The Jefferson County Health Department reported five new COVID-19-related deaths today (Dec. 2), bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 108 since the start of the pandemic.
The five deaths include a man in his 40s, a woman in her 70s, a woman in her 80s and two men in their 80s. One of the five deaths was from a long-term care facility, the Health Department reported.
Of the total COVID-19 deaths in the county, 56 have been from long-term care facilities.
“As we report additional COVID-19 deaths in our community, our hearts break for their family and friends,” Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said. “We urge the community to take preventative measures for the safety of themselves and their loved ones this holiday season.”
The Health Department also reported 150 new COVID-19 cases today, for a total of 12,486 cases since the first ones were reported in March.
The county currently has 4,559 active cases, the Health Department reported.
As of midnight Tuesday, 534 people were quarantined, which means they had a confirmed exposure to the virus and were in the process of completing a 14-day quarantine period.
A total of 7,797 people had been released from isolation since the start of the pandemic, according to the Health Department.
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 925 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
Color status
The Health Department also announced today that the county remains at the red level on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system for the fifth consecutive week.
Red is the highest level on the Health Department’s four-color COVID-19 warning 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 Nov. 22 to Nov. 28, the seven-day rolling average of cases in the county was 86.67 per day per 100,000 people in the county, which has a population of about 225,000.
Mask order
Jefferson County now has a face mask order requiring residents to wear face masks while in public spaces when social distancing cannot be maintained. There are no fines or penalties for violators, though.
The joint order was issued by the Health Department and the County government and went into effect 12:01 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27, and ends 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21.
It requires residents 10 and older to wear masks in public when they cannot keep 6 feet away from others.
According to the order, face masks must be cloth, fabric or another permeable material without any holes or one-way valves. The mask must cover a person's nose and mouth.
The order includes several exceptions: A mask is not required for people outdoors at least 6 feet from others; people who are exercising at least 6 feet from others; people who are engaging in a sporting activity; people inside a vehicle; people who are eating and drinking at a restaurant or other dining establishment; and people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks.
Health Department officials stress the importance of taking other steps, in addition to wearing masks, to prevent the spread of the virus, including limiting nonessential travel, avoiding crowds, social distancing, good hand-washing and staying home if you are sick.
Officials say they are especially worried about the spread of the virus over the holiday season, when people tend to gather with family and friends. Those kinds of gatherings, the Health Department has warned, can lead to the spread of COVID-19, which is particularly dangerous for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
