San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) reports that cases with variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been identified in Archuleta and La Plata counties, including the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant. SJBPH emphasizes the best defense against virus variants is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through public health precautions, including testing and quarantine, when appropriate.
To date, SJBPH has confirmed two cases of the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant, one from Archuleta County and one from La Plata County. The B.1.427/B.1.429 variant, also known as L452R or CAL20C, is under investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers are still working to determine the infectivity of this variant, as other variants have shown to be more easily transmitted.
“The presence of variants in Southwest Colorado is troubling and means virus transmission could happen more easily,” said Liane Jollon, SJBPH executive director. “Residents need to double down and commit to taking extra precautions to protect ourselves and others from the coronavirus,” Jollon added.
SJBPH especially encourages residents of Archuleta County and the Bayfield and Ignacio areas to be tested for COVID-19 in response to the discovery of the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant in people living and working in these communities. SJBPH provides free COVID-19 testing at the following locations:
Archuleta County Community Testing Site provides testing from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds, 344 U.S. HWY 84 in the all-weather Hughes Pavilion, Pagosa Springs.
La Plata County Community Testing Site provides testing from 10am to 4pm Monday through Thursday and Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave, Durango.
Bayfield Community Testing Site provides testing from 9am to 12noon. Wednesday at the Upper Pine Fire Protection District Administration Building, 515 Sower Drive, Bayfield.
Additional testing opportunities for these communities will be announced in the coming days.
Multiple medical facilities in Southwest Colorado participate in a surveillance program with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) that sequences the genome of a portion of positive COVID-19 samples. This determines if the viruses are variants or not. SJBPH continues to conduct contact tracing of those identified with, and exposed to, the new variants. With the first confirmed cases of the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant in Archuleta and La Plata counties, SJBPH believes other variants could also be spreading locally.
Testing is 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.
New information from CDC shows that improving the fit and filtration of masks helps reduce the spread of the virus. Mask fit can be improved by using a mask with a nose wire or by knotting the ear loops and tucking in the sides. Filtration can be improved by using multiple layers. Laboratory experiments have found viral transmission could be reduced by 96 percent if Americans wore snug surgical masks or a cloth-and-surgical-mask combination.
Other public health measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 include physical distancing, avoiding social gatherings, prioritizing good ventilation, staying home when you are sick, and getting vaccinated when you are eligible.
CDC research indicates the current COVID-19 vaccines provide protections against the emerging variants, but research is ongoing. As vaccines continue to be made available, SJBPH encourages residents to get their no-cost vaccination. Vaccines are currently available to people ages 65 and older, educators and student-facing school staff, licensed childcare workers, first responders, and healthcare workers. Starting March 5th, people 60 and older, agricultural processing and grocery store workers, and those with two or more chronic health conditions will be eligible to receive a vaccine.
For information on COVID-19 vaccines and to sign-up to receive vaccine notifications, please visit this website.
San Juan Basin Public Health is a local public health agency, governed by a seven-member local Board of Health, serving all residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties. For over 70 years, San Juan Basin Public Health has improved the health and environment of the Southwest Colorado community.