17 Nov 21
Residents and Family Members,
We have concluded required 100% testing for Sharmar Village with the latest round of negative tests. For Chateau, we tested yesterday (due to a staff positive) and if all negative will be complete with the 100% testing requirement and will return to surveillance testing. You may have noticed if visiting in the last week eye protection by staff is being utilized. This is due to the severe transmission rate designation for the county and directives from the health department to implement this level of protective equipment. This requirement pertains only to staff/vendors, however, is during your visit you would like to utilize eye protection let us know and a face shield will be provided.
Recently CMS has released updated guidance for visitation in our setting. The Health Department is currently reviewing the guidance and comparing with current state requirements to determine what new guidance will be issued. At this time, they have not provided a timeline for any changes but when they update our guidance, we will be implementing the rules at that point.
The following data is related to the 10 Nov county update:
The week saw the highest single-day case counts in Pueblo since Dec of 2020. We are reporting on 20 deaths, 16 new outbreaks (neither of our facilities met the criteria), and nearly 1,100 new cases. 7-day case incidence continues to steadily increase (current average is 9.5%). The highest case incidence rate is in the 6–11-year-olds (note this does not mean the highest numbers, just highest per 100,000 population). Hospitalizations hit 1,426 across the state yesterday (sharp increase in the last week). Colorado has the 7th highest 7-day incidence per 100,000 in the nation. Pueblo County has the highest case incidence rate among the most populated counties in the state. Currently in Pueblo hospitals, 80% of those hospitalized are not vaccinated. 50% of those COVID patients in the ICU at Parkview are under age 40.
The state is taking a 3 part strategy to try to address the surge
- Increase availability of Monoclonal antibody treatments available in the state. If there is successful uptake, this could reduce the demand on the hospitals by 13-15% at the peak.
- Increase capacity at hospitals and long-term care facilities by adding staff to support unstaffed beds
- Encourage everyone 18 and older to get their booster doses when they are 6 months out from the original vaccine series (2 months out from Jansen first dose).
This letter is provided electronically either through email or our website. We do mail a copy the first week a new admit joins us if no email has been provided to share the information how to receive future copies via the website. If you are not receiving by email and would like to do so, let us know your address. Please contact the facilities with your questions.
Sincerely,
Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson
Executive Director
