By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com
Lincoln County Public Health announced another positive case of COVID-19 on Thursday – bringing to four the number of county residents infected and the third confirmed coronavirus case in three days.
The county said the latest case is a person in their 30s who had no known contact with a confirmed case. It is being investigated as a community-acquired case, which means the person caught it from someone who did not know they had the virus.
The person involved in the latest case is not hospitalized and is following medical guidelines to self-isolate, the county said.
Oregon Health Authority said Friday that there were 73 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total to 899. A single death was announced Friday, bringing the statewide total to 22. Washington state has reported 6,585 confirmed cases and 262 deaths.
More Lincoln County cases are being announced because Samaritan Health Systems is doing more testing, but still less than similarly-sized counties. The OHA reported Wednesday there had been 96 negative tests in Lincoln County since it began keeping track in March; on Thursday that rose to 105 and on Friday it was 124. Statewide, there have been 17,434 negative tests.
“As more testing is done, we expect to find more cases in the community,” said Nicole Fields, deputy director of Lincoln County Public Health. “As a public health department, we are prepared to start seeing more positives and to take action to help keep people safe.”
The health department said this week that whenever it gets a new positive COVID-19 case it immediately interviews the patient.
“This helps us determine who they had contact with that might be at risk of getting COVID-19,” Fields said. “When we identify someone who might be at risk, Public Health will call them and explain the circumstances. This happens within a few hours.”
Fields said the county asks the at-risk person to self-quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with the person who tested positive. During this time the person monitors themselves for any symptoms while staying at home and avoiding contact with others. If they develop symptoms, they check with with providers to determine if they should be tested.
“Public health consistently investigates disease outbreaks and will continue to do so, but what is important during this pandemic is that we all stay home and stay safe.”
Fields said the agency is also getting questions about why it is not releasing more detailed information about where the people with positive tests lived or worked.
“ … the main reason is for patient privacy,” she said. “Beyond that, we realize there have been limitations with testing and that it is unlikely that everyone who has COVID-19 has been tested.”
The previous three Lincoln County COVID-19 cases are:
- A person over 80 who had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. This person is not hospitalized and is self-isolating.
- A person in their 20s who had contact with someone outside the county confirmed to have the coronavirus and then tested positive. This person is in self-isolation.
- A Lincoln County resident who contracted COVID-19 while out of the county and is being treated outside the county.
Health officials continue to urge people to take steps to protect those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. Slowing the spread helps protect people, Fields said, and can help keep the health system working when it is needed most. For the latest information, guidelines, and resources for those effected, go to Lincoln County’s website or call 541-265-0621.
Social distancing cutting transmission rates
The Oregon Health Authority also said this week that updated projections from health researchers show that there is “strong evidence that measures currently in place in Oregon are reducing transmission,” according to the latest models. The most recent data suggest that current social distancing measures could cut transmission rates between 50 percent and 70 percent if Oregonians maintain the limitations on virus-spreading interactions into early May.
The agency and researchers also said if Oregonians can maintain current social distancing efforts and the current projections hold true, the state could meet the likely demand for hospital beds under current strategies.
According to the latest report, researchers estimate that Oregon has slightly higher numbers of current infections than previously assessed, based on an increase in reported cases from earlier time points.
- COVID-19 infections: Under current social distancing conditions with the cooperation of most Oregonians to stay home, it is estimated that in early May Oregon would have over 4,000 cumulative infections and 200 to 1,200 active infections. However, if the state were to reopen non-essential businesses (while keeping schools closed), the number of new infections would spike to as many as 3,500 active infections by early May
- Hospital beds needed: Researchers found “expected demand for hospital beds is predicted to remain relatively constant before decreasing, assuming current or strengthened interventions and continued high compliance
- Uncertainty: Researchers highlighted that the projections remain uncertain. In coming weeks, state public health officials and researchers will get a better picture of current actual infections and how they affect the projections, as well as more data on the public’s continued adherence to social distancing measures.
The models state health officials released were prepared by the Institute for Disease Modeling, based in Washington.
Oregon’s emergency response continues to focus on strengthening the health care system’s ability to meet the coming surge. State health officials are working with hospitals and other health care partners to mobilize the health care workforce and keep workers safe, expand bed capacity and secure more ventilators. However, the public’s ability to maintain social distancing will be the most important factor in determining whether Oregon prevents local hospitals from becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 admissions.
“We know coronavirus has brought painful disruption and distress for Oregonians,” said state health officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger. “However, these numbers tell us that what we’re doing can work. We know social distancing is tough and comes with incredible sacrifices. But steps we’re all taking to maintain social distancing could save the lives of people we know and people who are important to us.”