County health officials bump COVID risk level again, now red

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Local health officials say they are following guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control when they announced this morning the county has notched up another color to Red (High) risk level.

“To provide clarity and reduce confusion in the community, Teton County Health Department is adjusting its COVID Risk Level Metrics to align with the Centers for Disease Control metrics on COVID-19 transmission risk level,” read a statement issued today by Teton County Health Department. “Based on these changes Teton County is now in the Red (High) COVID Risk Level. This change aims to highlight the risk of COVID-19 transmission or spread of COVID-19 in Teton County.”

Metrics to be included going forward are:

1. A rolling 7-day sum of new cases per 100,000 population; and
2. percent of tests over the last 2 weeks that are positive.

According to Jodie Pond, Health Department director, Teton County’s COVID-19 risk levels will mirror the recommendations and thresholds set by the CDC, with levels determined as low (green), moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), and high (red). When the two metrics suggest different transmission levels, the higher level will be selected.

What does red mean for you?

“We are hoping that this change will allow community members to easily see the metrics that show the transmission level of COVID-19 in our community. While the other COVID metrics are important, they do not play as large of a role in the risk of getting COVID-19 in our community,” Pond said. “We want to make sure community members have all the information they need to make appropriate decisions, especially if they are a more high-risk individual, have an at-risk individual in their household, or have children or others in their household who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccination.”