Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) officials are closely monitoring visitation guidelines for residential care facilities as the number of B.1.1.7 variant cases have remained a small percentage of overall COVID-19 instances in the state.
Current case totals can be viewed in the case summary snapshot on the COVID-19 data dashboard.
“Since discovering the strain through residential facility testing, our State lab has been routinely screening for the B.1.1.7 variant with a well-established genome sequencing program to characterize mutations using a number of advanced molecular detection techniques,” said Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer for CDPHE. “We are pleased these variant cases have remained low, and as residents and healthcare personnel become fully vaccinated, further guidance considerations will be taken.”
Visitation guidelines for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities, and group homes are outlined in Public Health Order 20-20. Mandatory visitation requirements for residential care facilities can be found here.
Coloradans can protect themselves from the B.1.1.7 variant in the same ways they can protect themselves from the prominent SARS-CoV-2 strain by following public health protocols — hand washing, mask wearing, physical distancing, and avoiding gatherings. Quarantine guidance for those exposed to the variant is more strict.
Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.
The Pagosa Daily Post welcomes submissions, photos, letters and videos from people who love Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Call 970-903-2673 or email pagosadailypost@gmail.com