8/19/2021 COVID-19 Weekly Update:

If you are a Lincoln County resident who tests positive for COVID-19, you will receive a text survey from the health department. Completing this survey will assist in completing your case investigation. If you do not complete the survey, a member of our case investigation team will be calling you. Please understand that calls to complete case investigations are currently delayed due to the increase in cases. We cannot issue release letters for schools or employers unless we have a completed case investigation.

There is a new FREE weekly testing site in Warren County (3920 North Highway 47/@ corner of Isabella in Warrenton MO 63383). It is temporary for the next 4 Fridays so please take advantage of this free resource. Also, you can now purchase tests over the counter at most pharmacies. Learn more about testing options here: https://loom.ly/ZnYHiyk

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Lincoln County continues to be in the high community transmission category, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because we are an area of high transmission we recommend everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to take all protective measures. These include social distancing (staying 6 feet apart), improving ventilation indoors, avoiding large crowds, wearing a mask, and staying home/getting tested when you have any symptoms. With area schools going back in session without universal masking policies, we are concerned about an even greater spike in cases in the coming weeks.

ICU hospitalizations in Missouri are at an all-time high for any time during the pandemic. Data shows that the majority of people who are currently hospitalized are unvaccinated. Vaccines remain extremely effective against severe disease and death. If you have not gotten your COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time. It is especially crucial to get vaccinated and wear a mask indoors when you are in large groups. The Delta variant is present in our community, and it is twice as transmissible as previous variants.

The percent of the Lincoln County population that has completed vaccination is 28.5%. The state average is 50.6%. Public health officials estimate that 70 to 85% of the population will need to be vaccinated before herd immunity is achieved.

The positivity rate has stayed mostly stable at 12.5%, last week it was around 12.8% at this time. To be considered an area with low community transmission, the CDC states that the positivity rate in the community should be below 5%.

Cases per 100,000 in Lincoln County are at 332, down slightly from 358 last week. In order to be considered a community with low transmission, this number should be less than 10.

Our active cases (individuals in isolation for COVID-19 infection) have increased to 302. At the time of last week’s update that number was 248. When we started the month of August, this number was at 192.