The Jefferson County Health Department reported nine new COVID-19-related deaths today (Dec. 30), bringing the total to 133 deaths since March.
According to a press release, the deaths include a woman in her 60s, two men in their 60s, three men in their 70s, a woman in her 80s and two men in their 80s.
Two of the nine deaths were connected to long-term care facilities.
Of the 133 COVID-19 deaths in the county, 61 have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of those who have passed,” Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said. “As we look to the new year, we urge residents to continue practicing preventative measures like handwashing, social distancing and wearing a mask.”
The Health Department also reported 176 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 16,596 since the first ones were reported in March.
The county has an estimated 5,624 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, 1,110 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
Color status
For the ninth 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. 20 through Dec. 26, the seven-day rolling average number of cases in the county was 39.36 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 66.80 per day per 100,000 residents, the Health Department reported.
According to the Health Department, 39.36 is 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, good hand-washing and staying home if you are sick.
