The number of reported cases of COVID-19 in Chaffee County is still increasing, with just-revised numbers showing 19 cases in the past week, 43 in the past two weeks. A total of 81 cases were reported in the month of October.
The positivity rate, based on the number of positive tests over a very fluid number of tests administered stands at 3.73 percent according to the latest accounting by the Chaffee County Public Health Department, down from 4.69 fairly recently.
Chaffee Public Health Dept. employees at the Touber Building COVID-19 test site. Courtesy photo.
As of Nov. 2, there were about 60 test results being awaited, some after six days. Because of testing delays, the positivity rate can be a lagging indicator.
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center reports only one COVID-19 patient, presumably a 78-year-old man from the south end of the county, who was symptomatic. The hospital is currently at 64 percent of capacity.
Overall totals since the pandemic began finds the county with more than 450 cases, not counting some 35 out-of-county cases and 19 total deaths connected with the virus, 14 directly caused by it.
The community testing routine of Tuesdays and Thursdays in Salida from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Touber Building, 448 E. First St., in the C Street parking lot and Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. at the Buena Vista Annex, 114 Linderman Ave. will be changing next week to what’s billed as ‘a more enticing testing strategy.’
The number of cases at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex (BVCC) affecting staff and inmates remains unclear without specific Department of Corrections (DOC) updates. The number of BVCC prisoners infected from the DOC website is listed at 224, with 198 listed as recovered, but without any specifics on the timeline of those numbers.
For staff at BVCC, it was reported earlier that 15 were infected, but again, the numbers have not been updated recently. Statewide, the DOC reported that there were 346 positive cases, 117 of those active, with 284 staff on leave, which includes the active cases without any timeline breakdown.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) reported 2,171 cases as of Oct. 29, and 10 new deaths among cases reported since Oct. 29. A total of 663 people were hospitalized as of Oct. 30 and the state 7-day moving average stands at a concerning 7.50 percent.
According to an updated modeling report released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado School of Public Health, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are rapidly increasing across the state.
Health experts say Colorado will likely surpass April’s highest peak in hospitalizations within the next two weeks. Intensive care unit (ICU) capacity could be exceeded by January 2021, or sooner, if the epidemic curve is not bent, according to experts.
In the San Luis Valley, Linda Smith of the San Luis Valley Public Health Partnership said Valley’s cumulative total of COVID-19 cases as of November 2, was 784. “Our region has had 133 newly reported cases in the past 2 weeks. We continue to have local people hospitalized with COVID. There were 15 local COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the month of October. This does not include patients who were transported out of the region for hospital care,” Smith said.
“Thank you to those in our community who have given so much care and respect to one another during this difficult year,” Smith added.
“Public Health is working long and hard to keep up with the necessary case investigations and contact tracing for the identified cases. We need everyone to do their part to turn this around so that individuals, families, our businesses, and our communities can get through this and thrive. That will happen best if we can pull together and do the things that we each can do.”
And she added a familiar reminder: “We know you’re tired of hearing it. We’re tired of saying it, too. But until it is no longer necessary, we will keep up the reminders: Avoid gatherings, wear a mask, watch your distance, wash your hands. Stay home when you can, especially if you are vulnerable. If you have been around someone who has COVID, do the right thing and quarantine for 14 days after your exposure, even if you don’t feel sick. Some people who have the virus don’t show symptoms, but they can still pass it to others.”
The SLV currently has 131 known active COVID-19 cases.
Alamosa County- 68
Conejos County – 19
Costilla County – 8
Mineral County – 0
Rio Grande County – 20
Saguache County – 16
Numbers are updated weekdays at slvemergency.org/slv-covid-19
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