COVID-19 Cases Increased By 285% in District
From June to July, new COVID-19 cases have increased by 285% within the Lincoln Trail District Health Department (LTDHD) service area. As of August 6th, all six LTDHD counties are classified as having high (red) or substantial (orange) incidence rates. We are receiving over 100 newly reported cases per day, equivalent to the COVID-19 caseload seen back in February. This places enormous strain on our resources, overwhelms our ability to process new cases, and impacts our mitigation efforts. However, the ability to reverse this alarming trend lies in the hands of the public. We are calling our communities to action, and ask that they consider the following recommendations:
- Get vaccinated. This includes people who have had a previous COVID-19 infection. Over 90% of new cases occur in the unvaccinated.
- Wear a mask. Both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask at all indoor public events. Emerging data suggests that even fully vaccinated people can spread the Delta variant.
- Keep physical distance. Maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who do not live in your household and at all public events.
- Consider postponing all large events. Medically vulnerable people and individuals with compromised immune systems should avoid all social activities with unvaccinated persons.
