SAN LUIS VALLEY- Mineral County and Rio Grande County confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that both counties are in COVID-19 Dial Level Blue effective at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021. Saguache County is also currently in Level Blue.
In Level Blue, personal gatherings should still remain at 10 persons or less from no more than 2 households. Level Blue maintains 50% capacity restrictions for a number of businesses, but it will raise the upper limits of those restrictions for some events. Indoor seated events will now be allowed a cap of 175 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less. Retail spaces and offices will continue at 50% of the Maximum Occupancy Limit. Bars will continue to remain closed, but last call for restaurants will move to midnight for on premise sale of alcohol.
Alamosa County, Conejos County, and Costilla County are in Level Yellow. In addition to metrics defined by the state, other community factors may come into play when state and local officials consider Dial level changes. More information about capacity limits and Dial qualification metrics can be found at slvphp.com.
Strong partnerships that exist in the San Luis Valley have been critical to our region’s COVID-19 response. Here is one example. After many weeks of careful planning, a vaccination event planned for Friday, February 19th in Antonito was in danger of cancellation when Public Health Director Denise Jiron learned early Thursday morning that they would not receive the vaccine they needed in time. Local partners mobilized to make a plan to help. Valley-Wide Health Systems committed to provide the vaccine, which will be replaced by Conejos County when regular shipments resume. SLV Health offered some ancillary kits that include needed supplies such as needles. Transportation and other details were worked out, and the vaccination event will be held as scheduled.
The Colorado Spirit Crisis Counseling Program offers a variety of pandemic-related support, including a biweekly online support group called Keeping Up with COVID-19, which is open to all community members. For more information call 719-480-2650.
There are currently 84 known active cases of COVID-19 in the San Luis Valley. County-specific case counts are listed below, along with what each county is in on the Dial.
Alamosa County - 38 - Yellow
Conejos County - 6 - Yellow
Costilla County - 5 - Yellow
Mineral County - 0 - Blue
Rio Grande County - 29 - Blue
Saguache County - 6 - Blue
TESTING
To pursue testing for COVID-19 through our regular testing providers call:
Rio Grande Hospital 719-657-4990
SLVHealth Respiratory Clinic 719-589-3000 ext. 9
Valley-Wide Health Systems 719-589-3658 ext. 4 (M-F), 719-589-2562 (Sa/Su)
COVID-19 VACCINE PROVIDERS
In most cases, appointments are required. To sign up to receive a vaccine, contact one of the local providers below. If you have an appointment and you can’t make it, please call to cancel so that no vaccine is wasted.
Rio Grande Hospital - (719) 657-2418 or riograndehospital.org
SLV Health - (719) 587-1355 or sanluisvalleyhealth.org
Valley-Wide Health Systems - (719) 587-9610 or vwhs.org
Alamosa County Public Health - (719) 589-6639 or alamosacounty.org
Conejos County Public Health - 719-274-4307
Costilla County Public Health - (719) 672-3332 or colorado.gov/pacific/costillacounty
Silver Thread Public Health - (719) 658-2416 or silverthreadpublichealth.org
Rio Grande County Public Health - (719) 657-3352 or riograndecounty.org/public-health
Saguache County Public Health - 719-655-2533 or saguachecounty.net/index.php/public-health-home
City Market Pharmacy - sign up at citymarket.com/rx/guest/get-vaccinated
Safeway Pharmacy - sign up at mhealthappointments.com/covidappt
Walgreens Pharmacy - sign up at walgreens.com
Walmart Pharmacy – sign up at walmart.com/COVIDvaccine
Colorado has a new 24/7 phone line for other information about COVID-19 vaccines. Call 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926)