Allen County continues to experience widespread community transmission of COVID-19.  

The incidence rate for Allen County is considered to be high, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who reached out to Allen County Public Health Friday, Oct. 23, to discuss what the CDC considers to be a “hot spot” of COVID-19 incidence.  

To date in October there have been 810 newly reported cases of COVID-19, which is 55% higher than the number for August, 2020 which was previously the highest-incidence month with 522 total.

The majority of Allen County cases are due to community spread through people interacting in social settings.

The CDC continuously monitors COVID-19 incidence across the nation to identify where COVID-19 may be placing an increased burden on public health and clinical health care systems.

As part of this monitoring effort, the CDC, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Health, lead a discussion with Allen County Public Health staff members on Friday, October 23, 2020. This is part of CDC’s on-going process to engage State/local partners for awareness and discussion. 

The high number of cases that public health officials are now monitoring presents a challenge. Individuals that receive a positive COVID-19 test result are still contacted by ACPH, but the volume of cases is preventing that contact to be made within 24 hours of notification of the positive result.

ACPH requests that anyone who receives a positive COVID-19 test result immediately inform their close contacts of their positive test result and the need for the contact to quarantine.