Payette County moved from health alert level red; Multiple counties at health alert level orange
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Payette County moved from health alert level red; Multiple counties at health alert level orange
CALDWELL, IDAHO – Daily incidence rates continue to increase across the majority of the district. Based on data available for October 18, 2020 – October 31, 2020, Adams County and Owyhee County have moved from the yellow alert level to the orange alert level. Payette County was moved from the red alert level to the orange alert level. The remaining counties’ health alert levels are the same. The information used in determining county health alert levels is listed below.
ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Adams County will move to the orange health alert level, with many new cases of COVID-19 reported between October 18, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Adams County had an incidence rate of 5.55 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. Most individuals who have contracted COVID-19 can determine where they were exposed to the virus. At the moment, this shows community spread is rare in Adams County. 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 and an increasing rate of cluster outbreaks from community gatherings. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 3.96 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up. Only 59.9% 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. Canyon County will move to a higher alert level if we continue to see key metrics trending up. Ten congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks. 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: Yellow
Gem County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to a slightly increasing incidence rate and increasing positivity rate. Gem County is close to the orange alert level, with a daily incidence rate of 2.49 daily cases per 10,000 people. One congregate care facility in Gem County is facing a sustained COVID-19 outbreak. 60.49% 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: Orange
Owyhee County will move to the orange health alert level, due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, very high positivity rate, and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.48 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. 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 18.45% which shows that COVID-19 is more prevalent in the community than our data show. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks from social gatherings 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 move to the orange health alert level, due to a decreasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as a decreasing positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.13 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing for the second consecutive week. Only 39.08% 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 and households. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 11.86%, which is decreasing but still very high. Payette County has made progress in controlling COVID-19 within their community and we hope to continue to see improvements in many key metrics, such as incidence rate, known source, and positivity rate. Many Payette County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with transmission occurring within one school.
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 4.50 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 9.32%, which is decreasing but still much higher than we would like to see. 65.57% 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 from travel or out-of-town guests visiting residents of Washington County. Multiple Washington County schools are seeing cluster outbreaks with transmission occurring within schools. Additionally, we are seeing 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 October 25, 2020 and October 31, 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.
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Media Contacts:
Katrina Williams Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov