*Larimer County

• Total Cases: 19,312 (+499 from last week)
• Total Cases in Berthoud: 838 (+28 from last week)
• Deaths: 224 (+8 from last week)
• New positive cases in 24 hours: 80
• 14-Day Case Rate per 100k: 270
• Hospital Utilization: 70%
• ICU Utilization: 77%
• 14-Day test positivity rate: 4.4
• Risk Score: High
• 5.32% of the population of Larimer County has been reported to have contracted the virus. Deaths attributed to the virus comprise 1.16% of reported cases. Of reported deaths 27% were age 75 to 84 and 51% were 85 and older.

*Case numbers as of Feb. 24 2021.

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 deaths are decreasing along with a dramatic decrease in the number of cases in the US. On Feb. 22 there 55,528 reported cases down from 315,106 cases reported on Jan. 8. There were 1,578 deaths attributed to the virus reported on Feb. 22 down from a high of 5,480 reported on Feb. 12.

The US has seen more than 500,000 total deaths associated with the COVID-19 virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Colorado is set to move into Phase 1B.3 of the vaccine rollout that will allow essential frontline workers and people with multiple health conditions to be vaccinated. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed they anticipate the next phase will begin around March 5.

Gov. Jared Polis has stated that the next phases of the distribution will happen once around 50% of those eligible in the previous phase have received their vaccine.

Currently, people in phases 1A, 1B.1 and 1B.2 are eligible to receive the vaccine. That includes those who is 65 or older, first responders, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and those working with the public in health care, childcare or K-12 education.

The next phase will include: essential workers in food an agriculture, manufacturing, U.S. Postal service, public transit, public health, human services including services to the homeless population, faith communities and journalism.

Those with two or more high-risk health conditions will also be eligible. These risks include: cancer, kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, down syndrome, heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or severe birth defects of the heart, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, suppressed immune system due to an organ transplant and disabilities that prevent mask-wearing.

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The state deactivated the Colorado’s Crisis Standard of Care (CSC) Plan for healthcare staffing and emergency medical services on Feb. 11.

Crisis standards of care are recommendations for how the medical community should allocate scarce resources, such as ventilators and intensive care unit beds, in the extreme case when patient needs exceed available resources.

The deactivation is consistent with the declining cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 across the state.

The crisis standards of care for personal protective equipment (PPE) remains active. The crisis standards of care for personal protective equipment allows health care providers to extend the use of or reuse some PPE. It also allows for the use of alternate equipment to provide some protection from disease transmission, when supplies are scarce.

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Larimer County Boards and Commissions serve their communities by playing a role in making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on a variety of important matters. Currently there are vacancies on several boards with an April 18, 2021 deadline to apply.

Apply online at www.larimer.org/boards.  If you do not have internet access, you may request an application form from the Larimer County Commissioners’ Office by phone: (970) 498-7149 or in person at 200 West Oak Street (2nd floor), Fort Collins, Colorado.

New board members begin their term on July 1, 2021.

Jury trials are set to begin again in Larimer County after being halted last November due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A backlog of nearly 300 cases has accumulated.

The 8th Judicial District Court in Fort Collins has restarted jury trials with new precautions and changes to keep people safe.

The courts along with the Larimer County Department of Public Health and Environment and the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court have approved the modifications to help ensure the safety of those involved in courtroom hearings.

Courtroom precautions for all involved in the hearings including those serving as jurors will involve social distancing, hand sanitizing stations, mask requirements and notices around the building to ensure the rules are followed. Those who are considered high-risk and those living with individuals considered high-risk may have their jury service postponed by contacting the Jury Commissioner at 970-494-3555 or by email at [email protected].

A video posted by the court gives further explanation to the changes and can be viewed my visiting www.courts.state.co.us and searching for the 8^th Judicial District Jury Information.

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Individuals in Colorado now have from Feb. 15 to May 15 to see if they qualify for health coverage on the state’s Health Insurance Marketplace. The Biden Administration announced an open enrollment extension due to COVID-19 pandemic-related job losses. Coloradans who are currently uninsured or have recently lost coverage are able to get health insurance that starts on the first day of the month following their plan selection.

You may also qualify to enroll to buy health insurance if you have a life-changing event. Certain events, including moving, getting married, and having a baby all make you eligible for a special enrollment period. Otherwise, almost all Coloradans can buy health insurance during the Open Enrollment period, which begins Nov. 1, 2021.

Colorado saw a 43.8% decline in uninsured residents between 2010-2019 which was among the largest decreases in the nation.

Visit connectforhealthco.com for more information.