The COVID-19 Community Risk Dials for the Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) jurisdiction of Dodge, Washington, and Saunders counties has been updated for the week.
The 3RPHD jurisdiction saw an uptick in the overall positivity rate, the number of cases, and had an increase in regional hospitalizations causing the risk dial to rise to a 2.00 rating from 1.88 the previous week.
The 3RPHD risk dial is now considered to be between the moderate-risk level (yellow) and the high-risk level (orange).
“We are seeing a lot of cases tied to gatherings in both small and large settings—please stay home if you are sick or if someone in your family is sick. Additionally, we know that wearing a mask works so please wear your mask consistently,” said Terra Uhing, Executive Director of Three Rivers Public Health Department.
Dodge County’s risk dial saw a significant increase this week from 1.75 to a 2.00 risk level rating, also between the moderate and high-risk levels on the dial.
3RPHD said the increase is due to an increase in the weekly positivity rate, an increase in the number of cases, and a decrease in weekly testing.
Saunders County saw a rise in its risk dial as well, due to an increase in the overall positivity rate and weekly positivity rate, an increase in regional hospitalizations, and an increase in community spread cases.
Washington County’s risk dial was the only one to stay at the same rating as last week’s, staying steady at a 1.88 rating in the moderate-risk (yellow) category.
The main factors considered in the risk dials each week include:
- The increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past three weeks.
- The increase in the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests.
- The capacity of the district and local healthcare system including the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and the ventilators being utilized by COVID-19 (suspect and confirmed patients).
- The presence of community clusters and or community spread.
- The availability of testing in the district and local communities.
- The availability of 3RPHD to trace all identified contacts of positive cases in 48 hours.
As a reminder 3RPHD updates the community risk dials each Wednesday, and the 3RPHD Data Dashboard is updated each weekday.
For questions or more information about COVID-19, please call Three Rivers at 402-727-5396, email info@3rphd.org or visit www.threeriverspublichealth.org
