Lane County now exceeds 200 COVID-19 cases per 100,000. This volume of cases has elevated the county to “wide-spread” mode, meaning the virus has spread throughout communities. Transmission risks are high for everyone, particularly elders.
While a number of cases are still being traced to outbreaks with known links, investigators say community spread is increasing. Spokesperson Jason Davis says inevitably this will reach the most vulnerable residents living in long term care facilities.
“We are there now,” he said. “What we want to do is try and manage those outbreaks at those facilities. We beg and plead with our community to help us in this effort to slow the spread by simply staying home and limiting your activities.”
Davis does not sugar coat the threats related to holiday travel and large gatherings. He predicts increased cases and even deaths will result.
On Wednesday, Lane County saw 84 new COVID-19 cases, making a total of 4, 093 cases since the start of the pandemic. Davis has said these numbers are probably higher-- due to a backlog in case counts. Forty-one Lane Co. residents have thus far died from complications of the virus.
