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He did not mention the emergence of a new, more contagious strain of COVID-19 detected by the state lab in a sample from a Colorado National Guard working at an Eastern Plains nursing home. This was the first detection of the strain in the United States and a second guardian is also suspected of being infected.
The variant – known as the B.1.1.7 variant – doesn’t appear to make people any sicker, but is spreading faster than COVID-19 which has infected more than 330,000 Coloradans since March. And more infections will likely lead to more hospitalizations, if this variant becomes mainstream, as public health experts suspect.
Mark Johnson, new president of the Colorado Medical Society and acting director of public health in Jefferson County, said he thought it was a mistake for Polis to loosen restrictions in the middle of holiday weekends , and with a still unknown amount of the most contagious. variant in the state.
“The limited resources available to local public health agencies to respond to the COVID-19 virus and launch vaccination campaigns are continually strained by what appear to be arbitrary changes in numbering settings that are not shared with us prior to their release. announcements, ”Johnson wrote. in a statement to CPR News. “This new surprise isn’t just about moving the goalposts out of the dial, it’s more about changing the goalposts into a football net.”
Johnson said it would have been better to wait and monitor case numbers after the start of the new year.
“While the metrics are currently moving in the right direction, concerns about the Christmas and New Years holidays and the presence of a more contagious variant in the state are leaving many local public health officials concerned that the reduction restrictions at this time will lead to an increase in cases, and the need to tighten things up once more, thereby sidelining businesses and adding to the confusion, ”Johnson said.
But Polis bases his optimism on the arrival of immune vaccines against the virus. Earlier Wednesday, he again surprised local public health officials by expanding the pool of eligible Category 1-B vaccine recipients to everyone in Colorado over the age of 70, as well as a range workers deemed essential, such as teachers, grocery store workers, transport. employees and some journalists.
Colorado StateThe move to add hundreds of thousands of newly eligible people to the next group to be vaccinated, announced by Polis at a morning press conference, also surprised county public health directors. They always try to get the first doses to front-line medical workers and, in conjunction with pharmacies, to staff and residents of local nursing homes.
The announcement sent phones ringing in hospitals, doctors’ offices and state county public health agencies, as seniors scrambled to find out where and when they would be vaccinated – details that do not exist not currently.
“We understand that people are excited and eager to receive their vaccine,” said Yvonne Long, Garfield County director of public health, in a statement. “We’re sorry for any confusion as the criteria for 1B have changed today. While we don’t have enough vaccines in Garfield County yet to vaccinate people 70 and older, we are working on a plan to do so once we are able. “
Late Wednesday, the CDPHE issued a statement acknowledging the lack of details on the expansion of eligibility and asking Coloradans to call 303-389-1687 or 877-462-2911, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 10 pm or Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm for more information on vaccine distribution “We understand that people are excited and eager to receive their vain in the days to come.”
“Several counties are planning to organize mass vaccination clinics for members of their communities,” according to the same press release from CDPHE. “In the coming days and as more information is finalized, we will post additional locations for vaccine distribution on the state website.”
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