As COVID-19 cases in Chaffee County rise and the Salida School District had its first pivot to remote learning, Ark Valley Voice, spoke with Director of Public Health, Andrea Carlstrom to get an update on the mobile lab and how the county is responding to contact tracing.
Carlstrom said, “I am hoping our mobile trailer comes toward the end of the month.” Public Health has been working on ways to make the new normal we live in easier, therefore the trailer would provide more local healthcare protection. The mobile trailer could allow for tests to be done right in Chaffee County. Previously all tests had to be sent out of the county and processed.
(Initially, CCPH had been waiting on Rapid Tests from Abbott Labs. As of Tuesday, Oct. 12 that contract was cancelled due to nonperformance, and the county will continue to use Curative tests supplied by the state.)
Chaffee Dept. of Public Health has ordered a mobile trailer for rapid testing purposes. The plan calls for it to be equipped with testing machines that can test for COVID-19, flu and strep. Courtesy photo.
Contact tracing is used by Public Health to track how COVID-19 is spreading when there is an outbreak. When asked how the public is responding to contact tracing Carlstrom explained “While we have experienced some resistance to our public health exposure notification system which includes contact tracing and patient investigation, we have been grateful that the majority of positive cases understand what is at stake and have prioritized the health and wellness of our county.”
Carlstrom continued “We want our county to know that this is not about blame or shame but rather slowing the spread of a novel virus that has the ability to cause significant morbidity and mortality.”
“Isolation and quarantine are strategies we use in public health to keep our community safe, and we have resources to remove as many barriers as possible if a household needs assistance during this challenging time,” added Carlstrom.
For more information on current COVID-19 cases and updates, click here.
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