The situations, numbers, website links, data, and etc. described below were current as of Friday 12/4/2020 at 11:20 am.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

12/4/2020 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.

Hello to all, below are some COVID-19 updates:

1. La Junta Fresenius:  Before any patient/client of the La Junta Fresenius facility reports for kidney care, please make sure that you have thoroughly reviewed the Fresenius policies regarding COVID-19 and please abide by them.  These policies are in place to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection for both Fresenius staff and patients.  I have attached a couple of documents from Fresenius relative to COVID-19.  If you have any questions about Fresenius COVID-19 policies, contact their patient resource line at 1-800-881-5101, then you will be directed to the appropriate person depending on your question. 

You can also visit their website at  La Junta, Colorado Dialysis Center | Fresenius Kidney Care

2. Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center (AVRMC) Testing Schedule Update:  Our friends at AVRMC have adjusted their community testing schedule as follows:  Next week, community Testing at AVRMC will only be held on Monday (12/7/2020) and Friday (12/11/2020). Wednesday (12/9/2020) testing is cancelled at this time. Testing will be held from 9:00am -10:00am on 10th street in La Junta in the normal location.  A BIG THANKS to AVRMC for providing this valuable community service! 
3. School Webpages:  Please visit these websites for school-specific information and updates regarding COVID-19:

a.       Cheraw:  https://www.cheraw.k12.co.us/

b.      Crowley County:  http://www.cck12.net/

c.       Fowler:  http://www.fowler.k12.co.us/

d.      La Junta:  https://www.lajuntaschools.org/

e.       Manzanola:  https://www.manzanola.k12.co.us/

f.       OJC:  https://www.ojc.edu/

g.      Rocky Ford:  https://www.rockyfordk12.org/

h.      Swink:  https://www.swinkk12.net/

4. COVID-19 Tests

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)

5. Summaries

a.       CDPHE COVID-19 Data Webpage:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/data

b.      Crowley County (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Current Level:  Red (severe risk)

o   What are the level restrictions/guidelines:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wpq8MrsvtY0_jW07mWCLmVXtv4P_wFR2/view

ü  Total Cases:  1,299

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  212 cases added

§  These numbers include inmates and nursing home residents (please see Facility Outbreaks below).

ü  Non-Congregate Care Facility (does not include inmates and nursing home residents) Two-Week Cumulative Incidence Rate per 100,000 Population (calculated on 12/3/2020 for the period 11/19/20-12/2/20):  580.25

ü  Total COVID Related Deaths:  5

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  2

ü  Facility Outbreaks

o   Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF)

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  10/29/2020

·         Number of prisoners positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  595

·         Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  3

o   Crowley County Correctional Facility (CCCF)

§  Status:  Resolved

·         Date outbreak was considered closed:  7/20/2020

·         Number of prisoners positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  66

·         Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  4

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  1/2/2020

·         Number of prisoners positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  287

o   Crowley County Nursing Center (CCNC)

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  11/25/2020

·         Number of residents positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  19

·         Number of residents with probable COVID (NOT lab confirmed):  11

·         Number of COVID-19 deaths (lab confirmed):  1

·         Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  19

·         Number of staff with probable COVID (NOT lab confirmed):  2

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.  Yes, I know, it’s confusing.  I have color-coded it to hopefully make it a bit clearer.  Additionally, data is constantly moving and changing, and different websites/digital platforms take time to exchange and update their data, which does not make things any less confusing. 

c.       Otero County (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Current Level:  Red (severe risk)

o   What are the level restrictions/guidelines:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wpq8MrsvtY0_jW07mWCLmVXtv4P_wFR2/view

ü  Total Cases:  830

o   Change from last Friday’s update: 324 cases added.

ü  Two-Week Cumulative Incidence Rate per 100,000 Population:  2,505.33

ü  Total COVID Related Deaths: 12

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  2

ü  Facility Outbreaks

o   Fowler Health Care

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  11/30/2020

·         Number of residents positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  2

·         Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  4

o   Lewis Bolt and Nut

§  Status:  Resolved

·         Date outbreak was considered closed:  10/27/2020

·         Number of staff positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  3

·         Number of staff with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed):  11

o   Otero Junior College

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  11/2/2020

·         Number of attendees who are positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  27

o   Pioneer Healthcare Center

§  Status:  Resolved

·         Date outbreak was considered closed:  9/18/2020

·         Number of residents positive for COVID (lab confirmed):  20

·         Number of staff positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  14

·         Number of COVID related deaths (lab confirmed):  5

o   Swink High School

§  Status:  Resolved

·         Date outbreak was considered closed:  10/19/2020

·         Number of staff with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed):  1

·         Number of attendees who are positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  2

·         Number of attendees with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed):  5

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  11/16/2020

·         Number of staff who are positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  1

·         Number of staff with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed):  5

·         Number of attendees who are positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  1

·         Number of attendees with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed):  3

o   Valley Wide Health Systems

§  Status:  Active

·         Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak:  10/23/2020

·         Number of staff positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed):  10

o   Important Note:  Facility outbreak numbers (i.e. 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.  Yes, I know, it’s confusing.  I have color-coded it to hopefully make it a bit clearer.  Additionally, data is constantly moving and changing, and different websites/digital platforms take time to exchange and update their data, which does not make things any less confusing. 

d.      Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Related Hospitalization(s):  10 new hospitalizations since last Friday’s update.

e.       State of Colorado (numbers are cumulative) (https://covid19.colorado.gov/data)

ü  247,209 cases

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  30,526 cases added

ü  14,579 hospitalized

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  1,331 hospitalizations added

ü  64 counties

o   No change as this is the total number of counties in Colorado

ü  1,797,377 people tested

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  107,720 additional tests

ü  2,716 deaths due to COVID-19

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  195 deaths added

ü  2,336 outbreaks (view outbreak data:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/outbreak-data)

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  219 outbreaks added

ü  COVID-19 Dial Dashboard:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/covid-19-dial/covid-19-dial-dashboard

f.       United States (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Total Cases:   13,822,249

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  1,323,515 cases added

ü  Total Deaths:  272,525

o   Change from last Friday’s update:  13,520 deaths added

ü  Data Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

o   Website:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html 

g.      Global (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Confirmed Cases:  64,350,473

ü  Deaths:  1,494,668                                        

ü  Data Source:  Who Health Organization (WHO)

o   Website:  https://covid19.who.int/

6. 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/prepare-protect-yourself/prevent-the-spread/public-health-executive-orders

ü  Prevent the spread of COVID-19: https://covid19.colorado.gov/prevention 

ü  Limit workplace violence:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/business-employers/limit-workplace-violence.html

ü  Use COVID-19 informational graphics:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/for-lphas-health-care-providers/communication-resources/social-media-graphics

ü  Stay home if you are sick and, if needed, call your medical provider.

ü  Wear an appropriate mask if you must go out for an essential activity.

ü  If you are in a high risk group, take extra precautions.

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):  https://www.oterogov.com

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/

ü  Do these things so you will be prepared, and not scared.

ü  And remember, “This too shall pass.”

It’s up to us.

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