After a brief dip, COVID-19 cases are headed up again in the San Luis Valley.
Public Health finds that the virus is frequently being shared when people with mild symptoms choose to go to school, work, church, or other gatherings. Please be considerate of the health of those around you. Even if you are not aware of anyone at high risk in your own direct social circle, your close contacts may have vulnerable people in their social circles that you are not aware of. Recently we have seen some pediatric hospitalizations of young children, not just adolescents as we saw in previous weeks. The pandemic requires people to look out for each other, particularly as hospital capacity continues to be challenged throughout the state.
Last week we talked about what employers can do to keep their workforce healthy and able to work. Today we have recommendations for employees. If you work indoors, practice social distancing whenever possible. Wear a mask if distancing is not possible. Wash your hands frequently. If you have symptoms, stay home. One employee with something mild like a runny nose can spread illness to others who may get a more serious case, take it home to their families, and the chain continues. If you have symptoms, get tested. If you are vaccinated and have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, get tested between 5-7 days after exposure. Get vaccinated if you have not done so yet in order to prevent disruptions in your ability to work, and to prevent a potentially expensive hospital stay. Currently, 81% of COVID-19 patients in Colorado hospitals are unvaccinated.
The San Luis Valley will receive a boost from the state to help meet the demand for weekend COVID-19 testing for the next few weeks. A mobile testing unit will be located behind Valley-Wide Health Systems Convenient Care location at 1131 Main St. in Alamosa every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m through the end of November. Testing is free and open to anyone, especially those with symptoms.
- Alamosa County – 131
- Conejos County – 41
- Costilla County – 7
- Mineral County – 1
- Rio Grande County – 55
- Saguache County – 21
Information on San Luis Valley COVID-19 statistics, testing, and vaccinations can be found at www.slvphp.com or by calling 719-480-8719. There are currently 256 active cases in the San Luis Valley today.
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