DATA

• Cases 129
• Hospitalizations 9 
• Deaths 4**

*These are cumulative totals as of 09/28/2021 4pm **Deaths in people with a recent positive COVID Test

• CASES PAST 7 days: 7 (none vaccinated)
• CASES PAST 14 days: 8

ALL hospitalizations and deaths in Kiowa County were in people who were not vaccinated.

TESTS

This week’s percent positivity was 12.5 percent, up from 10 percent last week. The goal is to keep this below five percent. Get tested if exposed or if you have symptoms. Community testing is FREE! It will continue at least through February 2022. Call 719-438-5401 and ask for the lab. If you are having severe symptoms such as significant trouble breathing, etc. call 911. If you would like to opt in to free at home testing please see: https://covid19.colorado.gov/covid-19-testing-at-home

NEWS

• VACCINE is available at the public health office. Please call 719-438-5782 to schedule your appointment. All 3 types of vaccine are available.
• People who received the Moderna or J&J vaccine will likely need a booster shot, and more data on the effectiveness and safety of these booster shots are expected in the coming weeks.
• Flu vaccine can be given at the same time as COVID vaccine! We will be starting flu clinics soon!
• Kiowa County has 42% of eligible persons receiving at least 1 dose of vaccine, up from 41.6% last week.
• A reminder about isolation and quarantine: If you are quarantined or placed in isolation this means staying home and not going ANYWHERE other than the doctor if you need to be treated or tested. No one should come over. KCPH can assist you with coordination of prescription pick-up, activities to help the kids not go stir crazy or get delivery for your groceries, etc. PLEASE STAY HOME! This is an effective way of containing the spread of COVID-19. Please help us keep our community safe!
• There are treatments called monoclonal antibodies that can be given to greatly reduce your chance of hospitalization. They are offered locally at the hospital. Call your provider for more information.
• The most important thing you can do is continue to follow the guidance we have recommended from the beginning! Stay home if not feeling well, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently or use 60+% alcohol-based hand sanitizer, wear a mask/face covering to contain any respiratory droplets and stay at least 6 feet from others, especially if you are not vaccinated. Minimize gatherings.

Booster information:

• Only for those who received Pfizer vaccine as their primary series (for the first 2 doses).
• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
• People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
• People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks
• People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Regarding the recent resolutions and discussions about mandates: Local public health agencies have no ability to change the vaccine mandates handed down by the state and federal government. Enforcement is not a part of our jurisdiction. In Colorado, local public health agencies can make rules tighter than those of the state but cannot loosen them. 

Kiowa County Public Health has no intention of doing this and has not done this throughout the pandemic. 

Please direct your concerns to your Governor and state and federal legislators.

More information can be found here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine-laws-regulations

Call 719-438-5782 or 719-336-8721 with questions. You can check https://covid19.colorado.gov for information or email pcphdirector@prowerscounty.net with any questions.