San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) is sharing the following information about the local COVID-19 Emergency Response, for the week of January 1 – 8:
Archuleta County cases: 530 (+43)
La Plata County cases: 2,412 (+139)
Archuleta County non-resident cases: 111 (+23)
La Plata County non-resident cases: 254 (+22)
Archuleta County positivity rate: 9.54% (week of Dec. 27, 2020)
La Plata County positivity rate: 5.25% (week of Dec. 27, 2020)
Archuleta County Active Outbreaks: 2
La Plata County Active Outbreaks: 10
Archuleta County 14-day incidence rate: 380/100K
La Plata County 14-day incidence rate: 535/100K
Deaths among cases with COVID-19: 30 (+1, all La Plata County)
See more at SJBPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard here: https://sjbpublichealth.org/sjbph-data-dashboard/. For statewide COVID-19 data see: https://covid19.colorado.gov/data
We have lots of new developments to share in our first weekly summary of 2021. In 2020 our primary focus was performing disease control and investigation. As we begin 2021, SJBPH will continue its disease investigation functions and we’re excited to have several safe and effective vaccines to address the pandemic. We’re also very grateful vaccines are starting to be distributed, and that our communities have serval partners helping distribute vaccines as soon as they arrive in our region. We are particularly appreciative of the collaborative partnership with all of our hospitals, including Animas Surgical Hospital, which has done a stellar job in providing vaccines to 1A recipients.
Getting the vaccine is an important step in protecting yourself and others from the virus and will help to eventually get our communities back to normal. Everyone’s opportunity to get vaccinated will come; it will just take some time.
In an effort to administer every dose of vaccine as soon as it’s received, the state has provided guidance on dividing up vaccine responsibility as described below:
- SJBPH will focus on prioritizing vaccination for any outstanding highest risk healthcare workers in phase 1A, moderate risk healthcare workers, and first responders in phase 1B.
- All other phase 1 providers, such as hospitals, health systems, pharmacies, and safety net clinics, will focus on vaccinating persons 70 years of age and older.
- Staff and residents at long-term care facilities will be vaccinated as per the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.
SJBPH is currently in phase 1A for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. While some Colorado counties have started transitioning to phase 1B, not every county will be at the same phase of distribution due to county population size and the availability of vaccines. Given the current limited supply of vaccine, we expect it will take months for everyone who wants the COVID-19 vaccine to receive it. For more information on COVID-19 vaccine, visit SJBPH’s vaccine page.
SJBPH is collecting information to help vaccine providers connect with individuals in the future. The form is not a registration form for vaccine appointments. By completing the online form, those who wish to get the vaccine will be contacted as soon as it becomes available to them according to the state’s vaccine priorities. Vaccine updates may come from a range of sources other than SJBPH. There may also be other opportunities to receive information about vaccines aside from this notification system.
Residents can sign up for COVID-19 vaccine notifications through the form here https://bit.ly/35dzCLw for English, or http://bit.ly/2LvUI0v for Spanish.
Effective Monday, January 4, both Archuleta and La Plata counties moved to ‘Level Orange: High Risk’. The decision to move levels came from Governor Polis who indicated his reason for the move was to balance public health priorities with economic priorities. While both counties are making progress towards Level Orange, neither county has met the criteria to move to this level. As a reminder Level Orange is high risk, so we all need to continue practicing the necessary precautions to control the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing face masks, social distancing, avoiding social gatherings, and getting tested if you have symptoms or believe you’ve been exposed to the virus.
The move to Level Orange implements the following guidelines and restrictions:
- Personal Gatherings: Up to 10 from no more than 2 households
- Schools and Higher Education: In-person, hybrid, or remote as appropriate
- Restaurants – Indoors: 25% capacity, or up to 50 people; Outdoors: six feet between parties, last call moved to 10pm.
- Offices: 25% capacity
- Retail: 25% capacity
More info can be found at https://covid19.colorado.gov/covid-19-dial
We’re headed in the right direction, but there is still high transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. To continue moving into less restrictive levels on the state’s dial, which allows our schools and businesses to stay open, we need everyone to remain vigilant in practicing the necessary steps to control the spread…
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, those who believe they may have been exposed either through known contact or general community interaction, and people in critical sectors who are in frequent contact with the public – early childhood, K-12, first responders, and critical government services, should get tested at free community testing sites. No appointment is needed.
The Archuleta Community Test site is no longer offering COVID-19 tests at this time, but an alternative community testing option is being planned. SJBPH will share information as it becomes available.
La Plata County free community COVID-19 testing in two locations:
La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave., Durango. Testing is available from 10am to 4pm, Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Test center staff ask that people get in line for testing no later than 3 p.m., so that all cars can be moved through the site when it closes at 4pm.
Upper Pine Fire Protection District Administration Building, 515 Sower Drive, Bayfield on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 12pm.
Other partners contributing to La Plata County community test sites include: SJPBH, La Plata County Emergency Operations Center, Animas Surgical Hospital, Axis Health System, Mercy Regional Medical Center, City of Durango, Upper Pine Fire Protection District, and La Plata County Sheriff’s Department.
Claire Ninde is Communications Director for San Juan Basin Public Health. Learn more at https://sjbpublichealth.org/