Counties Remain in Gray and Yellow Health Alert Levels; Counties Continue Declining Daily Incidence Rates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Counties Remain in Gray and Yellow Health Alert Levels; Counties Continue Declining Daily Incidence Rates
CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health (SWDH) continues to see declining daily incidence rates and decreasing positivity rates. This is based on data available for the date range February 21, 2021 – March 6, 2021. The health alert designation for the 6-counties remain unchanged from last week. Adams, Gem, Payette, and Washington counties are at the gray COVID-19 health alert level. Canyon County and Owyhee County are at the yellow health alert level. As of March 6, 2021, the daily district-wide incidence rate per 10,000 population is 1.04.
The information used in determining county health alert levels is provided below.
ADAMS COUNTY Health Alert Level: Gray
Adams County will remain in the gray health alert level, with a decreasing daily incidence rate and low positivity rate. Adams County saw a daily COVID-19 incidence of 1.01 daily new cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing slightly.[1] Most of the new cases can be traced to household exposure. Evidence collected through investigations during the two-week period show a significant reduction in community transmission in Adams County, with 100.00% of cases able to identify a potential exposure source. During the first week of the two-week date range, no positive cases were reported in Adams County, resulting in a positivity rate of 0.00%. One sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 was reported in an Adams County school, with no evidence of a cluster outbreak.
CANYON COUNTY Health Alert Level: Yellow
Canyon County will remain in the yellow health alert level due to a decreasing daily incidence rate and positivity rate. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 1.19 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is steadily decreasing. Canyon County has a positivity rate of 3.53%, which is also decreasing and meets our goal of 5.00% or less. Only 61.64% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are seeing cases exposed through social gatherings, travel, workplaces and households. Six congregate living facilities are reporting cluster outbreaks.[2] Multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting cluster outbreaks, with transmission occurring within the schools.
GEM COUNTY Health Alert Level: Gray
Gem County will move to the gray health alert level, due to a decreasing daily incidence rate and an increasing positivity rate. Gem County has a daily incidence rate of 0.55 daily cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing. The test positivity rate for Gem County is 6.12% which is increasing and just slightly above our goal of 5.00% or less. No congregate care facilities in Gem County are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. 57.14% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is decreasing and indicates community transmission. Of the individuals who could identify their exposure source, most were attributed to workplaces or household exposure. No cases of COVID-19 were reported in Gem County.
OWYHEE COUNTY Health Alert Level: Yellow
Owyhee County will remain in the yellow health alert level this week, with an increasing daily incidence rate and a low positivity rate. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.03 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. The test positivity rate is 1.94% which is decreasing and meets our goal of 5.00% or less. 80% of cases can identify an exposure source, which is increasing and indicates a reduction in community transmission. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks in Owyhee County primarily from households, workplaces, and school exposure. One school in Owyhee County is reporting a cluster outbreak, with transmission occurring within the school.
PAYETTE COUNTY Health Alert Level: Gray
Payette County will remain in the gray health alert level, with a decreasing positivity rate and incidence rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 0.36 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 1.32%, which is also decreasing and meets our goal of 5.00% or less. 88.89% of cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is increasing and indicates a reduction in community transmission. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks through social gatherings and household exposure. Multiple sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 were reported in Payette County schools, with no evidence of a cluster outbreak.
WASHINGTON COUNTY Health Alert Level: Gray
Washington County will remain in the gray health alert level, due to a low daily incidence rate, and positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 0.49 daily cases per 10,000 people, which increased slightly but is still very low. The positivity rate for Washington County is 1.90%, which is decreasing and meets our goal of 5.00% or less. No cases in Washington County were able to identify a potential exposure source. This is concerning to SWDH epidemiologists. One sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 was reported in a Washington County school, with no evidence of a cluster outbreak.
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 February 28, 2021 – March 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