With COVID-19 cases declining nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance this past Friday outlining prevention steps based on revised metrics for determining a county’s level of COVID-19 risk. In addition to transmission rates, the CDC now accounts for regional hospital capacity and COVID-19 hospital admissions when determining a county’s risk level.
Previously, the CDC’s guidance was based solely on the case incidence rate transmission metrics. In revising their guidance, the CDC cited a need for community risk levels to reflect the amount of severe disease present in a community and hospital capacity available.
San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) amended its local Public Health Advisory today to reflect the new community levels and guidance provided by the CDC. According to an updated map released by the CDC, as of today both Archuleta and La Plata counties fall into CDC “High” per their new guidance.
According to the CDC’s guidance for “High,” community members are advised to wear a mask in public indoor spaces, stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, and get tested if symptomatic.
The CDC only advises community wide masking in public indoor spaces in the “High” category. At “Medium,” the CDC recommends that individuals who are high risk for severe infection consult with their healthcare provider about whether they should wear a mask.
The CDC plans to update its COVID-19 Community Levels once per week. SJBPH will inform the community when Archuleta and La Plata counties drop into the “Medium” or “Low” community levels.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: As of February 28, SJBPH was reporting a 7-day average of COVID cases of less than one new case per day. Zero new cases were reported on February 25, 26 and 28, with one new case on February 27.]
“We’re happy to see the CDC revise its guidance to include these important hospitalization metrics,” said Liane Jollon, Executive Director, SJBPH. “With vaccines that protect against severe illness widely available, the risks we face as a community and as individuals are more closely tied to severe infection and healthcare capacity than case counts alone. Hospital capacity is a resource that impacts everyone in the community, whether care is needed for COVID-19 or another health emergency. While cases and hospitalizations have dropped quickly, at this time the CDC risk metrics indicate that hospital capacity in Southwest Colorado continues to be strained”.
“SJBPH advises our community to continue to mask in public indoor spaces, stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, and get tested if you are symptomatic or exposed. These precautions will help keep us safe, keep our children in school and will speed up how quickly we drop from ‘High’ to the next CDC risk level of ‘Medium,” continued Jollon.
SJBPH emphasizes that the best protection against COVID-19 continues to be overlapping multiple strategies to reduce exposure. These strategies include staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination (including booster shots when available and recommended), wearing a face covering when appropriate, maximizing indoor ventilation, holding social gatherings, organized events and business activities outside when possible, washing your hands, and staying home when you’re sick.
SJBPH continues to offer free COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and high-quality masks for the public at its offices in Pagosa Springs and Durango. The iHealth antigen test kits were provided to SJBPH by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and can be self-administered at-home, with results generated in 15 minutes. Up to four test kits (eight tests total) are provided per person while supplies last. Supply is limited and tests will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Although the tests are reliable and accurate, they are not as sensitive as lab-based tests and may give a false negative result. A negative result can be confirmed with additional testing, or through a molecular assay test (PCR) which is available at community testing sites in La Plata and Archuleta counties and through other testing providers. If positive for COVID-19, patients should isolate following the guidance on SJBPH’s website.
At-home test users are encouraged to report positive results by using this online CDPHE portal. Positive results can also be reported to SJBPH directly via email (covidreports@sjbpublichealth.org) or by calling SJBPH at 970-585-6185.
SJBPH’s Pagosa Springs office is located at 502 S. 8th Street and is open Monday through Friday 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The SJBPH Durango office is located at 281 Sawyer Drive Suite 300 and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. A mask is required for entry in SJBPH offices at this time.
Chandler Griffin is Communications Director for San Juan Basin Public Health District. SJBPH is a local public health agency, governed by a seven-member local Board of Health, serving all residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties.