How Color Code Alert Level Is Determined

How Color Code Level Is Determined Page Banner

The Color Code Alert Level is based on the average of scores assigned for the number of Porter County's weekly cases per 100,000 and our all test seven-day positivity rate. The overall county score will help guide us as we make the best decisions possible to protect our community and limit the spread of COVID-19. The two metrics used to calculate the weekly county status score are described in detail in the graphic below.

Scoring Map table 

Scoring Calculation

  • Daily, we calculate the scores for the metrics above. To calculate test positivity rate, we utilize the prior 7-day average for the all tests positivity rate for Porter County. Please note that this calculation is lagged by 7 days to ensure complete testing information has been received.
  • To calculate Porter County’s new weekly cases, we identify all new positive cases that were reported in the prior 7 days. This number is then divided by each county’s total county population and multiplied by 100,000.
  • We then determine the score for each of the two metric above and average them.
  • The ranges that determine the overall county color are as follows: 
  • Blue Zone: Between 0 and 0.5
  • Yellow Zone: Between 1.0 and 1.5
  • Orange Zone: Between 2.0 and 2.5
  • Red Zone: 3.0 and over.

Changing A County's Color Code Status

  • A county must meet the metrics/ score of a less restrictive category for two consecutive weeks before being allowed to move to that category.
  • A county will be moved to a more restrictive category whenever the county's metric/ score rises to a higher category.