San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) reports that a case of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been identified in La Plata County. Identification of the case confirms what SJBPH has suspected and anticipated, that the Delta variant, which has already been confirmed in other Western Slope communities, is present and circulating in Southwest Colorado.
The Delta variant was first detected in India and is widely regarded by public health experts to be one of the most transmissible and severe variants of COVID-19 to-date. SJBPH emphasizes that vaccination, especially completion of a vaccine series, is highly effective at protecting against the Delta variant. Unvaccinated residents are at higher risk of falling ill with the Delta variant of COVID-19 and are urged to get the vaccine as soon as possible. According to State records, more than 98% of confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred in the unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated population since January 2021.
“The confirmed presence of the Delta variant in Southwest Colorado is concerning. Protection against this severe variant should be the strongest motivation yet for unvaccinated residents to get the vaccine without delay. The Delta variant is shown to be more severe for residents both young and old. Even if you previously had COVID-19, you still need to get the vaccine and it’s especially important with the Delta variant that you finish your vaccine series,” said Liane Jollon, SJBPH Executive Director.
There are numerous vaccine providers in La Plata and Archuleta counties, and SJBPH is now offering clinics six days per week in partnership with Jogan Health. Dates and times for those clinics are listed below. The full schedule of vaccine clinics, pop-ups, and mobile clinics is available online.
Pagosa Springs High School, 800 S. 8th St, Pagosa Springs
Thursdays, 11:00am to 3:00pm
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine from 11:00am to 12:00pm
- Pfizer vaccine from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Fort Lewis College Student Life Center, 125 West Campus Court, Durango
Monday through Friday, 11:00am to 6:00pm
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine from 11:00am to 1:00pm
- Pfizer vaccine from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Saturdays, 11:00am to 3:00pm
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine from 11:00am to 1:00pm
- Pfizer vaccine from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave, Durango
June 15, 16, 22, 23, 25, 29, 10:00am to 2:00pm
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine from 10:00am to 11:00am
- Pfizer vaccine from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
With the Delta variant present in our community, testing is still critical if you have symptoms, believe you’ve been exposed, work in a high-contact job, or if you have been gathering with people outside your household. Additional testing allows public health officials to sequence more samples and identify if COVID-19 variants are more widespread. Vaccinated individuals should get tested if they have symptoms, especially after a known exposure.
SJBPH provides free COVID-19 testing in partnership with COVIDCheck Colorado at the following locations:
- Archuleta County Community Testing Site provides testing from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday behind the Pagosa Springs Medical Center building, 95 S Pagosa Blvd
- La Plata County Community Testing Site provides testing from 12pm to 4pm Monday through Thursday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave, Durango
- Fort Lewis College Testing Site provides testing from 7am to 12pm Monday through Friday and Saturday 8am to 12pm in the stadium lot near the FLC football field
For more information on COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and to access our COVID data dashboard, please visit: https://sjbpublichealth.org.
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