10/1/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update
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Description: 10/1/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Weekly Update.
THIS IS A 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 10/1/2021 at 10:37 a.m.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY
10/1/2021 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.
Please find this week’s COVID-19 updates below.
- Current Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Rate Status
ü 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: 501+
ü COVID-19 Dashboard: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Crowley County: Crowley’s rate is in Yellow Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 232.1 (for the data period of 9/23/2021-9/29/2021). For this data period, Crowley has had 2 days where the rate increased over the previous day, ZERO days where the rate did not change over the previous day, and 5 days where the rate decreased over the previous day.
ü Otero County: Otero’s rate is in Yellow Level with a current 1 week cumulative incidence rate of 207.9 (for the data period of 9/23/2021-9/29/2021). For this data period, Otero has had 3 days where the rate increased over the previous day, ZERO days where the rate did not change over the previous day, and 4 days where the rate decreased over the previous day.
- CDPHE 7th Amended Public Health Order (PHO) 20-38: I have attached this latest PHO. It becomes effective today (10/1/2021), and goes thru 10/31/2021. The summary of changes over the previous PHO are as follows:
ü Requires state contractors entering state facilities to provide services to a client, patient, resident or youth living in the facility who have a medical or religious exemption from immunization approved by their employer to be tested for COVID-19 twice weekly, and excluded from the facility and required to isolate if they test positive;
ü Requires all other state contractors entering state facilities who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated or who have a medical or religious exemption from immunization approved by their employer to be tested for COVID-19 twice weekly, and excluded from the facility and required to isolate if they test positive; and
ü Requires confirmation from state contractors that all state contract workers who are not fully vaccinated and are required to participate in twice weekly COVID-19 testing are doing so.
- CDPHE Spanish Language COVID-19 Website: Home- Español | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
- 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).
- COVID-19 Variant Information: As of the time stamp noted above, we have detected the Delta Variant in 18 individuals in Otero and 4 in Crowley.
ü CDPHE Variant Information: COVID-19 data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü CDC Variant Information: SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions (cdc.gov)
- Free Community Testing: Our local testing schedule is as follows until further notice.
ü Location: Crowley County Nursing Center
§ Address: 401 Idaho, Ordway
§ Date: Tuesdays
§ Time: 9am-11am
ü Location: Otero College
§ Address: 1802 Colorado Avenue, McDivitt Gym, La Junta
§ Date: Wednesdays
§ Time: 12:30pm-4:00pm
- VACCINATION INFORMATION
a. OCHD Vaccination Appointments: If you would like to make an appointment with OCHD for a COVID-19 vaccination, please call Carolina Cortez at 719-468-8083.
b. 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).
c. OCHD Vaccines: OCHD is using Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) 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
d. 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 Learn about COVID-19 vaccines: Learn about COVID-19 vaccines | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Colorado Vaccine Dashboard (including county-level data): Vaccine data | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Currently approved vaccine side-by-side comparisons: https://astho.org/COVID-19/
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 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)
- School Webpages: Please visit these websites for any 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. Otero College: https://www.ojc.edu/
g. Rocky Ford: https://www.rockyfordk12.org/
h. Swink: https://www.swinkk12.net/
- Summaries
a. Crowley County
ü COVID-19 Rate Color/Level Status and Data: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Facility outbreak information can be viewed here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
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.
ü Total COVID-19 Related Deaths: 19
o Change from the last weekly update: One additional death.
b. Otero County
ü COVID-19 Rate Color/Level Status and Data: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Facility outbreak information can be viewed here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
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.
ü Total COVID-19 Related Deaths: 74
o Change from the last weekly update: Three additional deaths.
c. Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Related Hospitalization(s): Four new hospitalizations since the last weekly update.
d. State of Colorado Information: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
e. United States Information: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC
f. Global information: https://covid19.who.int/
- OCHD Public Health Recommendations
ü Recommend universal indoor masking for all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status and at all levels of community transmission per current CDPHE recommendations (Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates)
a. At a minimum, OCHD strongly recommends unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated students and staff to wear a mask if they can medically tolerate it.
b. In addition to mask use reducing risk of transmission and exposure, unvaccinated students can also avoid quarantine following a typical classroom exposure if both the infected individual and the exposed student were correctly wearing masks (or participating in weekly screening testing).
ü Seriously consider getting fully vaccinated if you have not already done so.
ü If you are unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in public.
ü Wear an appropriate mask when required to do so, even if you are fully vaccinated.
ü Review and follow the prevention guidelines found here: Prevent the spread of COVID-19 | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Perform a symptom check on yourself and your children before going out in public (i.e. work, school, the store, etc.)
a. COVID-19 symptoms: Do you have symptoms? | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
b. Stay home if you are sick and, if needed, call your medical provider.
c. Parents/guardians, do not send your kids to school if they are sick.
ü If you need to isolate (because you have tested positive and/or are symptomatic) or quarantine (because you have been exposed but are not symptomatic), here is the guidance: Isolation & quarantine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü If you are in a high risk group, take extra precautions (such as wearing a mask when in public places regardless of vaccination status).
a. CDPHE: People at higher risk for severe illness | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
b. CDC: Do I need to Take Extra Precautions Against COVID-19 | CDC
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Guidance and Requirements
ü School Guidance: Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
ü Seventh (7th) Amended Public Health Order (PHO) 20-38 regarding face coverings, school case reporting, hospital reporting, etc. can be found online here: (7th Amended PHO 20-38.93021.pdf - Google Drive)
ü Residential Care Facility (RCF) Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance can be found here: RCF Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance.pdf - Google Drive)
ü Colorado State Board of Health hospital and health care facilities COVID-19 vaccination requirements can be found online here: 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 2 - Emergency Rulemaking Adopted Rules.pdf - Google Drive and here: The Health Facilities Community Blog: Board of Health approves vaccine requirement for staff at health care facilities and hospitals
a. The CDPHE staff vaccination guidance document can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/
- Federal Public Transportation Mask Requirement: Masking on school buses and other public transportation is required by Federal Order (Order: Wearing of face masks while on conveyances and at transportation hubs | Quarantine | CDC)
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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7th Amended PHO pdf attachment
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