Douglas County reports highest daily test results with 44 new cases

Douglas County, Ore. – Today marks highest single day case count since the pandemic began with 44 new cases, also, the highest three-day consecutive total of 116 new cases.

Douglas County health officials report, as of 12:00 pm, Thursday, February 11, 2021, there are forty-one people with new positive test results and three new presumptive test results to report since Wednesday’s noon case update.

The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 2,108. Currently, there are twelve Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, nine locally and three out-of-the-area.

Currently, DPHN is supporting 227 cases in isolation, as well as another 460 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases. Currently, staff is supporting 687 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.

The biggest outbreak comes from a skilled nursing facility in Roseburg. In less than a week, the facility went from one positive case on Friday, February 5, 2021, to over thirty-three positive cases as of today, Thursday, February 11, 2021. At the current time, there have been no hospitalizations or deaths associated with this outbreak.

“The COVID-19 Vaccine was offered to staff and patients at this facility. Those who were vaccinated had over 90% protection and almost all of the cases among staff were from those who were not vaccinated. This is proof that the vaccine works. If you are a front line care giver and are eligible for the vaccine, please get it!” urged Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer.

South Umpqua School District,  In a notice released on February 10, 2021, South Umpqua School District Superintendent, Kate McLaughlin announced that they were notified by DPHN and Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, Douglas County Public Health Officer, of a positive COVID-19 case at Tri City Elementary School in Myrtle Creek.

In-session schooling has contributed to some of the outbreaks. Since the first of the year, there has been nineteen K-12 schools and two daycares with positive cases. 44% of the current outbreaks are associated with the nineteen local schools in all parts of the county. In almost all of the cases, the disease is brought from the outside to school by students or staff.

Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, Douglas County Public Health Officer, penned a message to the public suggesting “This surge in local cases comes at a time when cases in much of the rest of the country are declining.” Continuing with “With the increase in accessibility and services, as I move about the county, I have seen more gatherings and some unfortunate laxity with physical distancing and the use of face masks.”