Canyon County moves to orange health alert level as downward trend in daily incidence rate continues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canyon County moves to orange health alert level as downward trend in daily incidence rate continues
CALDWELL, IDAHO –Canyon County has moved from the red level to the orange level of the Southwest District Health COVID-19 Health Alert Levels following a continuing downward trend in daily incidence rate. “Canyon County’s daily incidence rate dropped from 6.33 per 10,000 people during the peak of the county’s cases between July 12 and July 25, 2020, to 2.14 per 10,000 people during the most recent date range analyzed which was August 23 through September 5, 2020,” said Rachel Pollreis, SWDH Data Analyst, Senior.
The following chart compares other data from Canyon County’s peak dates of July 12 – July 25, 2020 to the most recently analyzed date range August 23 – September 5, 2020.
Note: Case fatality rate and hospitalization rate are consistent between the two date ranges. This is to be expected as these measures are proportions. Additionally, the percent symptomatic has increased, likely due to limitations on testing, as many facilities are currently only administering tests to symptomatic individuals.
The health alert levels for the other five counties within Southwest District Health’s boundaries remain unchanged. A brief summary of factors considered during assessment of each county’s health alert levels is listed below:
ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray
Adams County will remain in the gray health alert level due to a low COVID-19 incidence rate[1]. Adams County saw a daily incidence rate of 0.168 per 10,000 people over the date range analyzed. Only one COVID-19 case was reported during this date range. To protect this individual’s privacy, our public health alert level dashboard will not be available for Adams County.
CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Canyon County will move to the orange health alert level due to a decreasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, declining rate of cluster outbreaks, and stability in Canyon County healthcare systems. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 2.14 daily new cases per 10,000 people, which is trending down. Fourteen congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks[2]. Additionally, healthcare staffing and personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies have stabilized during the date range analyzed. Schools in Canyon County are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with no known outbreaks.
An imported case is defined as a case that is brought into an area (e.g., school, home, workplace, etc.) and not acquired in the area.
GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Gem County will remain in the orange health alert level. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.30 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is trending up, but is largely due to an isolated cluster outbreak. This outbreak is driving many of the metrics typically used to determine risk within a community, which SWDH epidemiologists are accounting for in the decision making process. Two congregate care facilities are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. Just over half of patients contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread.
OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Owyhee County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a decreasing COVID-19 incidence rate, as well as all cluster outbreaks being a result of essential gatherings such as household or workplace clusters. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.27 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is trending down for the fourth week in a row. Evidence of workplace and household clusters is apparent, but is cause for less concern by epidemiologists. Owyhee County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with no known outbreaks. Staff and students are taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red
Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level, due to a high COVID-19 incidence rate, as well as evidence of sustained community spread. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 5.07 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing. Only 37.11% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks from local workplace settings, as well as household clusters. Payette County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with no known outbreaks.
WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Washington County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a decrease in non-essential gatherings resulting in cluster outbreaks, as well as an increasing percentage of individuals with a known source. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 3.37 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing from last week. Cluster outbreaks in congregate living facilities and essential gatherings, such as households and workplaces, are concerning to SWDH epidemiologists. Washington County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with one school experiencing an outbreak among staff.
Despite Canyon County’s decreased health alert level and continuing downward trend in daily incidence rates across much of its region, Southwest District Health District Director Nikki Zogg urges residents to continue to follow preventive measures to help our region stay healthy and stay open. Steps include :
- Maintain physical distancing and stay six feet apart from people not in your household
- Wear a face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained
- Gather outdoors with a small group
- Sanitize and wash your hands often
- Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces often
“I am grateful to our many residents and community partners who have really stepped up and made the effort to protect themselves and those around them. I also applaud our districts’ business owners as well who have done a great job implementing measures to protect their staff and customers,” Zogg said.
Southwest District Health staff continue to add data for each county on the SWDH COVID-19 website at https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/. Slight differences in the numbers between the SWDH data and the data posted at the State’s website are due to different times data is pulled or updated. All COVID-19 cases in Idaho are reported to a centralized database which is run by Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW). This database is constantly being updated by state, local and private entities as new lab reports, investigations, and hospital records are added.
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. Please refer to https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/ for the latest local numbers and data and https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information.
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Media Contacts:
Katrina Williams Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov