8/5/2021 COVID-19 Weekly Update

8/5/2021 COVID-19 Weekly Update

Lincoln County has continued to see a significant increase in identified cases. We expect this trend to continue, due to the presence of the Delta variant. The Delta variant is twice as transmissible as previous variants. We are currently in the high community transmission category according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The numbers we are currently seeing are similar to what we saw last year in October, before the winter surge. Last month (July) ages 19-29 made up the largest percentage of cases.

The positivity rate has come down to 11.6%, last week it was 14%. This is most likely due to an increase in testing demand. 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 312, up from 225 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) have increased to 221. At the time of last week’s update that number was 162.

Vaccination demand has increased at the health department, but our rates are still lower than the state average of 41.7%. The percent of the Lincoln County population that has completed vaccination is 27%. Our neighbors in St. Charles have a fully vaccinated rate of 45.5%.

Because we are an area of high transmission, we encourage everyone regardless of vaccination status to take all protective measures. It is especially important to get vaccinated and wear a mask indoors when you are in large groups. COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant.