Se Colorado News

Pueblo County issued the following announcement on Nov. 16.

Community Updates

Pueblo County COVID-19 Data Display Updated on Website

The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment added information and graphs to the COVID data webpage. Case information of two-week incidence rate, deaths by age group, death rate, number of test and percent positive, age and gender of cases, demographics of cases is available on the webpage. These charts are updated weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

State Moved Pueblo County back to Safer at Home Level Orange

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment moved Pueblo County to Safer at Home Level Orange, effective 5 p.m. Saturday, November 14. The move is in accordance with the Public Health Order 20-36. All of Pueblo County’s previously approved variances will be suspended and most businesses will be moved to 25% capacity. 

Community COVID-19 Testing Site Open Monday through Friday and Second and Fourth Saturdays

Pueblo County’s free COVID-19 drive-thru testing site is open Monday through Friday and every second and fourth Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Testing is available in the Livestock Pavilion at the Colorado State Fairgrounds. Enter the site through Gate 4 off Mesa and Gaylord avenues. There is no limit to the number of people who can be tested per day.

Testing is encouraged for people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, first responders, health care workers, critical infrastructure employees, teachers, and individuals who work in congregate settings. Test results are generally back within four days. Additional information and a pre-registration link can be found here: pueblohealth.org/covid19

 

Pueblo School District 70 Board of Education Moved Students to Remote Learning

Citing the staggering upward climb of Positive COVID cases throughout the city and county, Pueblo School District 70 Board of Education has voted to move all D70 students and staff back to Remote Learning beginning Thursday, November 12, 2020 through the remainder of the first semester. 

Pueblo School District 60 Transitions to Distance Learning

Pueblo School District 60 officials announced earlier this week students will begin transitioning to distance learning due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in Pueblo County.  As of Wednesday (Nov. 11) all high school students are attending classes via distance learning. Students in grades Pre-K through 8th grade will transition to distance learning on Monday, November 30, following the Thanksgiving break. District officials anticipate distance learning will remain in effect through the end of the first semester.

Governor and State Updates

State Request Hospital Surge Capacity Plans by 11/18

Governor Polis signed an executive order to clarify operations for surging hospital capacity. The order requires hospitals to submit a plan for maximum surge bed count by Wednesday, November 18, 2020, the hospitals complete surge plan by Friday, November 20, 2020.

• A detailed plan to potentially increase bed capacity by at least fifty percent (50%) and provide staffing and medical equipment for such increase;
• Strategies to increase the number of ICU beds by transitioning medical and surgical beds to ICU beds if needed.
• A detailed staffing plan, sufficient to provide adequate care for all beds, including those in use or available to patients other than COVID-19 patients.
• A mandate for elective procedures to be actively managed, reduced and/ or delayed if there is a surge of COVID-19 infections in the county or municipality in which the Facility is located.

It also directs that all hospitals report the maximum number of staffed ICU beds that can be made available for patients in need of ICU level care, as well as the maximum number of staffed medical and surgical beds available for non ICU hospitalization at 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. each day. Hospitals and medical providers are encouraged to continue utilizing telehealth and virtual visits as much as possible. 

Original source can be found here.