Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update January 1st

Description: Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update January 1st.

Published: 01/01/2021

Byline: Hart

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 1/1/2021 at 9:50 am.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

1/1/2021 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.

Happy New Year to all! Let’s all look to 2021 through the positive lens of hope, it will get better, this too shall pass. Below please find some COVID-19 updates:

1/6/2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Details: On Wednesday, 12/30/2020 CDPHE modified vaccination Phase 1B to include, among others, individuals aged 70 and above. OCHD has been, and will continue to, visit worksites for vaccine administration to individuals in Phases 1A & 1B. In order to accommodate the aforementioned age group, OCHD will be holding a COVID-19 drive-through vaccination clinic next week for Crowley and Otero residents aged 70 and above, the details of which are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 1/6/2021
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm. The clinic will not open early.
Location: Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds, Rocky Ford

§ Rocky Ford has been chosen as it is the most centrally located city between the cities in Crowley and Otero Counties.

Eligible vaccinees: Crowley and Otero residents aged 70 and above

§ For the purposes of this clinic, the word “vaccinee” simply refers to a person that will be or has been vaccinated.

§ In order to be eligible for this clinic, you MUST have been born on or before January 6th, 1951, no exceptions.

§ Please bring a valid, government issued photo I.D., such as your driver’s license or a Colorado identification card.

§ Those that cannot provide proof of their birth date upon request, or their I.D. indicates they were born after January 6th, 1951 will not receive a vaccination at this clinic.

Vaccine: Only COVID-19 vaccine will be available at this clinic, no other types of vaccine will be available. As of the time of this writing, we anticipate that we will only have approximately 150 doses available for this clinic. This clinic is strictly “first come, first served”, no exceptions.
Offensive behavior: OCHD has already received threatening calls about the COVID-19 vaccine. Please be aware that verbally abusive/foul language and other rude, threatening, belligerent behavior toward OCHD staff and volunteers will not be tolerated. The highest standards of respect, kindness, patience, self-control, calm, understanding, etc. will be expected and required of all.
Directions: I will share specific clinic driving directions with you next week after we have had an opportunity to finalize them.
Ongoing vaccination clinics: This will be the first of other COVID-19 vaccination drive-through clinics to follow.
No pets: Please be sure that you do not bring any pets in your car.
Wait times: Anticipate potentially long wait times. Please ensure that your vehicle has adequate fuel.
Stay in your car: When you pull up to the vaccination station, you will roll down your window and receive your shot while remaining in the car. Please ensure that you have an accessible arm next to a car window that rolls down. Please do not exit your car.
A HUGE thanks to the City of Rocky Ford, the Rocky Ford Police Department, the Rocky Ford Fire/EMS Department, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office for your assistance! We could not do what we do without our partners!

Crowley/Otero County Movement to Level Orange: On Wednesday, 12/30/2020 CDPHE released the following information: “the governor announced that he is directing CDPHE to move all counties in the Red level on the Dial to the Orange level, effective on Monday, January 4. He is making this move in response to a 13 day downward trend in cases statewide, and a plea from counties that are suffering economically. As always, you may put more restrictive orders in place.”

At the time of this writing, I am still seeing very encouraging data from Crowley and Otero Counties. Our rates, percent positivity, and hospitalizations are all decreasing, so OCHD will not be putting more restrictive orders in place. Crowley and Otero counties will be in Level Orange effective this Monday, 1/4/2021. Level Orange restrictions can be found here: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

A big reason why we are seeing dramatic decreases is behavior. Wearing masks, socially distancing, staying home if sick, only gathering with members of your household, etc. To those individuals and families that are working hard to do your part, you are making a positive difference. Thank you! To those businesses that are working very hard and sacrificing to follow public health orders, you are lowering the risk to yourself, your employees, and your customers, you are making a positive difference. Thank you!

Now, some very important things to remember:

ü The pandemic is not over, keep taking appropriate precautions for yourself and others.

ü We made this progress by working together, and we must continue to do this.

ü If we become complacent and stop doing our part, this downward trend can reverse VERY quickly, and our rates can begin to rise again.

ü After you receive your COVID-19 vaccination, please remember that:

a. You are not instantly immune, it takes time for your body to develop immunity.

b. You are still subject to current public health orders (i.e. wearing masks, socially distancing, etc.).

Free COVID-19 Community Testing Schedule:

a. IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 vaccination clinic scheduled for next week, there will be no testing Monday – Wednesday of next week in Crowley and Otero Counties.

b. Thursday, 1/7/2021

ü Location: Bent County Public Health, 701 S Park Ave, Las Animas

ü Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm.

ü Preregister here: https://curative.com/search#9/37.9232/-104.0731

ü Instructions

o Follow the directions of the attendants and signs.

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: Bent County Public Health, Crowley County Fire/EMS, and the City of Rocky Ford/Public Safety Building.

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/

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

d. Colorado Vaccine Dashboard: Vaccine data dashboard to launch at 4 p.m. today | 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/data

b. Crowley County (numbers are cumulative)

ü Current Level: Red (severe risk)

o What are the level restrictions/guidelines: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Total Cases: 1,647

o Change from last Friday’s update: 43 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 (for the period 12/13/20-12/26/20): 480.78

o Change from last week’s update: Decreased by 480.78

ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 12

o Change from last Friday’s update: 0

ü Facility Outbreaks

o Note: This week CDPHE changed their format for reporting outbreak cases. They no longer differentiate between confirmed and probable cases, instead they give total cases. I have likewise modified my reporting format below to be consistent with CDPHE.

o Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF)

§ Status: Active

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

· Total inmate cases: 917

· Total staff cases: 54

· Total inmate deaths: 3

o Crowley County Correctional Facility (CCCF)

§ Status: Resolved

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 5/2/2020

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

· Total inmate cases: 66

· Total staff cases: 4

§ Status: Active

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

· Total inmate cases: 420

· Total inmate deaths: 1

o Crowley County Nursing Center (CCNC)

§ Status: Active

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

· Total resident cases: 22

· Total staff cases: 44

· Total resident deaths: 1

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: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Total Cases: 1,619

o Change from last Friday’s update: 68 cases added.

ü Two-Week Cumulative Incidence Rate per 100,000 Population: 891.6

o Change from last week’s update: Decreased by 1,012.02

ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 39

o Change from last Friday’s update: 6

ü Facility Outbreaks

o Cottonwood Ridge Assisted Living

§ Status: Active

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 11/27/2020

· Total resident cases: 19

· Total staff cases: 10

· Total resident deaths: 1

o Fowler Health Care

§ Status: Active

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

· Total resident cases: 37

· Total staff cases: 39

o Lewis Bolt and Nut

§ Status: Resolved

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 7/2/2020

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

· Total staff cases: 14

o Otero Junior College

§ Status: Resolved

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

· Date outbreak was considered closed: 12/29/2020

· Total attendee cases: 24

o Otero Junior College LEA

§ Status: Active

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 11/28/2020

· Total attendee cases: 15

o Pioneer Healthcare Center

§ Status: Resolved

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 7/13/2020

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

· Total resident cases: 20

· Total staff cases: 14

· Total resident deaths: 5

§ Status: Active

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 12/4/2020

· Total resident cases: 28

· Total staff cases: 37

· Total resident deaths: 1

o Swink High School

§ Status: Resolved

· Date illnesses were determined to be an outbreak: 9/14/2020

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

· Total staff cases: 1

· Total attendee cases: 7

§ Status: Active

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

· Total staff cases: 6

· Total attendee cases: 6

o Valley Wide Health Systems

§ Status: Active

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

· Total staff cases: 25

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): 4 new hospitalizations since last Friday’s update.

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

ü 334,097 cases

o Change from last Friday’s update: 14,567 cases added

ü 18,598 hospitalized

o Change from last Friday’s update: 805 hospitalizations added

ü 64 counties

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

ü 2,135,590 people tested

o Change from last Friday’s update: 52,043 additional tests

ü 3,907 deaths due to COVID-19

o Change from last Friday’s update: 302 deaths added