Otero County Health Department Covid Update Oct. 9th

Description: The most recent update on covid from the Otero/Crowley County Health Department.


Published: 10/09/2020
Byline: Hart

The Most Recent Covid Update 

 

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 Friday 10/9/2020 at approximately 7:07 am. 

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

10/9/2020 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1

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 for you:

  1. Updated School Guidance:  The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has very recently updated its guidance for schools.  This new guidance went into effect this week on Monday, 10/5/2020.  You can check out the new school guidance here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16g-2exA5iRt4F5mIvy1WDuAkjRRwzWJw/view
  2. Bent, Crowley, and Otero (BCO) Counties Protect Our Neighbors (PON) Application Submission:  Earlier this week I received a call from CDPHE letting me know that our BCO region is currently ineligible for PON certification because we have exceeded the PON threshold (under the two-week average molecular test positivity rate metric) of 50 cases/100,000 population rate.  Our BCO rate was 56.46 for the 2 week period of 9/20/2020-10/3/2020.  Let’s work together to get that rate down, keep it down, and get PON certified!  Read more about PON here:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/protect-our-neighbors
  3. Third Amended PHO 20-32 Protect Our Neighbors:  Please find attached the Third Amended Public Health Order (PHO) 20-32 for Protect Our Neighbors (PON).  Per CDPHE, “This is mostly just an extension, with some clean up on the language describing P-12 and higher education in the critical business/services list in Appendix A.” 
  4. Halloween COVID-19 Guidance:  Halloween is coming up quickly, and we want our trick or treaters to stay safe!  Before heading out for treats, please make sure to take a look at this information first: 

ü  CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween

ü  CDPHE:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/halloween-tips-and-tricks

  1. 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/

 

  1. Summaries

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

b.      Crowley County (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Total Cases:  74

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

ü  Total COVID Related Deaths:  1

ü  Facility Outbreaks

o   Crowley County Correctional Facility

§  Status:  Resolved

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

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

c.       Otero County (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Total Cases:  107

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

ü  Total COVID Related Deaths:  6

ü  Facility Outbreaks

o   Lewis Bolt and Nut

§  Status:  Active

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

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

o   Pioneer Healthcare Center

§  Status:  Resolved

§  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:  Active

§  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):  9

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

ü  75,785 cases

ü  7,834 hospitalized

ü  64 counties

ü  984,996 people tested

ü  2,095 deaths among cases

ü  1,997 deaths due to COVID-19

ü  846 outbreaks (view outbreak data:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/outbreak-data)

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

e.       United States (numbers are cumulative)

ü  Total Cases:  7,528,313

ü  Total Deaths: 211,132

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 

f.       Global (number are cumulative)

ü  Confirmed Cases:  36,237,403

ü  Deaths:  1,054,868

ü  Data Source:  Who Health Organization (WHO)

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

 

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

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 a lot.

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 is 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



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