5/3/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Status Update; PHO Update

Description: 5/3/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Status Update; PHO Update; Vaccination Appointments; Requirements/Recommendations


Published: 05/03/2021
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 Monday, 5/3/2021 at 10:43 a.m.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

5/3/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1:  Status Update; PHO Update; Vaccination Appointments; Requirements/Recommendations

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.

  1. Current Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Status: 
    1. 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:  Greater than 500

    1. Crowley County One Week Cumulative Incidence Rate:  The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has Crowley categorized in Orange Level with a rate of 314.99 for the time period of 4/24/2021-4/30/2021.  However, CDPHE had not yet removed the congregate care facility residents (i.e. prisons/nursing home) in the rate calculation.  Using information from the Colorado Electronic Disease Reporting System (CEDRS), which I mentioned in yesterday’s update, I have differentiated between congregate care facility residents and community and then recalculated the rate.  The resulting community rate was 281.84.  So, for the time period 4/24/2021-4/30/2021, Crowley’s community rate was 281.84, which corresponds to Yellow Level.  We still need to get that rate down, so please help out. 
    1. Otero County One Week Cumulative Incidence Rate:  Otero is still in Yellow Level with a 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 153.2 for the time period of 4/25/2021-5/1/2021, down a bit from yesterday’s rate.  We still need to get that rate down, so please do you part. 
    1. COVID-19 Status Dashboard:  COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
    1. Keeping Our Rates Down:  How can we do this?  The Governor’s Office shared these great suggestions on 4/13/2021:   

“Along with getting the vaccine as soon as one becomes available, it’s crucial that Coloradans continue to take good sense safety measures including:

a.      Wearing masks

b.      Social distancing

c.       Staying home when sick

d.      Getting tested if you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID

e.       Gathering outside in small groups instead of opting for indoors

  1. Public Health Order (PHO) Update:  Attached is a copy of the recently amended PHO 20-38, and below is a summary of the changes:

·  Section I.A.2.a:  added to allow no masking in Public Indoor Spaces if 80% or more of the individuals in a Public Indoor Space have provided proof of vaccination;

·  Section I.A.6:  added to allow Restaurant employees to not wear masks if 85% of a Restaurant's employees are fully vaccinated;

·  Section I.G:  added back from prior Dial PHO language the strong recommendation that government entities and others provide non-congregate sheltering for people experiencing homelessness;

·  Expires May 15, 2021 unless further extended.

  1. Vaccination Appointments:  If you would like to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, please call Carolina Cortez at 719-468-8083, 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday.  If Carolina is busy assisting another person, please leave a message. 
  1. Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Requirements & Recommendations:  Effective 4/16/2021 and until further notice, the following are the COVID-19 requirements & recommendations for Crowley and Otero Counties:
    1. REQUIREMENTS: 

§ Masks continue to be required in the following settings/places (statewide requirement):

·         Schools (including for extracurricular activities);

·         Child care centers;

·         Indoor children’s camps;

·         Public-facing state government facilities;

·         Emergency medical and other healthcare settings (including hospitals, ambulance service centers, urgent care centers, non-ambulatory surgical structures, clinics, doctors’ offices, and non-urgent care medical structures);

·         Personal services (i.e. hair salons, nail salons, esthetician services, body art professionals, etc.);

·         Limited health care settings as defined by Public Health Order (PHO) 20-36;

·         Congregate care facilities (nursing facilities, assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities, and group homes); &

·         Prisons and jails.

·         PHO 20-38 rate-specific requirement:  “For counties with a one week disease incidence rate in excess of 35 per 100,000, face coverings are also required pursuant to Executive Order D 2020 138, as amended and extended, in a Public Indoor Space, as defined in Executive Order D 2020 138, as amended and extended, where 10 or more unvaccinated individuals or individuals of unknown vaccination status are present.”

o   This currently applies to both Crowley and Otero Counties. 

o   For questions regarding this state requirement, please contact Su Korbitz (719-241-4372, ehdir@oterogov.org) or Tony Harviston (719-383-3087, eha@oterogov.org)

·         Executive Orders & Public Health Orders (PHO) can be found here:  Public health & executive orders | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

§ Under current state requirement, 6 foot social distancing is required between parties in mass indoor gatherings that exceed 100 people (for unvaccinated people or when vaccination status is unknown).

    1. RECOMMENDATIONS:  Additionally, I am making the following recommendations for Crowley and Otero Counties:

§ I would strongly urge all those that have not been vaccinated to wear a mask when in any public places, including employees/staff of businesses.  In other words, if you have not been vaccinated please wear a mask when you go out in public, regardless of how many people are in the public place.  Additionally, please practice social distancing when in public places, regardless of how many people are there.

§ If you have been vaccinated but you have not had 14 full days elapse since being vaccinated with Johnson and Johnson vaccine, or 14 full days have not elapsed since your booster shot (second shot) of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, please wear a mask when in any public places, including employees/staff of businesses.  This 14 day period allows your body the necessary time to develop immunity.  In other words, please wear a mask when you go out in public, regardless of how many people are in the public place.  Additionally, please practice social distancing when in public places, regardless of how many people are there.

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)

rritter@oterogov.org



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