Recently the White House Pandemic Task Force (WHPTF) updated the color system used on their weekly reports. Originally these colors included red, yellow, and green (Figure 1). When the reports became available to the local public health agencies, the color system was expanded to include light green, dark green, yellow, orange, and red (Figure 2). The original green level was split into two sections and the original yellow level was split into yellow and orange levels.
The WHPTF model uses a combination of metrics to determine the color status of a state and its counties. It is important to note that the White House uses multiple metrics to categorize a County or Metro Area in their weekly reports. (Figure 3) For instance, in order to be considered in the “Red Zone” using the task force metrics, a County would have to report BOTH new cases at or above 101 per 100,000 population in the last week AND a lab test positivity result at or above 10.1%. JCHD utilizes the WHPTF indicators as ‘support metrics’ for the weekly color status and use the Harvard Global Health Institute’s Risk Level Guidance to determine community transmission.
The Harvard Global Health Institute utilizes a four-color system (green, yellow, orange, and red) which indicate the level of community transmission (Figure 4). These metrics are based on a seven day rolling average of cases per 100,000 residents, not on a daily rate which can fluctuate depending on the day or week and circumstances beyond local control such as number of tests completed or delays receiving updates from the state system.
Jefferson was the first county in the state to utilize the WHPTF color thresholds that have become a common standard for states. JCHD’s measures set a standard for other local health departments to follow and align local metrics with those utilized by the federal government and states for decision making.
The WHPTF updates have not impacted the color indicator guidance previously presented in JCHD reports. The updated metrics have further proven to support the agency’s weekly status indicator guidance insuring more detailed transparency of the metrics which guide local community recommendations.
Week 42 data shows that Jefferson County is currently in the ORANGE status for the third week in a row with the seven-day rolling average at 21.97 (Figure 5).
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5