11/9/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #2: Crowley/Otero Rate Updates; Booster & Public Health Recommendations/Requirements

Description: 11/9/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #2: Crowley/Otero Rate Updates; Booster Recommendations; Public Health Recommendations/Requirements


Published: 11/09/2021
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 Tuesday 11/9/2021 at 8:32 a.m.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

11/9/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #2:  Crowley/Otero Rate Updates; Booster Recommendations; Public Health Recommendations/Requirements

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 Rate 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’s rate is in Orange Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 359.3 (for the data period of 11/1/2021-11/7/2021). 

ü  Otero County:  Otero has entered Red Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 524.8 (for the data period of 11/1/2021-11/7/2021). 

  1. Booster Recommendations:  The Chief Medical Officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is urging eligible Coloradans to get a COVID-19 booster shot.  For more information, please see the attachment. 
  1. OCHD Public Health Recommendations

ü  Recommend universal indoor masking for all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status and at all levels of community transmission per current CDPHE recommendations (Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates)

a.       At a minimum, OCHD strongly recommends unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated students and staff to wear a mask if they can medically tolerate it. 

b.      In addition to mask use reducing risk of transmission and exposure, unvaccinated students can also avoid quarantine following a typical classroom exposure if both the infected individual and the exposed student were correctly wearing masks (or participating in weekly screening testing).

ü  Seriously consider getting fully vaccinated if you have not already done so.

ü  If you are unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in public.

ü  Wear an appropriate mask when required to do so, even if you are fully vaccinated. 

ü  Review and follow the prevention guidelines found here:  Prevent the spread of COVID-19 | Colorado COVID-19 Updates 

ü  Perform a symptom check on yourself and your children before going out in public (i.e. work, school, the store, etc.)

a.       COVID-19 symptoms:  Do you have symptoms? | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

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

c.       Parents/guardians, do not send your kids to school if they are sick. 

ü  If you need to isolate (because you have tested positive and/or are symptomatic) or quarantine (because you have been exposed but are not symptomatic), here is the guidance:  Isolation & quarantine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü  If you are in a high risk group, take extra precautions (such as wearing a mask when in public places regardless of vaccination status). 

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

  1. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Guidance and Requirements

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

ü  Eighth (8th) Amended Public Health Order (PHO) 20-38 regarding face coverings, school case reporting, hospital reporting, etc. can be found online here:  EIGHTH AMENDED PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER 20-38.pdf - Google Drive

ü  Residential Care Facility (RCF) Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance can be found here: RCF Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance.pdf - Google Drive)

ü  Colorado State Board of Health hospital and health care facilities COVID-19 vaccination requirements can be found online here: 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 2 - Emergency Rulemaking Adopted Rules.pdf - Google Drive and here:  The Health Facilities Community Blog: Board of Health approves vaccine requirement for staff at health care facilities and hospitals 

ü  “How Sick is Too Sick” Information:  ChildCare_How_Sick_Illness_Policy_vs2020.pdf - Google Drive

  1. Federal Guidance and Requirements

ü  Federal Public Transportation Mask Requirement:  Masking on school buses and other public transportation is required by Federal Order (Order: Wearing of face masks while on conveyances and at transportation hubs | Quarantine | CDC)

ü  CDC Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People:  Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People | CDC

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

 

Chief Medical Officer urges eligible Coloradans to get COVID-19 booster 

Modeling estimates 1 in 48 are infectious

STATEWIDE (Nov. 8, 2021) — Dr. Eric France, CDPHE Chief Medical Officer, is today again calling on all eligible Coloradans age 18+ to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose six months after receiving either Pfizer or Moderna and two months after receiving the J&J vaccine. Dr. France’s guidance is based on CDC guidance which states that anyone aged 18+ should get a booster if they work or live in high-risk settings or have certain underlying medical conditions. The entire state of Colorado is in a significant wave of disease spread; one in 48 Coloradans is estimated to be infectious. 

“The vaccine continues to protect against severe disease and hospitalization, but may allow persons to get mild disease, which leads to ongoing transmission. With the ongoing transmission, Coloradans -- and particularly unvaccinated Coloradans -- are at high-risk of getting the virus. As much as we’d like it to be over, the pandemic is still raging,” said Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer, CDPHE. “Please get the vaccine if you haven’t already and get a booster if it’s been six months since you got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (or two months since you got the J&J vaccine). The booster will keep your immunity up and help keep you out of the hospital.”

The latest public health order from CDPHE prevents any vaccine administrator from turning away 18+ year olds who want to get the booster if it has been six months since their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna (or two months since receiving the J&J vaccine). The J&J vaccine, while a very effective vaccine, is not as effective as the mRNA vaccines. Anyone who received a J&J vaccine two or more months ago is advised to immediately get a booster shot of the J&J or one of the mRNA vaccine booster doses. 

In addition to getting vaccinated and getting a booster at the appropriate time when eligible, public health officials advise Coloradans to wear a mask for added protection, wash their hands, and stay home if they’re sick.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.



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