4/24/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Status Update; Shortened Quarantine Requirements/Recommendations
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Description: 4/24/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Status Update; Shortened Quarantine Requirements; Current Public Health Requirements/Recommendations
THIS IS A RAPIDLY EVOLVING AND 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 Saturday 4/24/2021 at 6:27 p.m.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY
4/24/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Status Update; Shortened Quarantine Requirements; Current Public Health Requirements/Recommendations
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.
- Current Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Status:
ü Crowley & Otero County: While still just barely being in Blue Level, Crowley has increased close to the 1 week cumulative incidence rate Yellow Level threshold with a rate of 99.5. Otero just barely dipped below the Yellow Level threshold into Blue Level with a rate of 98.5. The Yellow Level threshold is 101. I just finished meeting with our Regional Epidemiologist, Dr. Maier, and COVID-19 activity is definitely increasing in our area of the state. Now is the time to do all we can to get that rate down. And to those of you that are doing your best to get and keep that rate down, THANKS!
ü COVID-19 Status Dashboard: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Keeping Our Rates Down: How can we do this? The Governor’s Office shared these great suggestions on 4/13/2021:
“Along with getting the vaccine as soon as one becomes available, it’s crucial that Coloradans continue to take good sense safety measures including:
ü Wearing masks
ü Social distancing
ü Staying home when sick
ü Getting tested if you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID
ü Gathering outside in small groups instead of opting for indoors
- Shortened Quarantine Requirements: The standard quarantine period is 14 days. However, for people that do not have contact with high risk individuals (see the website below regarding who is considered “high risk”), the quarantine period can be shortened in 2 ways, see below:
ü A 10 day quarantine that does not require testing: This quarantine period is appropriate for most people who do not have contact with high risk individuals. If after 10 days the individual has no symptoms they can be released from quarantine and self-monitor for the last four days of quarantine for symptoms.
ü A 7 day quarantine that requires testing: People who do not have contact with high risk individuals and have a negative test collected 48 hours before quarantine is discontinued (on day 5 or later). What this means is that a person must still quarantine for 7 days (even though they are tested), but if they get tested on day 5, day 6, or day 7 and that test is negative they can be released on day 8, which concludes a full 7 days of quarantine.
§ Example: A person whose last day of contact with a lower risk positive case was on 4/19 would begin day 1 of quarantine on 4/20. They can be released from quarantine on 4/27 (and not have to wait the full 10 days until being released on 4/30, see directly above) IF they are asymptomatic AND had a negative test result on 4/24 (day 5), 4/25 (day 6), or 4/26 (day 7).
ü Here is the CDPHE Information: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
- Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Requirements & Recommendations: Effective 4/16/2021 and until further notice, the following are the COVID-19 requirements & recommendations for Crowley and Otero Counties:
ü REQUIREMENTS:
§ Masks continue to be required in the following settings/places (statewide requirement):
· Schools (including for extracurricular activities);
· Child care centers;
· Indoor children’s camps;
· Public-facing state government facilities;
· Emergency medical and other healthcare settings (including hospitals, ambulance service centers, urgent care centers, non-ambulatory surgical structures, clinics, doctors’ offices, and non-urgent care medical structures);
· Personal services (i.e. hair salons, nail salons, esthetician services, body art professionals, etc.);
· Limited health care settings as defined by Public Health Order (PHO) 20-36;
· Congregate care facilities (nursing facilities, assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities, and group homes); &
· Prisons and jails.
· PHO 20-38 rate-specific requirement: “For counties with a one week disease incidence rate in excess of 35 per 100,000, face coverings are also required pursuant to Executive Order D 2020 138, as amended and extended, in a Public Indoor Space, as defined in Executive Order D 2020 138, as amended and extended, where 10 or more unvaccinated individuals or individuals of unknown vaccination status are present.”
o This currently applies to both Crowley and Otero Counties.
o For questions regarding this state requirement, please contact Su Korbitz (719-241-4372, ehdir@oterogov.org) or Tony Harviston (719-383-3087, eha@oterogov.org)
· Executive Orders & Public Health Orders (PHO) can be found here: Public health & executive orders | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
§ Under current state requirement, 6 foot social distancing is required between parties in mass indoor gatherings that exceed 100 people (for unvaccinated people or when vaccination status is unknown).
ü RECOMMENDATIONS: Additionally, I am making the following recommendations based upon the recent case increases in Crowley and Otero Counties:
§ I would strongly urge all those that have not been vaccinated to wear a mask when in any public places, including employees/staff of businesses.
§ If you have been vaccinated but you have not had 14 full days elapse since being vaccinated with Johnson and Johnson vaccine, or 14 full days have not elapsed since your booster shot (second shot) of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, please wear a mask when in any public places, including employees/staff of businesses. This 14 day period allows your body the necessary time to develop immunity.
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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