Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update December 23rd
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Description: Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update December 23rd, 2020.
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 Wednesday 12/23/2020 at 8:32 am.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY
12/23/2020 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: Local Rates Dropping, Vaccine is here!
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. As I have mentioned in previous updates, I like to highlight good news when it is evident, and it is! For the past several days, in both Crowley and Otero Counties, our rates per 100,000 population have been consistently dropping, here are some details:
ü Crowley County. Crowley’s most currently calculated community rate (not including inmates and nursing home residents), calculated yesterday for the period of 12/7/2020-12/20/2020 is 729.46 cases/100,000 population. This is down from the current peak community rate of 1,011.29 recorded on 12/15/2020.
ü Otero County: Otero’s current peak rate during was recorded on 12/11/2020 at 3,791.17 cases/100,000 population. The most current rate is 2,406.87.
A big THANKS and shout out to those of you that are doing your best to do your part. You are making a positive difference, please keep it up!
Our situation in Southeast Colorado is consistent with what we are seeing statewide. On 12/18/2020, I received a COVID-19 modeling update on Colorado. Here are some excerpts:
ü ““Transmission control of the virus improved across the state in recent weeks; hospital demand and cases have declined, but it will be weeks before both reach lower levels. “The steady downward trend in Colorado is not what is being seen across the country. Colorado’s trend is much better than most states. Coloradans’ actions and Colorado policies made a difference and prevented a substantial Thanksgiving surge and have led to the declines we are seeing now,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, CDPHE.””
ü “This declining trajectory of the epidemic could be reversed by holiday lapses if Coloradans don’t remain vigilant in wearing masks, limiting contact with others outside of their households, and maintaining distance in public spaces.”
ü ““We can’t let up now. Hope is on the horizon with the vaccine. We need to make it through the holidays with the level of diligence we had over Thanksgiving. Please only celebrate in-person with the people who live with you,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, CDPHE. “The best gift we can all receive is a healthy holiday season.””
If you would like to read it, I have attached the modeling update.
Now, some very important things to remember:
1. The pandemic is not over, keep taking appropriate precautions for yourself and others.
2. In both Crowley and Otero Counties, we are still in Level Red with the accompanying restrictions.
3. We made this progress by working together, and we must continue to do this.
4. If we become complacent and stop doing our part, this downward trend can reverse VERY quickly, and our rates can begin to rise again.
Christmas is coming up fast, so the following website has some great suggestions on how to celebrate in a manner that will help keep our rates declining: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
Yesterday the Governor’s office reminded us that we need to continue:
· Wearing masks,
· Avoiding social gatherings with people outside our homes, and
· Staying at least six feet away from others.
And now, are you ready for some more good news? Yesterday afternoon we received our first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and I am very pleased to announce that this morning we are beginning vaccinations per CDPHE phase guidance. This was a very limited initial allotment, but more will be coming, so stay tuned. If you want to learn more about the vaccine, please check out this website: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
As a reminder, we will be doing COVID-19 community testing today at the Rocky Ford Public Safety Building (300 South Main Street) from 1:00pm-3:00pm. If you are planning on getting tested, please pre-register here: https://curative.com/search#9/
So, some good news to begin the Christmas Holiday. Enjoy and be safe.
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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