The state-led mobile unit providing free monoclonal antibody treatment in Alamosa has been extended through this Friday, December 31st. If you test positive for COVID-19, call 1-877-268-2926 to see if you qualify and to schedule an appointment. This treatment has been shown to be highly effective against severe illness caused by the delta variant, if administered early.
The omicron variant will reach the Valley very soon, if it is not here already and yet undetected. Public Health will address some of the quickly changing information about omicron in a separate local update later this week. Best practice continues to be to use a layered approach to protect yourself and others: vaccinations and boosters, masks, ventilation, and social distancing are good tools. Take care of yourself because the healthier you are the better your chances of fighting infectious diseases in general. In addition to COVID-19, local healthcare providers have been seeing more flu and other respiratory illnesses recently.
As the year winds down, it is a good time to reflect back. On the positive side, 2021 brought us widespread vaccine availability and improved treatment options that give us hope for a much better 2022. The worst of 2021 was the early summer arrival of the delta variant which led to a fall influx of hospitalizations and fatalities that have yet to fully come down, even as the number of new cases has slowed considerably. Public health would like to acknowledge with gratitude our own staff as well those employed in healthcare facilities, schools, residential facilities, the volunteers of Los Promotores del Valle de San Luis, and others who have tirelessly worked for the good of our communities during the past year.
Here are some San Luis Valley COVID-19 totals for the period from January 1st through December 27th, 2021:
15,763 people tested
5,562 known cases
407 local hospitalizations
107 days when 100% of local ICU beds were in use
61,017 vaccine doses administered (including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shots)
We would like to respectfully remember the 123 friends and neighbors who died with COVID-19 in 2021. There were fatalities in every age group from 20’s on up. 82% of fatalities were in people age 60 and older.
For more information about testing, vaccination, and local COVID-19 data updates, go to www.slvphp.com or call 719-480-8719. There are 67 known active cases in the San Luis Valley today.