While Butler County remains an area of high transmission of the COVID-19 virus, based on CDC guidelines, the rate of new cases in Oxford is at a slightly lower “substantial” rate, according to a zip code chart on the website of the Butler County Health Department. 

Transmission is considered high under the CDC guidelines when 100 or more new cases per 100,000 people are occurring per week. Transmission is considered substantial when 50-90 new cases per 100,000 people occur per week. 

According to the health department website, the county charted 476 new cases between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7. The 45056 zip code, which covers Oxford, had 18 new cases during the same seven-day period. 

Members of Oxford City Council and the Talawanda School Board, both of which debated the issue of imposing mask mandates this week, noted that the health department figures predate the return of 20,000 college students to Oxford this week, which is expected to push the case numbers higher.