Larimer County is entering a new phase of the fight against COVID-19, health officials told the county commissioners on Tuesday, with case rates down, but a new virus variant emerging in the state.
Dr. Jared Olson, the population epidemiologist for the county, said the delta variant of the virus, which is more transmissible than other variants, has been found in Colorado.
It accounts for about 12% of cases in the United States and 20% in Colorado, and county health officials are trying to determine rates in Larimer, he said.
Olson said vaccinations are highly effective against the variant, so his main concern is for unvaccinated people because the variant could spread through that group and cause a jump in cases.
He also expressed concern for residents of Loveland. The city has a slightly higher case rate and lower vaccination rate than Fort Collins does, Olson said.
The county can bring vaccination clinics to the people, so he encouraged Loveland businesses to reach out to make a mobile vaccination clinic request.
There also are some hopeful signs in the fight against the virus.
“We’re one of the few counties that’s in the green level by the old COVID dial,” public health director Tom Gonzales said, a sign that cases rates and hospitalizations are low.
Of the 11 most populated counties in Colorado, “Larimer County has the second lowest accumulative case rate, just higher than Boulder County, much lower than other counties of bigger sizes,” he said.
Vaccines have made it possible to turn the tide on case rates, Gonzales said.
“We getting to the end of that tunnel, but we’re not out of that tunnel. We’re still in a pandemic,” he said. “The light’s brighter than ever, which is very, very exciting.”
Sergio Torrez, health equity coordinator for the county, told commissioners health department staff is working with community groups and businesses to distribute vaccine fairly with as few barriers as possible, he said.
They are working to address vaccine hesitancy, answering questions for those who have safety concerns, offering bilingual support, helping people who have had trouble making vaccine appointments and taking vaccines to new locations to make it easier for residents to get the shots.
Torrez said the effort is moving in a new direction than the mass vaccination clinics of recent months.
Now a clinic that reaches a few people who were waiting for a convenient time or who needed transportation is considered a success, he said.
Olson said the county’s case rate has declined to levels not seen since last July. “This is due to the vaccines,” he said.
More than 55% of residents have had at least one dose of vaccine, he said.
Gonzales said the county is approaching 200,000 people having received one dose of vaccination, an important marker for health officials.
In the age group of 60 and older, 84% have had at least one dose, “getting closer to herd immunity,” but some younger age groups are lagging, he said.
The county had been pushing to reach 65% of residents with at least one dose, a goal that currently is at 64%.
“Sixty-five doesn’t mean we’re done,” the health director said. Once that marker is reached health staff will push to see 70% of residents vaccinated.
Gonzales said people can get a vaccination any day of the week in Larimer County, at the Foundry in downtown Loveland on Monday, where a job fair will be taking place at 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. That clinic will offer the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. There also will be a clinic Tuesday, June 22, at 1-5:30 p.m. at the Larimer County Health Office at 200 Peridot Ave., Loveland. That clinic will offer Moderna vaccine.
The FEMA vaccination site in place at The Ranch in east Loveland will be operated through June 25.
For vaccination information or to make a mobile clinic request, visit https://www.larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine.
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June 16, 2021 at 07:01AM
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COVID-19 case rates dropping in Larimer County, but new delta variant has health officials worried - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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