7/28/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update
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Description: 7/28/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update. Includes COVID-19 back to school guidance, recommendations, and requirements.
THIS IS A FLUID SITUATION. INFORMATION AND ACTION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND PATIENT.
The situations, numbers, website links, data, and etc. described below were current as of Wednesday 7/28/2021 at 12:22 p.m.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY
7/28/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update
Please take the time to read and understand this entire message.
Internet links: Before I send out each update, I check the links to make sure they are active. However, links do change from time to time, so the links I sent out today may not be the same tomorrow. You may have to search around a bit.
Please find this week’s COVID-19 updates below.
- Current Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Status
ü One Week Cumulative Incidence Rate (per 100,000) Ranges
§ Green Level: 0-35
§ Blue Level: 36-100
§ Yellow Level: 101-300
§ Orange Level: 301-500
§ Red Level: 501+
ü COVID-19 Dashboard: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Crowley County: Crowley remains in Green Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 33.2 for the data period of 7/20/2021-7/26/2021. Crowley has been in Green Level for 49 consecutive days.
ü Otero County: Otero remains in Green Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 16.4 for the data period of 7/20/2021-7/26/2021. Otero has been in Green Level for 34 consecutive days.
- CDPHE/OCHD Back To School Guidance: On 7/20/2021 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released back to school guidance. You can access CDPHE back to school guidance at these websites:
ü Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools | CDC
ü Roadmap To In-Person Learning- FINAL.pdf - Google Drive
ü UPDATED School and Childcare FAQs July 2021 Revision.pdf - Google Drive
SPECIAL NOTE: Guidance, recommendations, and requirements can change quickly, be prepared to be flexible and patient.
Overview
Regarding our schools in Crowley and Otero Counties, we will be following the most current guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Please remember, the key word here is “current”, because the situation can change rapidly, which could result in guidance change(s). In fact, in the CDPHE guidance document entitled “Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance” (and found here Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates) it states the following: “We will update our guidance and disease control strategies as the COVID-19 landscape changes with a continued focus on the essential nature of in-person learning.” The Otero County Health Department (OCHD) will adopt the same approach, we will base our recommendations and requirements on the most current COVID-19 data available. If our local “COVID-19 landscape” changes for the worse, we must all be ready and willing to do our part for the greater good.
Current local COVID-19 situation: What is the current “COVID-19 landscape” in Crowley and Otero Counties?
ü Transmission rates: As noted in # 1 above, our rates are very low in both counties, and have been that way for some time (COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates).
ü Vaccination percentage rates:
o Crowley County 1+ vaccination percentage rate: The CDPHE numbers are artificially lower because of the prison population. Based on my most recent calculation, I would estimate the Crowley community vaccination percentage rate (not including prisoners in the denominator) at between 35%-38%. CDPHE currently lists this as 19.6% (Vaccine data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates)
o Otero County 1+ vaccination percentage rate: 47.3% (Vaccine data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates)
ü Currently, we are continuing to experience low community transmission rates, but our community vaccination rates are still well below the target rate of 70%.
Masks
ü Mask wearing is recommended (not required) for all unvaccinated individuals age two and older in indoor settings.
ü Fully vaccinated staff and students may wear masks if choose to do so.
ü The above recommendations can be found here: Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Mask guidance: Guidance for wearing masks | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
Social distancing: Not required at this time.
Limiting/modifying high risk activities (such as indoor sports, contact sports, band, choir, etc.): Not required at this time.
Increased precautionary measures: In the CDPHE guidance document entitled “Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance” (and found here Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates) it states the following: “When schools and/or their communities have low vaccination rates and are experiencing high rates of community transmission (defined as 35 cases per 100,000 people over seven days), the local public health agency should work with schools and school districts to institute higher precautionary measures…” At this point in time, based upon our low community transmission rates, OCHD will not be requiring higher precautionary measures.
Quarantine: Quarantine information is found in the document entitled “Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance” (and found here Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates).
ü Vaccinated Individuals: Anyone who is fully vaccinated (at least two weeks after their last dose of COVID-19 vaccine), even in a low vaccination, high case setting, is not required to quarantine if exposed to a case. In the school setting, fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 during a higher risk exposure should monitor for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms develop.
ü Unvaccinated individuals: These situations will have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Isolation: Isolation of positive cases is required. Isolation guidance can be found here: How to isolate | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
School buses: Currently, masks are required on school buses under federal order. The following are exceptions to this requirement:
ü Under age two-years-old.
ü Has a disability and cannot wear a mask safely.
ü Wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty.
Here is the link to the federal mask order: Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-
Here is a link to a CDPHE document that explains this federal mask order: UPDATED School and Childcare FAQs July 2021 Revision.pdf - Google Drive
Sick individuals: In order to keep COVID-19 recommendations/requirements at a minimum, to keep our schools’ academic and extracurricular (sports) environments as close to normal as possible, it is absolutely essential that sick individuals (students and staff) do not come to school. OCHD STRONGLY RECOMMENDS symptom checking at home before reporting to school. Keeping the situation as normal as possible will require all of us working together, OCHD, schools, students, staff, parents. It’s up to us.
Prioritizing in person learning: In the document “Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance” (and found here Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates) it states the following: “We must support and prioritize uninterrupted, full-time, in-person learning in all communities. While we must remain vigilant, particularly when it comes to deadly COVID-19 variants, we recognize there are fewer cases of COVID-19 than earlier in the pandemic, and children under the age of 12 are less likely to experience severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. We also know that vaccinations are our best defense against COVID-19. Therefore, Colorado will move from an individual case-based response strategy to a transmission mitigation strategy, where instead of quarantining students and staff after individual exposures, the risk of the whole school community, including the risk of interruptions to learning, is considered. Because in-person learning is essential for communities and students to thrive, CDPHE is recommending reduced incidents of quarantine in schools and child care specifically.” OCHD understands, appreciates, and fully supports this concept.
Please stay tuned for more school updates as the year progresses.
- CDPHE Spanish Language COVID-19 Website: Home- Español | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
- Ayuda En Espanol (Spanish Language Assistance): Para ayuda en Espanol, habla con Debbie Jaramillo en 719-383-3040 por favor (For help in Spanish, please call Debbie Jaramillo at 719-383-3040).
- Delta Variant Update: As of the time stamp noted above, we have detected the Delta Variant in 2 individuals in Otero, and we have not yet detected this variant in Crowley.
- Free Community Testing: Our local testing schedule is as follows until further notice:
ü Location: Crowley County Nursing Center
§ Address: 401 Idaho, Ordway
§ Date: Wednesdays
§ Time: 9am-11am
ü Location: Rocky Ford Public Safety Building
§ Address: 300 South Main Street, Rocky Ford
§ Date: Wednesdays
§ Time: 12:30pm-3:30pm
- VACCINATION INFORMATION
a. Vaccination Appointments: If you would like to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, please call Carolina Cortez at 719-468-8083.
b. Ayuda En Espanol (Spanish Language Assistance): Para ayuda en Espanol, habla con Debbie Jaramillo en 719-383-3040 por favor (For help in Spanish, please call Debbie Jaramillo at 719-383-3040).
c. OCHD Vaccines: OCHD is using Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccines.
ü Pfizer vaccine information: Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Latest Developments | Pfizer
ü Moderna vaccine information: Moderna’s Fully Enrolled Phase 3 COVE Study of mRNA-1273 | Moderna, Inc. (modernatx.com)
ü Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine information: Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Official Website
d. Booster Shots
ü Where to go to get your booster shot: If you received your first vaccination through OCHD, we will contact you to arrange a time for your booster shot. If you received your first shot at another medical provider (i.e., your doctor’s office or pharmacy), please contact them regarding your booster shot. Regardless of where you go to get your booster shot, please be sure to bring your COVID-19 vaccination card that you received during your initial vaccination.
ü Booster Shot Timing: Here is the CDPHE information regarding the timing of booster shots: “If it isn’t possible to get the second dose on the right day, the second dose can be given up to 42 days later. If the second dose is given earlier than the recommended date, a dose given no more than four days early is considered a valid dose.” Here is the website where you can read the above information COVID-19 Vaccine frequently asked questions | Colorado COVID-19 Updates and the information is under the heading entitled “Getting your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine”.
ü Booster shot appointments: If you received your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine from OCHD, we will contact you to make an appointment for your booster shot. We are having some trouble contacting a few people because they are not answering their phones nor returning messages. Please answer your phone or return a message from OCHD so we can schedule your booster shot appointment.
e. More Vaccine Information: Colorado-specific information on COVID-19 vaccine can be found here:
ü Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine Website: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): COVID-19 Vaccine frequently asked questions | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Learn about COVID-19 vaccines: Learn about COVID-19 vaccines | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Colorado Vaccine Dashboard (including county-level data): Vaccine data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Currently approved vaccine side-by-side comparisons: https://astho.org/COVID-19/
ü CDPHE COVID-19 vaccine hotline: This is a state-wide call center for the public to ask questions specifically about the COVID-19 vaccine. The toll-free number is 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).
- COVID-19 Test Information
a. Basic Information: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has some good, general information on the different types of COVID-19 tests about which you may have heard. To review this information, please go to the following website: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing Basics (fda.gov)
b. State Testing Sites: Here is a website that details COVID-19 testing sites across the state of Colorado: CDPHE Test Sites Portal (colorado.gov)
- Summaries
a. Crowley County
ü COVID-19 Rate Color/Level Status: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü COVID-19 Data: COVID-19 data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
o Click on “Case Summary” at the top/left
o Then click on “Maps” on the right
ü Facility outbreak information can be viewed here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
o Important Note: Facility outbreak numbers (i.e. prisoners and nursing home residents) are only updated by CDPHE once per week, on Wednesdays after 4:00pm. Total case numbers, on the other hand, are updated daily by CDPHE. This means that there could be facility cases reflected in the total case numbers that are not yet reflected in the facility numbers. And remember, total case numbers are cumulative, meaning they include all cases since the outbreak began.
ü Total COVID-19 Related Deaths: 17
o Change from the last weekly update: 0
b. Otero County
ü COVID-19 Rate Color/Level Status: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü COVID-19 Data: COVID-19 data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
o Click on “Case Summary” at the top/left
o Then click on “Maps” on the right
ü Facility outbreak information can be viewed here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
o Important Note: Facility outbreak numbers (i.e. prisoners and nursing home residents) are only updated by CDPHE once per week, on Wednesdays after 4:00pm. Total case numbers, on the other hand, are updated daily by CDPHE. This means that there could be facility cases reflected in the total case numbers that are not yet reflected in the facility numbers. And remember, total case numbers are cumulative, meaning they include all cases since the outbreak began.
ü Total COVID-19 Related Deaths: 67
o Change from the last weekly update: 0
c. Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Related Hospitalization(s): Zero new hospitalizations since the last weekly update.
d. State of Colorado Information: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
e. United States Information: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC
f. Global information: https://covid19.who.int/
- What can you do RIGHT NOW?
ü Read, understand, and comply with public health orders. Public health orders can be found here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
ü Prevent the spread of COVID-19: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
ü Stay home if you are sick and, if needed, call your medical provider.
ü Wear an appropriate mask when required to do so.
ü If you are in a high risk group, take extra precautions.
a. CDPHE: People at higher risk for severe illness | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
b. CDC: Do I need to Take Extra Precautions Against COVID-19 | CDC
ü Cover your cough and/or sneeze.
ü Keep your fingers and hands away from your face.
ü Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
ü Stay informed by trusted and reliable sources. Be careful about believing what you read on social media sites. Trusted sources/websites:
o Otero County Health Department (OCHD): Home | Otero County (colorado.gov)
o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov
o Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE): https://covid19.colorado.gov/
Richard Ritter, Executive Director
Otero County Health Department
13 West 3rd Street, Room 111
La Junta, Colorado 81050
719-383-3045 (Office)
719-383-3060 (Fax)
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