Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update December 11th
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Description: Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update December 11th.
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 12/11/2020 at 8:48 am.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY
12/11/2020 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. For details, please see the attachments and information below:
a. Monday, 12/14/2020
ü Location: La Junta City Park, intersection of 12th Street and Colorado Ave.
ü Time: 10am-12pm.
b. Tuesday, 12/15/2020
ü Location: Crowley County Fire/EMS Building, 9th Street and U.S. Highway 71, Ordway
ü Time: 10am-12pm
Additionally, there will also be free COVID-19 testing in Rocky Ford on Sunday, 12/13/2020 from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the Rocky Ford Fairgrounds. This testing event is being sponsored by the Southeast Region Promotora Network. Please see the third attachment for more details.
- Colorado COVID-19 Vaccination Phases: The current prioritization plan for COVID-19 vaccinations in Colorado is as follows:
· Phase 1A (Winter): Highest-risk health care workers and individuals:
· People who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
· Long-term care facility staff and residents.
· Phase 1B (Winter): Moderate-risk health care workers and responders:
· Health care workers with less direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
· Workers in home health/hospice, and dental settings.
· EMS, firefighters, police, correctional workers, dispatchers, funeral services, COVID-19 response personnel, and other first responders.
· Phase 2 (Spring): Higher-risk individuals and essential workers:
· People age 65 or older.
· People of any age with obesity, diabetes, chronic lung disease, significant heart disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, or are immunocompromised.
· People who interact directly with the public at work, such as grocery store workers and school staff.
· People who work in high-density settings like farms and meat-packing plants.
· Workers serving people who live in high-density settings.
· Other health care workers not covered in Phase 1.
· Adults who received a placebo during a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.
· Phase 3 (Summer): The general public:
· Anyone age 18-64 without high-risk conditions.
- COVID-19 Vaccine: Colorado makes up about 1.69% of the U.S. population, and each week the state expects to receive 1.69% of the available vaccines to begin distributing vaccines this year and into 2021. There are two different COVID-19 vaccines that will be distributed, the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. Now, for some details on the vaccines:
· The Pfizer vaccine is two doses taken 21 days apart and is 95% effective. Colorado will start receiving shipments of this vaccine in December.
· The Moderna vaccine is also two doses, but it is taken 28 days apart and 94.5% effective. This vaccine will begin to arrive in December as well.
· Both vaccines are more effective than the flu vaccine and comparable to the efficacy rate of the measles component of the MMR vaccine.
- 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/
- Hospital Capacity: Yesterday I was reviewing the latest Colorado COVID-19 modeling data, and on one of the slides the following statement appeared: At lower levels of transmission control, hospitalizations and ICU need will increase rapidly and demand may exceed capacity. Transmission control are things like social distancing, wearing masks, only going out for essential activities (i.e. to get medicine, groceries), washing our hands, etc. We are already seeing an increased demand put upon our regional hospital, the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center (AVRMC). Let’s do our part to keep our hospital capacity in good shape, both locally, regionally, and statewide. To do this, we must do our part (transmission control) to slow/stop the transmission of COVID-19, please remember this as we approach the holidays at the end of the month. It is up to us.
- 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: 1,378
o Change from last Friday’s update: 79 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 12/10/2020 for the period 11/25/20-12/8/20): 729.46
ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 9
o Change from last Friday’s update: 4
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): 595
· Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed): 3
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): 287
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 residents with probable COVID (NOT lab confirmed): 11
· Number of COVID-19 deaths (lab confirmed): 1
· Number of staff positive for COVID (lab confirmed): 19
· Number of staff with probable COVID (NOT lab confirmed): 2
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: 1,159
o Change from last Friday’s update: 329 cases added.
ü Two-Week Cumulative Incidence Rate per 100,000 Population: 3,517.31
ü Total COVID Related Deaths: 16
o Change from last Friday’s update: 4
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
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): 1
· Number of staff with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed): 5
· Number of attendees who are positive for COVID-19 (lab confirmed): 1
· Number of attendees with probable COVID-19 (NOT lab confirmed): 3
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): 8 new hospitalizations since last Friday’s update.
e. State of Colorado (numbers are cumulative) (https://covid19.colorado.gov/
ü 276,995 cases
o Change from last Friday’s update: 29,786 cases added
ü 15,656 hospitalized
o Change from last Friday’s update: 1,077 hospitalizations added
ü 64 counties
o No change as this is the total number of counties in Colorado
ü 1,914,803 people tested
o Change from last Friday’s update: 117,426 additional tests
ü 3,005 deaths due to COVID-19
o Change from last Friday’s update: 289 deaths added
ü 2,558 outbreaks (view outbreak data: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
o Change from last Friday’s update: 222 outbreaks added
ü COVID-19 Dial Dashboard: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
f. United States (numbers are cumulative)
ü Total Cases: 15,271,571
o Change from last Friday’s update: 1,449,322 cases added
ü Total Deaths: 288,762
o Change from last Friday’s update: 16,237 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: 68,845,368
o Change from last Friday’s update: 4,494,895 cases added
ü Deaths: 1,570,304
o Change from last Friday’s update: 75,636 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.”
And now, I will close out this week’s update with the words of the late, great rocker Tom Petty, “You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down. No, I'll stand my ground.” That’s a shout out to any and all of you that have been battling this insidious viral adversary, firmly planting your feet, for all of these seemingly unending, extremely difficult months. Don’t give up, stand your ground, because 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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