The southern part of Clatsop County faces a surge in positive coronavirus cases.

Since Oct. 30, the county has reported 43 confirmed coronavirus cases, of which 25 of those are identified as residents of an area which includes Seaside, Gearhart and Cannon Beach.

As of Tuesday, the county recorded a total of 293 cases since March, the health department reported. Two-hundred and forty-three of those have recovered. One person has been hospitalized; the others are convalescing at home.

According to the county’s Public Health Department, parties and social gatherings among friends and family are the primary cause of these and other recent local COVID-19 cases.

“We have community spread,” Public Health Director Michael McNickle said Monday. “The virus is in the county and is being spread through many routes of exposure.”

The Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District closed the Sunset pool until Nov. 18 after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus. They are recovering at home and in contact with their medical provider and the health department.

The city of Seaside refers all inquiries about coronavirus cases to the health department, City Manager Mark Winstanley said Monday, and does not keep statistics about local spread.

If a worker at a store tests positive for coronavirus and is a direct contact to a known case from another source, they would be contacted by the health department and asked to quarantine, McNickle said.

Businesses are allowed to operate under Occupational Health and Safety Administration rules as long as they follow the requirements of quarantining, isolation and sanitation.

The Oregon Health Authority will list a business or organization as having an outbreak when there are five or more cases linked to a single scenario. “We currently do not have that scenario,” McNickle said.

The health department contacts every positive case and conducts tracing to identify direct contacts, McNickle said. “We provide evidence-based information and guidance to individuals, business and organizations throughout Clatsop County.”

The county offers drive-through testing two days a week, including rapid tests with same-day results.

Staff works seven days a week to follow up on cases and contacts to assure the health and safety of the community, he added.

The record number of cases brings concerns that people are experiencing “COVID fatigue,” letting their guard down and not following social distancing, masking and isolation guidance from OHA and the Centers for Disease Control. “If the guidance isn’t followed, cases will continue to rise,” McNickle said.