4/8/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update

Description: 4/8/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update

Published: 04/08/2021

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 Thursday 4/8/2021 at 1:09 p.m.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

4/8/2021 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 to all. Please find this week’s COVID-19 updates below:

Current COVID-19 Dial Status

ü Crowley:

§ Current Level: Green, Protect Our Neighbors (PON)

§ Data time period: (3/31/2021-4/6/2021)

§ Notes: Currently, Crowley is still “green across the board”, meaning we are compliant in all Dial 3.0 metrics (seven day incidence rate, case counts, hospital capacity, and percent positivity). We need to keep it that way, it’s up to us.

ü Otero

§ Current Level: Green, Protect Our Neighbors (PON)

§ Data time period: (3/31/2021-4/6/2021)

§ Notes: Otero’s 7 day cumulative incidence rate is 43.76 (for the time period 3/31/2021-4/6/2021), so the clock is ticking regarding Blue Level (see item e. below), though we are not there yet. Additionally, during this time period we have not seen consistent, consecutive daily rate increases like we did during our last surge, which is a very good sign. Let’s get that rate down by doing our part, it’s up to us.

ü Dial 3.0 Green Level/PON Metric Thresholds

a. Seven day test positivity rate less than 5%

b. Seven consecutive days with an incidence rate less than 35/100,000 people; OR

c. Seven consecutive days with a rolling comparable case count between 0-10; AND

d. Stable (no more than 25% increase) or declining counts of new confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the county’s referral hospitals (as defined by the local public health agency) in the last 14 days compared to the previous 14 day period OR no more than 2 new hospital admissions on any day in the last 14 days.

e. Movement to more restrictive level: Counties will remain in a Dial level so long as they continue to meet the metrics in that level. Counties may exceed their Dial level’s disease incidence metric and still remain in that level as long as they do not exceed the minimum of the next more restrictive Dial level’s incidence rate by more than 15% for 5 consecutive days, which for Blue Level is 40.25 cases/100,000 population. What does this mean? In order to move to Blue Level, we would need to meet/exceed a rate of 40.25 for 5 consecutive days. The clock starts ticking when we exceed 40.25, and resets when we dip below that threshold.

f. You can find COVID-19 Dial Level Determinants and Level Restrictions here: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

CDPHE Spanish Language COVID-19 Website: Home- Español | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

Free Community Testing: Free COVID-19 community testing is available in Crowley and Otero Counties. I have attached an informational flyer regarding this testing (first attachment). Until further notice, the schedule is as follows:

ü Testing Location: Crowley County Nursing Center (CCNC), 401 Idaho Avenue, Ordway, CO 81063

§ Testing Days: Tuesdays

§ Testing Hours: 9am-11am

ü Testing Location: Otero Junior College (OJC), 1619 San Juan Ave, La Junta, CO 81050

§ Testing Days: Wednesdays

§ Testing Hours: 10am-3pm

Crowley/Otero Five (5) Star State Certification Program: If you have questions about this program, please go to 5 Star State Certification Program | Colorado COVID-19 Updates or contact the Co-chairs of the local 5 star administrative committee using the contact information below:

ü Ozzie Hoeme, ohoeme@fastenal.com

ü Jeremiah Stoker, jeremiah540@hotmail.com

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/

VACCINATION INFORMATION

a. Phase 1 & Phase 2 Vaccination Registration: Now all of those (aged 16+) that desire a COVID-19 vaccination can register at our registration website. We will contact those registered on a “first registered, first served” basis as vaccine supply allows. Here is the website to register: ochdvaxnow.com

b. Vaccination Registration Assistance: If you need assistance with online registration, we are happy to help you register for a vaccination. Please call the following OCHD staff during normal business hours and ask for assistance with vaccination registration:

ü Dee Leyba, 719-241-4741

ü Carolina Cortez, 719-468-8083

ü Note: If these staff are not readily available, please leave your name and phone number and they will return your call as soon as they are able.

c. Ayuda En Espanol (Spanish Language Assistance): Para ayuda en Espanol, habla con Debbie Jaramillo en 719-383-3040 por favor (For help in Spanish, please call Debbie Jaramillo at 719-383-3040).

d. Vaccinations Through Medical Providers: If you have not yet received your vaccination, please check with your medical provider or local pharmacy regarding eligibility and vaccine supply. You can still check with your medical provider even if you have registered on OCHD’s website. If you have already registered on our website and you get the chance to get your initial vaccination at your medical provider, take it! Then when we contact you to schedule your vaccination, simple tell us you have already received it at your medical provider’s office and we will simply take you off of our list and contact the next person in line.

e. OCHD Vaccines: OCHD is using Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccines. OCHD has absolutely no hesitancy in using any of these vaccines.

ü Pfizer vaccine information: Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Latest Developments | Pfizer

ü Moderna vaccine information: Moderna’s Fully Enrolled Phase 3 COVE Study of mRNA-1273 | Moderna, Inc. (modernatx.com)

ü Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine information: Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Official Website

f. Booster Shots

ü Where to go to get your booster shot: If you received your first vaccination through OCHD, we will contact you to arrange a time for your booster shot. If you received your first shot at another medical provider (i.e., your doctor’s office or pharmacy), please contact them regarding your booster shot. Regardless of where you go to get your booster shot, please be sure to bring your COVID-19 vaccination card that you received during your initial vaccination.

ü Booster Shot Timing: Here is the CDPHE information regarding the timing of booster shots: “If it isn’t possible to get the second dose on the right day, the second dose can be given early, up to 4 days before it is due. Additionally, the second dose can be given as late as 42 days (6 weeks) after the first dose. This is called a grace period.” Here is the website where you can read the above information COVID-19 Vaccine frequently asked questions | Colorado COVID-19 Updates and the information is under the heading entitled “Getting your second dose of vaccine”.

ü Booster shot appointments: If you received your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine from OCHD, we will contact you to make an appointment for your booster shot. We are having some trouble contacting a few people because they are not answering their phones nor returning messages. Please answer your phone or return a message from OCHD so we can schedule your booster shot appointment.

g. More Vaccine Information: Colorado-specific information on COVID-19 vaccine can be found here:

ü Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine Website: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): COVID-19 Vaccine frequently asked questions | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Vaccine for Coloradans: Vaccine for Coloradans | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Colorado Vaccine Dashboard (including county-level data): Vaccine data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Vaccination Phases: To find the vaccination phase to which you belong and the current vaccination timelines, visit this link and scroll down a bit: Find out when you're eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

ü Moderna Vaccine Information: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers (fda.gov)

ü Pfizer Vaccine Information: Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Latest Developments | Pfizer

ü Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Vaccine Information: Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Official Website

ü Currently approved vaccine side-by-side comparisons: https://astho.org/COVID-19/Vaccine-Comparison/

ü CDPHE COVID-19 vaccine hotline: This is a state-wide call center for the public to ask questions specifically about the COVID-19 vaccine. The hotline is open hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free number is 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).

COVID-19 Test Information

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: Green/Protect Our Neighbors (PON)

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

ü Approximate community (non-inmate) vaccination rate per 100,000 population: 38,439

o Change from last week’s update: Increased by 2,054

ü Total Cases: 2,144

o Change from last Friday’s update: 3 cases added

§ These numbers include inmates and nursing home residents (please see Facility Outbreaks below).

ü Community Cumulative Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population

o One week (for the time period 3/31/2021-4/6/2021): 33.16

§ Change from last week’s update: Decreased by 16.58

o Two week (for the time period 3/24/2021-4/6/2021): 66.31

§ Change from last week’s update: Increased by 16.58

ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 14

o Change from last Friday’s update: 0

ü Facility outbreak information can be viewed here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/outbreak-data

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.

c. Otero County (numbers are cumulative)

ü Current Level: Green/Protect Our Neighbors (PON)

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

ü Vaccination rate per 100,000 population: 48,570

o Change from last week’s update: Increased by 2,528

ü Total Cases: 1,893

o Change from last Friday’s update: 7 cases added.

ü Community Cumulative Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population

o One week (for the time period 3/31/2021-4/6/2021): 43.76

§ Change from last week’s update: Increased by 10.94

o Two week (for the time period 3/24/2021-4/6/2021): 76.58

§ Change from last week’s update: Increased by 27.35

ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 63

o Change from last Friday’s update: 0

ü Facility outbreak information can be viewed here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/outbreak-data

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.

d. Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Related Hospitalization(s): 0 new hospitalization since last Friday’s update.

e. State of Colorado Information: https://covid19.colorado.gov/data

f. United States Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html

g. Global information: https://covid19.who.int/