By Karen S. Carter
Tuesday, December 1, 2020 2:56 pm

Last week the COVID-19 case count rose to 415 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. There are currently 197 active cases being monitored by public nurses. The current cases bring Pacific County to an average case rate of 1076.7 per 100,000 population over the past 14 days.

On Tuesday, November 24, 55 additional positive COVID-19 cases were reported to the Pacific County Public Health and Human Services. On Wednesday an additional 20 COVID cases were reported. Ten of the current cases have been hospitalized with all other individuals isolating at home. Case investigations and contact tracing are on-going.

"Pacific County has one of the highest rates in the state right now," said PCDOH Director Katie Lindstrom. "With our surge, we are close to 1000 cases per 100,000. It is really, really high. We figured that 1 in 100 people in the county are currently positive. More in certain areas than others. The majority can be tied to either workplaces or social gatherings."

Can the case increase be the flu instead?

"No, the increases in cases are from people who tested positive for COVID on a rapid or PCR test for COVID," said Lindstrom. "Influenza A and B have a different test that tests for influenza viruses. The rise in COVID cases is unrelated to influenza."

How to figure COVID case rate?

"We calculate the case rate per 100,000 as follows: 100,000 divided by 21,000 (population of Pacific County) which gives you 4.53. Then, we add up all of the cases within the past 14 days and multiply that by 4.53. That gives us the average case rate per 100,000 over 14 days. They do this as a way to standardize case rates so county case rates can be compared regardless of population," said Lindstrom.

Why doesn't the state data match Pacific County's data?

"Our data is not going to match the state's data for a couple of reasons," said Risk Manager Kathy Spoor. "One, the state's data is always a bit delayed. Two, the numbers that we are releasing include those that are Rapid Test Positive. The state is still only counting PCR confirmed as positive cases. So you will see a difference between state data and our data. Almost everyone who tests positive on a Rapid Test also tests positive on a PCR test. We have had a few, less than a handful, where that hasn't been the case."

For up to date information and guidance, please monitor the Pacific County Health and Human Services Facebook page or visit: www.pacificcountycovid19.com.