Ne Colorado News

Northeast Colorado Health Department issued the following announcement on Nov. 8.

On November 6, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment notified Morgan County Commissioners that the county had been moved back to the Level Orange on COVID-19 Safer-at-Home Marking. Morgan County had been on the yellow level since the dial was initially introduced. Due to the significant increase in the number of cases over the past month, the county has moved to Orange Level: High Risk. This means that there is a higher level of restrictions and requirements with immediate effect. Details can be found by visiting: https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/covid-19-dial.

At the beginning of the Dial in September, county rates were as follows:

-- Two week incidence rate: 200,11 people

-- Positivity Percentage: 4,78 %

-- COVID-19 Case Count in 2 Weeks (New Cases): 58

-- 2 week hospitalization rate: 2

As of November 6, county fees are as follows:

-- Two week incidence rate: 589,98 people

-- Positivity Percentage: 11,64 %

-- COVID-19 Case Count in 2 Weeks (New Cases): 171

-- 2 week hospitalization rate: 5

The change from yellow to orange level comes into effect Monday, November 9, 2020 at 5 p. m., mountain time.

What does this mean for the county? Ultimately, this means we need everyone to step up and do whatever it takes to control this situation. The new county guide is for our churches, restaurants and offices to have a capacity of less than 25 %. Other services and events have a limit of 25 people or could have a lower limit depending on events. Our long-term care facilities are now closed, except for compassionate visits. This process will require the county to implement restrictions across all sectors as described in Section II. E of Public Health Order 20-36 as amended.

We all need to work together to start lowering our numbers. In order to return to the yellow level, we need to demonstrate two consecutive weeks where:

-- Positivity Rate 10 % or less.

-- Incident rate in two weeks of no more than 75-175 cases per 100,000

-- No more than two new hospital income from COVID-19 per day

These numbers are not impossible; the county has shown and maintained them for many weeks before the recent surge. We think everyone should work together and reduce numbers. If the numbers continue to increase at the rate they have, it is possible that CDPHE will change the county again to a stay-at-home phase, which is what we had across the state last spring. This can mean closures of schools and many businesses, and most people are expected to stay home; obviously no one wants this.

If the community comes together, we can change the atmosphere and encourage everyone to follow the Great 3. We have the power to change this, to protect our loved ones and those who are medically most vulnerable. We ask everyone to step up and lead by example.

Original source can be found here.