Placer County Covid-19 Testing and Positivity Numbers

Placer positivity rate almost double California average

Roseville, CA- A key measurement health and public officials cite to measure the prevalence of community spread of COVID-19 is the positivity rate. During the March through May period, Placer County was tracking a positivity rate of 1.85% which indicated low community spread. A total of 217 positive cases were recorded throughout all of Placer County during that time period.

Naturally as additional testing occurs more positive cases will be identified. However, the rate of positivity has risen near 700% over the past two months, indicating an increasing and higher rate of community spread. Testing in Placer, ranks in the bottom third of the state and has been drifting even lower.

As of August 6, 2020, Placer County is reporting a 7-day positivity rate of 14.4% ranking among the 10 highest positivity rates in California. Statewide, the positivity rate statewide is 7.6%. Total cases to date in Placer County are 2,039 with 20 deaths. Placer County hospitalizations include 63 currently hospitalized with Covid.

Likely Underestimates

Aug 5, 2020 – Placer County dashboard “Please note that CalREDIE, the statewide electronic disease reporting system, is experiencing serious unresolved processing delays. As such, new cases presented here are likely an underestimate of true incident cases being reported. This impacts many of our statistics, including case rates and percent increase estimates.”

Where Placer County currently ranks

California Covid-19 Testing Rate (per 100,000 residents)

Highest Positivity Rates in California

Source: California Department of Public Health and Placer County Covid-19 dashboard

John Hopkins University on Positivity Rates

“The rate of positivity is an important indicator because it can provide insights into whether a community is conducting enough testing to find cases. If a community’s positivity is high, it suggests that that community may largely be testing the sickest patients and possibly missing milder or asymptomatic cases.”