The good news: Lake County is anticipating its first COVID-19 vaccine shipment within 10 days. The less-than-great news: The county has an amended public health order that closes indoor events.
That means that for now, there are no receptions, concerts, indoor markets, auctions or trade shows. Houses of worship, however, are exempt from the order. The county made the move Dec. 16.
In the spirit of cooperation, Leadville Mayor Greg Labbe said in the county’s Dec. 16 COVID-19 online town hall that the City has cancelled all Christmas parties. “I hate to do that,” he said, “but we have to hunker down for three or four months and make sure we get through this.”
As of Dec. 18, Lake County has seen 394 total positive cases, has 46 active infections and 35 new cases in the past week. Positivity rate has dropped somewhat to 17.3 percent. The county has not recorded any COVID-19 deaths.
With Christmas and New Years Eve quickly approaching and as Lake County continues to see a rise in COVID-19 cases and incidence rates that place its data in the more restrictive Level Red category, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has asked the county to take on more protective regulations in order to remain in Level Orange.
County public health officials say the biggest source of COVID-19 spread appears to be indoor get-togethers and not schools, businesses and medical facilities, where people are more adherent to masking and distancing guidelines.
“What we are seeing is two or more households get together, interact inside, no masks, no precautions and continue to spread it,” said Colleen Nielsen, RN, Director of Lake County Public Health at the town hall.
The county has had an order in place since Nov. 11 that restricts gatherings to no more than six people from two distinct households. Restaurants may operate at 25 percent indoor capacity or up to 50 persons, with party size limited to six.
On to the bright news: The FDA gave emergency authorization to the Moderna vaccine Friday and the first shipment is slated to arrive in Lake County within 10 days.
Public Health is in charge of the program and has been contacting the highest-risk individuals targeted for the Phase I rollout. Those people include staff and residents at long-term care facilities and other individuals who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
Vaccinations are free. The Moderna vaccine requires two doses 28 days apart.
Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger, Public Health Officer for Lake County, said at the town hall that there needs to be a 75-80 percent vaccination rate for the pandemic to end. She is adamant that the vaccine is “safe and efficacious,” and has offered to make presentations to groups wanting more information.
“If all of us don’t get vaccinated, we have no herd immunity,” she said. “And the pandemic will go on forever, for years… we will need to continue masking and avoiding each other.”
Toward the end of the town hall, Nielsen made a plea to those thinking about attending houses of worship over the holidays. Currently there are no capacity restrictions on churches.
She said it is extremely important that people mask up and distance at six feet between household groups if they plan to attend services.“Believe it or not you can sing through a mask,” she said, explaining that singing sends out considerably more droplets that may contain the coronavirus than ordinary talking or breathing do. But she also urged people to discuss safer holiday gathering alternatives with their worship communities.
“We understand that we’re coming into the holiday season and we also understand that if everyone gets together and forgets all these precautions, we have a lot more cases and darker days ahead of us,” she said.
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