on the cusp of the red category for this metric (at 5.0 daily new cases per 10,000). Only 66.8% 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 social and community gatherings. Additionally, the test positivity rate in Canyon County has spiked to 13.39% which is concerning SWDH epidemiologists. Eleven congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks2. Some healthcare facilities in Canyon County are nearing capacity for inpatient and ICU bed and have concerns about critical care staffing. Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting an outbreak or transmission within the school.
GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Gem County will move to the orange health alert level due to an increasing incidence rate and increasing positivity rate. Gem County has a daily incidence rate of 3.63 daily cases per 10,000 people and a test positivity rate of 11.82%. One congregate care facilities in Gem County is facing a sustained COVID-19 outbreak. 64.2% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending up and points to community transmission. Additionally, local healthcare providers are concerned with staffing shortages and hospital capacity. One school in Gem County is experiencing a cluster outbreak among students and staff.
OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Owyhee County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a slightly increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, very high positivity rate, and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.78 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. Just under half of all cases do not know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is very concerning and points to sustained community spread. Additionally, the test positivity rate is 16.67% which shows that COVID-19 is more prevalent in the community than SWDH data show. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks in workplaces and businesses. 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: Orange
Payette County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a slightly increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as an increasing positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.76 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is increasing slightly. Only 48.31% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks within local workplace settings and households. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 15.64%, which is very high and shows that COVID-19 is more prevalent in the community than SWDH data show. Many Payette County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with no evidence of transmission occurring within schools.
WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red
Washington County will move to the red health alert level, due to a high daily incidence rate and a high positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 6.89 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing dramatically. The positivity rate for Washington County is 17.04%, which has nearly doubled since last week. 74.19% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is improving but still points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing transmission occurring within workplaces, households, and among healthcare workers in Washington County. Multiple Washington County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with transmission occurring within one school. Additionally, there is an increase in total hospitalizations in Washington County which is decreasing hospital capacity. Elective surgeries are being cancelled or postponed to remedy this.
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 November 1, 2020 and November 7, 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 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 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.
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Media Contacts:
Ashley Anderson Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov
Katrina Williams Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov