Lane County Public Health on Thursday announced two new COVID-19 outbreaks. One is in Avamere Riverpark Rehabilitation Center in Eugene where one staff and 11 residents tested positive after routine screening. The other outbreak is at Eugene/Springfield Fire Department.
Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis says 12 Fire staff have tested positive.
“We believe there is little to no threat of public transmission primarily because they have been doing such a good job at using PPE,” he said, “and all protective measures while out in the community. We believe this transmission was in the workplace apart from public exposure.”
Lane County has been on Gov. Kate Brown's COVID-19 Watch List for three weeks. Davis said the county now meets four of six indicators to be removed. More progress must still be made in reducing sporadic spread and reaching people with positive test results within 24-hours.
Davis added more people are answering the phone and complying with contact tracers—non-compliance has dropped from 22% to 16%--a helpful sign.
