Garfield County records youngest COVID-19 death to date
Garfield County Public Health reported Tuesday that a 34-year-old male has died from COVID-19, the youngest person in the county to die from the virus since the pandemic began in spring 2020.
“The individual was unvaccinated and the youngest person in the county to pass away from the illness,” the county said in a news release.
To date, there have been 59 deaths in Garfield County due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Many of those have been in nursing homes across the county, where several outbreaks have occurred.
The breakthrough case rate among vaccinated people in the county stands at 1.1%, the county also reported.
To date, there have been 355 individuals testing positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19 since Feb. 27, when the first breakthrough case was reported to Garfield County Public Health, the release states.
“Most COVID-19 cases occur among the unvaccinated,” county health officials advised. “When a larger proportion of a population is vaccinated, there will be a larger number of breakthrough cases. Garfield County is still seeing less severe disease and hospitalizations in vaccinated individuals.”
Of the 177 new cases confirmed for the seven-day period from Oct. 4-10, 137 were among unvaccinated individuals, according to the latest county statistics.
AS OF TUESDAY, OCT. 12
Cumulative cases: 7,657
Deaths since outbreak began: 59 confirmed
Current Risk Level: Orange-High Risk
Recent 7-day case totals: Oct. 6-12 – 194; Sept. 29-Oct. 5 – 117; Sept. 22-28 – 117
Cases by vaccination status for 7-day period ending 10/10: 137 among unvaccinated; 40 breakthrough cases among vaccinated.
Two-week daily case average: 27.71
Single-day high: 101 on 12/10/20
7-day incidence rate: 322.4 per 100,000 people
7-day test positivity rate: 11.5% (14-day: 9.4%)
7-day hospitalization rate: 21%
Vaccination rate by percent of county population: Fully vaccinated – 66%; One dose – 73%. For vaccination information, visit Garfield-County.com/public-health/covid-19-vaccine/
Source: Garfield County Public Health
HOSPITAL STATS (updated weekly)
Valley View Hospital, as of 10/5/2021
Specimens collected through Valley View Hospital: 37,701 (+584 since 9/28)
Positive results: 2,604 (+29 since 9/28)
Hospitalizations since outbreak began: 327 (6 new since 9/28)
Grand River Hospital, as of 10/5/2021
Specimens collected through Grand River Health: 10,230
Positive results: 2,027 (+33 since 9/28)
Hospitalizations since outbreak began: 67 (1 new since 9/28)
Source: Valley View and Grand River hospitals
ACTIVE OUTBREAKS IN GARFIELD COUNTY
(Updated 10/6)
St. Stephen Catholic School, Glenwood Springs: Date determined – 9/18; 6 student cases.
Glenwood Springs Healthcare: Date determined – 9/8; 1 resident and 1 staff case.
Chateau at Rifle: Date determined – 9/8; 2 resident and 2 staff cases.
Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home, Rifle: Date determined – 8/16; 8 resident cases, one death; 3 staff cases.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment COVID-19 outbreak data page; updated weekly on Wednesday
Flu vaccinations available
In addition to COVID-19 vaccines, seasonal flu vaccine clinics are being held this month at locations throughout Garfield County.
For a full list of clinic dates and locations, see the public health flu page.
The influenza virus changes every year, so getting vaccinated annually is important to make sure you have immunity, public health advises.
Flu symptoms appear one to four days after exposure to the virus and typically last between five to seven days. Even after symptoms resolve many individuals continue to feel fatigued. People who have had the flu shot generally have less severe symptoms over a shorter period.
Free COVID testing in Garfield County
There are two free community testing providers in Garfield County, and neither a doctor’s order nor identification are required. Sites accept both walk-ups and appointments, but do not have rapid tests available. If you have symptoms, or feel you have been exposed, get tested within one to two days. Test turnaround times are between 36-48 hours.
Roaring Fork Valley free COVID testing, Monday through Friday
Carbondale — 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the parking lot behind Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave (Enter via 4th St.)
Glenwood Springs — 7-11 a.m. at the Roaring Fork School District Administration Building parking lot, 1405 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs
Rifle — 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Mountain Family Health Center parking lot, 195 W. 14th St., Bldg. C, Rifle (back side of parking lot, closest to the fairgrounds)
State of Colorado free COVID testing: 12-4 p.m. Sundays in Rifle, Public Health parking lot, 195 W. 14th St.
See Garfield County COVID testing for a complete list of testing providers including pharmacies and medical offices in Garfield County.
Ivermectin warning
Garfield County Public Health also notes that the FDA recently issued information on Ivermectin, a drug used to treat or prevent parasites in animals (not for fighting viruses).
“The FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medial support and been hospitalized after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for horses. Ivermectin is not FDA approved for use treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans,” the release states.
“The FDA’s job is to carefully evaluate the scientific data on a drug to be sure that it is both safe and effective for a particular use, and then to decide whether or not to approve it. Using any treatment for COVID-19 that’s not approved or authorized by the FDA, unless part of a clinical trial, can cause serious harm.
“Never use medications intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans.”
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