The Jefferson County Health Department reported four new COVID-19-related deaths today (Dec. 23), bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 124 since March.
According to the Health Department, the deaths include a man in his 60s, a woman in her 60s, a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s.
“We are saddened to report additional COVID-19 deaths in our community, especially so close to the holidays,” Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said. “There are too many families within our county that are missing loved ones this holiday season due to COVID-19. I urge residents to consider the health of their family and friends and practice safe prevention measures.”
According to a press release, none of the four deaths were connected to any long-term care facilities.
Of the 124 COVID-19 deaths in the county, 59 have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
The Health Department also reported 141 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 15,916 since the first ones were reported in March.
The county has an estimated 6,163 active cases, the Health Department reported.
Brianne Zwiener, communications specialist with the Health Department, said the agency no longer follows up with all COVID-19 patients, so the active case number is an estimate.
Zwiener also said the Health Department typically closes out positive COVID-19 cases after 10 days, although there can be a delay in case closures.
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 1,088 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
The next COVID-19 update will be Monday, Dec. 28 due to the holiday.
Color Status
The county remains at the red level on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system for an eighth week.
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. 13 through Dec. 19, the seven-day rolling average number of cases in the county was 66.86 per day per 100,000 people in the county, which has a population of about 225,000.
That rolling average was down from the previous week, when it was 69.33 per day per 100,000 residents, the Health Department reported.
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 county mask order was extended to Jan. 21 at the Health Department Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 21.
The Health Department also stresses the importance of limiting nonessential travel, avoiding crowds, social distancing, good hand-washing and staying home if you are sick.