The Jefferson County Health Department reported 207 new COVID-19 cases today (Jan. 7), bringing the total number of cases in the county to 17,933 since the first ones were reported in March.
The county has an estimated 1,162 active cases, the Health Department reported.
Brianne Zwiener, communications specialist with the Health Department, said the Health Department doesn’t follow up with all cases anymore, and the number of active cases is meant to give the public a “general estimate.”
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 1,166 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
Of the 150 total COVID-19 deaths in the county, 64 have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
Red status
For the 10th consecutive week, the county remains at the red level on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system.
Red is the highest level on the Health Department’s four-color system and indicates widespread and uncontrolled transmission of the virus.
Several factors are evaluated when determining the color level, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and White House Pandemic Task Force guidelines. However, the main indicator is the seven-day rolling average. If the county has a rolling average of 25 or more cases per day per 100,000 residents, it is moved to the red level.
From Dec. 27 through Jan. 2, the seven-day rolling average number of cases in the county was 68.89 per day per 100,000 people in the county, which has a population of about 225,000.
The rolling average is up from the previous week, when it was 39.30 per day per 100,000 residents, the Health Department reported.
According to the Health Department, 39.30 was the lowest reported seven-day rolling average since October.
To control the spread of the virus, health officials urge residents to follow the county’s face mask order, which requires residents to wear face masks while in public spaces when social distancing cannot be maintained.
The Health Department also stresses the importance of limiting nonessential travel, avoiding crowds, social distancing, practicing good hand-washing and staying home if you are sick.
