3/3/2022 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update

Description: 3/3/2022 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update


Published: 03/03/2022
Byline: Hart

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 Thursday 3/3/2022 at 7:52 a.m.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

3/3/2022 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.

  1. Current Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Status

a.       One Week Cumulative Incidence Rate (per 100,000) Ranges

ü  Green Level:  0-35

ü  Blue Level:  36-100

ü  Yellow Level:  101-300

ü  Orange Level:  301-500

ü  Red Level:  501+

b.      COVID-19 Dashboard:  COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

c.       COVID-19 Data:  COVID-19 data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

d.      Crowley County: 

ü  Rate:  As of the time stamp detailed above, on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s case rate website (COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates), Crowley’s rate is listed as 188.2, in Yellow Level.  This rate and level are not correct, as the majority of cases used to calculate this rate includes inmates.  After I adjust for this factor, Crowley’s rate is currently in Blue Level with a 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 85.5 (for the data period of 2/23/2022-3/1/2022).

ü  Total COVID-19 Related Deaths:  28

§ Change from the last weekly update:  No additional deaths.

e.       Otero County: 

ü  Rate:  Otero’s rate is in Blue Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 75 (for the data period of 2/23/2022-3/1/2022).

ü  Total COVID-19 Related Deaths:  125

§ Change from the last weekly update:  No additional deaths. 

f.       Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Related Hospitalization(s):  No new hospitalizations since the last weekly update.

  1. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Extends Public Health Order (PHO) 20-38:  This updated PHO has been extended to and including 3/14/2022, and I have attached a copy.  A summary of changes over the previous version is as follows:

a.       Findings, #5:  Specifying that the PHO is extended for 2 weeks to incorporate changes based on Colorado's Next Chapter: Our Roadmap to Moving Forward as well as the new federal masking guidelines.

b.      Section III.A.1:  Reduced the scope of the state contractor vaccination requirements to only those contractors that provide goods or services in residential or congregate care state facilities.

c.       Section III.A.3:  Reduced the scope of the state contractor testing requirements to only those unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated contractors with a medical or religious exemption from vaccination approved by their employers that provide goods or services in residential or congregate care state facilities.

d.      Section III.A.5:  Added a clarifying statement that state contractors who do not enter residential or congregate care state facilities are no longer required to attest to vaccination status, submit to twice weekly testing, or wear face coverings.

e.       Section IV.C:  Deleted the definition of Indoor Event as no longer relevant to this Order.

  1. CDPHE Updated School Guidance:  CDPHE has updated its school guidance to allow transitioning COVID-19 response to a routine disease control model.  According to CDPHE, “…schools may choose to transition away from a case-investigation response model to a more typical routine disease control model for disease control in schools. Such a model focuses more on response to clusters of cases, outbreaks, and evidence of ongoing transmission in schools, and less on individual case investigation, contact tracing, and quarantining of staff and students following school exposures.”  More detailed information can be found at the following website:  Practical guide for operationalizing CDC’s school guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updated Case Investigation/Contact Training (CI/CT) Recommendations:  The CDC has very recently updated its recommendations on CI/CT.  At the time of this writing, Colorado has not yet formally adopted this guidance, but I anticipate that happening very soon.  This updated CDC CI/CT information can be found here:  Prioritizing Case Investigation and Contact Tracing for COVID-19 | CDC
  1. CDPHE Spanish Language COVID-19 Website:  Home- Español | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
  1. 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).
  1. Mask Information

a.       Locations where masks are given to the public for free:  Where to get free KN95 and surgical grade masks | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

b.      Guidance for wearing masks:  Guidance for wearing masks | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

  1. Testing Information

a.       Free Community Testing:  Our local testing schedule is as follows until further notice: 

ü  Location:  Otero College

§ Address:  1802 Colorado Avenue, McDivitt Gym, La Junta

§ Date:  Wednesdays

§ Time:  12:00pm-4:00pm

ü  Location:  Crowley County Nursing Center

§ Address:  401 Idaho, Ordway

§ Date:  Fridays

§ Time:  9:00am-11:00am

ü  Location:  Rocky Ford Public Safety Building

§ Address:  300 South Main Street, Rocky Ford

§ Date:  Fridays

§ Time:  1:00pm-4:00pm

b.      State-wide Testing Information:  CDPHE Test Sites Portal (colorado.gov)

  1. Vaccination Information

a.       OCHD Vaccination Appointments:  If you would like to make an appointment with OCHD for a COVID-19 vaccination, please call Carolina Cortez at 719-468-8083.

b.      Vaccination Providers in Crowley, Otero, and Across Colorado:  Find out where you can get vaccinated | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

c.       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).

d.      Vaccines for Children and Teens:  Vaccines for children and teens | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

e.       Booster Dose Recommendations:  Find out when you need a third (booster) dose of a COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

f.       Mobile Vaccination Clinics

ü  For a list of mobile vaccination clinic locations and dates/times in Southeast Colorado, please go here:  Southeast, CO - Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in Colorado (mobilevax.us)

ü  For general information on mobile vaccination clinics, please go here:  Mobile vaccination clinics | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

g.      Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine Website:  COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

  1. Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Information

a.       CDPHE:  COVID-19 treatments | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

b.      mAb Colorado:  www.mAbColorado.org

  1. Public Health Recommendations/Guidance: 

a.       Colorado’s Next Chapter: Our Roadmap to Moving Forward

ü  If you are fully vaccinated and up to date with all three doses, you should feel comfortable living life as normal;

ü  If you are vaccinated, but immunocompromised or high-risk, take necessary steps to protect yourself and proactively speak with a health care provider about a potential fourth dose of the vaccine, preventive treatment options, and what to do if you test positive;

ü  If you are not fully vaccinated, get fully vaccinated with three doses as you are still at risk of contracting severe disease even with the emergence of variants that cause less severe disease in fully vaccinated people.

ü  More detailed information can be accessed here:  Colorado's Next Chapter Roadmap Forward 2.25.22.pdf - Google Drive

b.      Schools

ü  Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü  ChildCare_How_Sick_Illness_Policy_vs2020.pdf - Google Drive

c.       Isolation/quarantine:  Isolation & quarantine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

d.      Prevention:  Prevent the spread of COVID-19 | Colorado COVID-19 Updates 

e.       High risk groups

ü  CDPHE:  People at higher risk for severe illness | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü  CDC:  Do I need to Take Extra Precautions Against COVID-19 | CDC

  1. State Public Health Orders (PHO)

a.       Public Health and Executive Orders website:  Public health & executive orders | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

b.      Thirteenth (13th) Amended PHO 20-38 regarding face coverings, school case reporting, hospital reporting, etc. can be found online here:  13th AMENDED PHO 20-38.022822.pdf - Google Drive

c.       Eighth (8th) Amended PHO 20-20 regarding requirements for congregate care facilities:  PHO 20-20.8thAmended.92821.pdf - Google Drive

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)

rritter@oterogov.org



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Press Release PDF Attachments

13th AMENDED PHO 20-38

ChildCare_How_Sick_Illness_Policy_vs2020

PHO 20-20



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