The risk dial did not move this week and remains at 2.46, which remains within the elevated risk level. There were changes in the following variables, however those changes were not significant enough to move the dial.
We had increases in the following:
- Weekly Positivity Rate
- Daily Hospitalizations
- Community Spread
- Medical & Surgical Bed Availability
We had decreases in the following:
- Cases
- Number of individuals needing contact tracing
The WCDHD risk dial is used to show our community how COVID-19 is impacting our area at a point-in-time. Every week WCDHD’s team applies a set process for reviewing available, current data (including positivity rate, cases, testing, contact tracing and health care system capacity) to set the risk dial for that week. Because our process is driven by the current data each week, we cannot predict when the dial will move up or down.
To better
understand the data that contribute to the risk dial, we have a
document titled ‘Understanding the Data in the Risk Dial’ located
on the WCDHD website on the risk dial page. Please see helpful links
at the end of this media release.
The best way to move our
community toward green is to practice social distancing and to wear
face coverings when appropriate social distancing cannot be
maintained.
The COVID-19 Community Risk Dial provides a summary of current COVID-19 conditions in the West Central District. Each level of risk: low (green), moderate (yellow), elevated (orange), and high (red) are determined by federal and national guidance published by top public health experts and is coupled with specific guidance for actions to take at home, at work, and in the community.
The following data is used when determining dial placement:
- Overall Positivity Rate
- Weekly Positivity Rate
- Trajectory of Cases in the last 14 days
- Cases per Million per Day
- Average Daily Hospitalization
- ICU Availability
- Ventilator Availability
- Community Spread
- Testing Availability
- Average Testing Turnaround Time
- Contact Tracing
- Individuals Affected
- Medical & Surgical Bed Availability
- Availability of Reliable and Valid Antibody Testing
- Availability of effective treatment modalities for COVID-19
- An effective vaccine that is widely available
- Being able to easily obtain PPE through standard supply chains
The risk dial will be updated every Thursday after the information is reviewed by the Public Health Command Center. Dial updates are posted to: https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html, the WCDHD Facebook page, as well as the dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172#!/vizhome/shared/JXDHSGQTF
COVID-19 Risk Dial page: https://wcdhd.org/what-we-do/health-services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/risk-dial.html