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 12/28/2020 at 10:35 am.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

12/28/2020 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1:  Local Rates Continue to Drop, Vaccinations Continue, Community Testing

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, I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday.  Here is some good news for your Monday, COVID-19 rates per 100,000 population continue to drop in Crowley and Otero Counties!  Here are some current details:

ü  Crowley County.  Crowley’s most currently calculated community rate (not including inmates and nursing home residents), calculated today for the period of 12/13/2020-12/26/2020 is 480.78 cases/100,000 population.  This is down from the peak community rate of 1,011.29 recorded on 12/15/2020.  Additionally, Crowley’s current two week average positivity rate (for the period 12/13/2020-12/26/2020) is 4.56%, which is below the target threshold of 5%! 

ü  Otero County:  Otero’s peak rate was recorded on 12/11/2020 at 3,791.17 cases/100,000 population.  The most current rate for the period of 12/13/2020-12/26/2020 is 1,301.90.  Additionally, the day after that peak rate was recorded Otero has had consistent rate reductions every day through and including 12/26/2020! 

Once again, 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! 

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.

The New Year’s Holiday 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:  Winter holiday tips | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

As I write this, our clinical staff is out in the field continuing with COVID-19 vaccine administration per the CDPHE phase guidance.  If you want to learn more about the vaccine, please check out this website:  COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

Here is the OCHD COVID-19 community testing schedule for this week:

a.       Monday, 12/28/2020 & Wednesday, 12/30/2020

ü  Location:  Rocky Ford Public Safety Building, 300 South Main Street, Rocky Ford

ü  Time:  1:00pm-3:00pm.

ü  Preregister here:  https://curative.com/search#9/37.9232/-104.0731

ü  Rocky Ford has been chosen as it is the most centrally located city between the cities in Crowley and Otero Counties.  Stay tuned for other testing dates and sites.

ü    Instructions

o   Drive North on Main Street.  As you get close to the Rocky Ford Public Safety Building, you will follow the route outlined with cones into the assigned fire station bay, on the right side of Main Street.

o   Do not attempt to enter the testing line by driving South on Main Street and cutting across traffic.

o   After your test, you will exit the testing line by turning right in the alley and then left onto Maple Avenue.

o   We ask that you refrain from drinking, eating, or smoking 20 minutes prior to testing.  Please do not have any pets in your car.

o   Please do not get out of your vehicle.  A staff member will assist you. 

o   While you are stopped in the testing line, make sure your vehicle’s transmission is in “Park”.

o   First come, first served.  Testing will end promptly at 3:00pm. 

b.      Tuesday, 12/29/2020

ü  Location:  Crowley County Fire/EMS, 9th Street and US Highway 71, Ordway

ü  Time:  1:00pm-3:00pm.

ü  Preregister here:  https://curative.com/search#9/37.9232/-104.0731

ü  Instructions

o   Driving East on 9th Street, enter the testing line by turning right at the Crowley County Fire/EMS Building.

o   Do not attempt to enter the testing line by driving West on 9th Street and cutting across traffic.

o   After your test, you will exit the testing line by turning onto 9th street.

o   We ask that you refrain from drinking, eating, or smoking 20 minutes prior to testing.  Please do not have any pets in your car.

o   Please do not get out of your vehicle.  A staff member will assist you. 

o   While you are stopped in the testing line, make sure your vehicle’s transmission is in “Park”.

o   First come, first served.  Testing will end promptly at 3:00pm. 

c.       Thursday, 12/31/2020

ü  Location:  Bent County Public Health, 701 S Park Ave, Las Animas

ü  Time:  1:00pm-3:00pm.

ü  Preregister here:  https://curative.com/search#9/37.9232/-104.0731

o   At the time of this writing, the pre-registration for Las Animas is not yet up.  Please check back later to pre-register. 

ü  Instructions

o   Follow the directions of the attendants and signs. 

o   We ask that you refrain from drinking, eating, or smoking 20 minutes prior to testing.  Please do not have any pets in your car.

o   Please do not get out of your vehicle.  A staff member will assist you. 

o   While you are stopped in the testing line, make sure your vehicle’s transmission is in “Park”.

o   First come, first served.  Testing will end promptly at 3:00pm. 

d.      A BIG thanks to our partners for providing testing sites:  Bent County Public Health, Crowley County Fire/EMS, and the City of Rocky Ford/Public Safety Building. 

Please remember, it’s up to us, and this too shall pass.

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