Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update December 18th
Description: Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update December 18th
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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 12/18/2020 at 9:41 am.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY
12/18/2020 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:
- Free COVID-19 Community Testing: Next week OCHD staff will be doing free COVID-19 community testing, please see the details below.
a. Monday, 12/21/2020 & Wednesday, 12/23/2020
ü Location: Rocky Ford Public Safety Building, 300 South Main Street, Rocky Ford
ü Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm.
ü Preregister here: https://curative.com/search#9/
ü Rocky Ford has been chosen as it is the most centrally located city between the cities in Crowley and Otero Counties. Stay tuned for other testing dates and sites.
ü Instructions
o Drive North on Main Street. As you get close to the Rocky Ford Public Safety Building, you will follow the route outlined with cones into the assigned fire station bay, on the right side of Main Street.
o Do not attempt to enter the testing line by driving South on Main Street and cutting across traffic.
o After your test, you will exit the testing line by turning right in the alley and then left onto Maple Avenue.
o We ask that you refrain from drinking, eating, or smoking 20 minutes prior to testing. Please do not have any pets in your car.
o Please do not get out of your vehicle. A staff member will assist you.
o While you are stopped in the testing line, make sure your vehicle’s transmission is in “Park”.
o First come, first served. Testing will end promptly at 3:00pm.
b. Tuesday, 12/22/2020
ü Location: Crowley County Fire/EMS, 9th Street and US Highway 71, Ordway
ü Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm.
ü Preregister here: https://curative.com/search#9/
ü Instructions
o Driving East on 9th Street, enter the testing line by turning right at the Crowley County Fire/EMS Building.
o Do not attempt to enter the testing line by driving West on 9th Street and cutting across traffic.
o After your test, you will exit the testing line by turning onto 9th street.
o We ask that you refrain from drinking, eating, or smoking 20 minutes prior to testing. Please do not have any pets in your car.
o Please do not get out of your vehicle. A staff member will assist you.
o While you are stopped in the testing line, make sure your vehicle’s transmission is in “Park”.
o First come, first served. Testing will end promptly at 3:00pm.
c. A BIG thanks to our partners for providing testing sites: Crowley County Fire/EMS, City of La Junta, City of Rocky Ford/Public Safety Building. A special thanks and shout out to Walter Tucker (Big W) for donating the port-a-potties for the La Junta testing event last week.
d. Bent County: We are increasing our testing capacity, and once we have sufficient capacity we will be offering free COVID-19 community testing in Bent County, in close partnership with our friends at Bent County Public Health. Stay tuned for more information.
- End Goal: This pandemic has raged on for months, disrupting our lives, jobs, schools, businesses, economy, and unfortunately, literally taking lives from us. Since this all began, we have been inundated with public health protocols that have been specifically designed to lessen the impact of this deadly virus and save lives. These numerous protocols constitute the process of combatting this viral nemesis. Have you ever heard the old saying, “you can’t see the forest because of the trees.”? That’s what I am getting at. Sometimes all the details (i.e. trees or protocols) cloud and obscure the big picture. The big picture in this case, the reason for all of the protocols, is to get our lives “back to normal”. This is the end goal. To achieve this extremely important end goal will take a united effort from all of us. Please do your very best to protect yourselves, your family, your neighbors, and others. We will achieve this end goal and get “back to normal” in a timeframe that is either sooner or later. Please remember, that timeframe is up to us. Let’s make it sooner than later by doing our part.
- Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Vaccinations: OCHD should receive its first, limited doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week or the week after. OCHD will prioritize vaccinations according to the CDPHE phases protocol. The first vaccinations will be given to the highest-risk health care workers and individuals (Phase 1A), followed by moderate-risk healthcare workers and responders (Phase 1B). For more information on Colorado’s phase approach, please go to the following website: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
- Winter Holiday Tips: As we approach the winter holidays, it’s important to think about the best ways to keep our loved ones and communities safe during our celebrations. This year is an opportunity to reimagine what togetherness can look like. To help slow the alarming spread of COVID-19, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) advises Coloradans to only interact in-person with people from their household this holiday season.
The top three most important things to remember during the holidays are:
1. Only interact in-person with people from your household (defined as those who normally live and sleep under the same roof).
2. Refrain from traveling. Celebrate virtually with the people who don’t live with you.
3. Avoid crowded stores. Shop for gifts online and have them delivered or pick them up curbside. Find local Colorado businesses to support via the #ShopLocalColorado campaign. Wear a mask and keep your distance whenever you do leave your home.
Just because we keep physical distance doesn’t mean we have to be distant in other ways. There are many creative things you can do to make those closest to you feel loved while making sure they stay healthy for many more seasons to come. For more ideas about enjoying a safe holiday season, see holiday tips at https://covid19.colorado.gov/
- 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.
e. Manzanola: https://www.manzanola.k12.co.
f. OJC: https://www.ojc.edu/
g. Rocky Ford: https://www.rockyfordk12.org/
h. Swink: https://www.swinkk12.net/
- Vaccine Information: Colorado-specific information on COVID-19 vaccine can be found on these websites:
a. Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine Website: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
b. Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): COVID-19 Vaccine frequently asked questions | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
c. Vaccine for Coloradans: Vaccine for Coloradans | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
- 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)
- Summaries
a. CDPHE COVID-19 Data Webpage: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
b. Crowley County (numbers are cumulative)
ü Current Level: Red (severe risk)
o What are the level restrictions/guidelines: https://drive.google.com/file/
ü Total Cases: 1,498
o Change from last Friday’s update: 120 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 12/15/2020 for the period 11/30/20-12/13/20): 961.56
o Change from last week’s update: Increased by 232.1
ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 10
o Change from last Friday’s update: 1
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): 891
· Number of COVID-19 deaths (lab confirmed): 3
· Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed): 54
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: 11/2/2020
· Number of prisoners positive for COVID (lab confirmed): 392
· Number of COVID-19 deaths (lab confirmed): 1
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 COVID-19 deaths (lab confirmed): 1
· Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed): 21
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/
ü Total Cases: 1,427
o Change from last Friday’s update: 268 cases added.
ü Two-Week Cumulative Incidence Rate per 100,000 Population: 3,139.87
o Change from last week’s update: Decreased by 377.44
ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 22
o Change from last Friday’s update: 6
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
§ Status: Active
· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 12/4/2020
· Number of residents positive for COVID (lab confirmed): 3
· Number of COVID-19 deaths (lab confirmed): 1
· Number of staff positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed): 21
· Number of staff with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed): 3
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): 5
· Number of staff with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed): 1
· Number of attendees who are positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed): 4
· Number of attendees with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed): 2
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): 6 new hospitalizations since last Friday’s update.
e. State of Colorado (numbers are cumulative) (https://covid19.colorado.gov/
ü 300,414 cases
o Change from last Friday’s update: 23,419 cases added
ü 16,704 hospitalized
o Change from last Friday’s update: 1,048 hospitalizations added
ü 64 counties
o No change as this is the total number of counties in Colorado
ü 1,998,476 people tested
o Change from last Friday’s update: 83,673 additional tests
ü 3,321 deaths due to COVID-19
o Change from last Friday’s update: 316 deaths added
ü 2,767 outbreaks (view outbreak data: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
o Change from last Friday’s update: 209 outbreaks added
ü COVID-19 Dial Dashboard: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
f. United States (numbers are cumulative)
ü Total Cases: 16,756,581
o Change from last Friday’s update: 1,485,010 cases added
ü Total Deaths: 306,427
o Change from last Friday’s update: 17,665 deaths added
ü Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
o Website: https://www.cdc.gov/
g. Global (numbers are cumulative)
ü Confirmed Cases: 73,275,943
o Change from last Friday’s update: 4,430,575 cases added
ü Deaths: 1,650,348
o Change from last Friday’s update: 80,044 deaths added
ü Data Source: Who Health Organization (WHO)
o Website: https://covid19.who.int/
- 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/
ü Prevent the spread of COVID-19: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
ü Limit workplace violence: https://www.cdc.gov/
ü Use COVID-19 informational graphics: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
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)
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