By Amber McIver-Traywick

The Surveyor

****Larimer County as of June 10, has had 626 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 181 suspected cases. This represents an increase of 83 cases associated with the virus in the past week. 28 deaths are attributed to the virus. These numbers mean that one in 560 residents of Larimer County have tested positive or are suspected of having the COVID-19 virus.

****The Berthoud Coalition of Faith along with representatives of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Berthoud Squad including Sgt. Jim Anderson met in Fickel Park Sunday afternoon. According to the event organizers it was intended as a show of community solidarity with victims of racism and oppression while also respecting and showing support for reputable law enforcement officials. A statement on the group’s Facebook page said, “We believe that if a small and predominantly white community like Berthoud, can have this conversation peacefully, it may be a sign (to) others that our churches, the city, and our community as a whole are united in a cause of working towards peaceful and meaningful cures for racism and violence in the United States as a whole.”

**** Larimer County along with the State of Colorado are still under the “Saver-At-Home” initiative.

According to the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment all public and private gatherings, including weddings should include no more than 10 people unless the square footage of the facility and/or space allows for 6-foot distancing of all participants. If the event organizer and/or facility can demonstrate compliance via a written plan with provisions, gatherings may be approved, not to exceed 50 people. This includes weddings, community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based events, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions, fundraisers, parades, fairs, festivals, or any similar event that brings 10 or more people together. The provisions include: detailed plan on the space or area used that enable 6 foot distancing, face covering must be required and communicated to participants, plan must include methods used to register attendees so contact tracing may occur if necessary, susceptible populations will be strongly encouraged not to attend.

Gathering sizes will be reevaluated by Larimer County officials June 30 to determine if larger gatherings will be allowed.

To submit a form to host an event or for more information about gathers visit larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/public-gatherings-and-events.

****Colorado county clerks began mailing statewide primary ballot packets to voters this week. Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Clerks have until Friday, June 12, to mail ballots to registered voters eligible to participate in this year’s statewide primary. To limit the spread of COVID-19, Secretary of State Jena Griswold is encouraging Coloradans to return their voted statewide primary ballot by mail or drop-box.

“Our statewide primary will largely determine the ballot for the November general election. I encourage Coloradans to vote their mail ballots to help stop the spread of COVID-19, while also having their voices heard in this historic election,” said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

Registered Republican, Democratic and Libertarian voters will receive the ballot of their party. Unaffiliated voters who did not indicate a party preference before the June 1 deadline will receive both a Democratic and Republican Party ballot, and should only return one voted ballot. Voters who do not receive a ballot by June 17 should contact the Larimer County Clerk and Recorders Office by emailing  [email protected] or by calling 970-498-7820.

If you have not mailed your ballot by June 22, voters are encouraged to return their ballot by drop-box rather than by mail to ensure their ballot is received before the June 30 deadline.

****UCHealth began offering antibody tests to anyone in Colorado, over 12,400 people have opted to find out if they have been exposed to COVID-19.

UCHealth expanded antibody testing a week ago to its patients and anyone in the general public. Of the 12,438 tests that had been performed as of June 3, 466 were positive – a rate of 3.7%. However, the data shows a much lower positive rate among UCHealth staff and providers. Of all antibody tests performed at the facilities only 3.7% returned positive. For UCHealth staff and providers it was even less at 2.3% positive rate.

For more information or to schedule a test, visit UCHealth.org/COVID19-testing or use the UCHealth mobile app. From there, anyone can easily schedule a test at the location of his or her choosing. People who aren’t current UCHealth patients can create a My Health Connection account and schedule testing. While most health insurance plans will cover the cost of testing, patients are encouraged to check with their health insurance plan for coverage details.

****This week the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that Colorado will receive $12,409,896 in expedited federal funding for emergency protective measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to FEMA, examples of eligible emergency protective measures include the activation of State Emergency Operations Centers, National Guard costs, law enforcement, and other measures necessary to protect public health and safety.

This funding is authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (“the Stafford Act”) and comes as a result of the President approving the state of Colorado’s Disaster Declaration, which members of the Colorado delegation urged. In addition to this funding, Colorado received $14.6 million from FEMA on May 14, $10.2 million on April 27, over $1.5 million on April 20, $4 million on April 15, and nearly $17 million on April 7.

****U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week the safe reopening of critical infrastructure meatpacking facilities across the United States. As of Monday, June 8, across the cattle, swine and broiler sectors, processing facilities are operating more than 95% of their average capacity compared to this time last year. In fact, beef facilities are operating at 98%, pork facilities are operating at 95%, and poultry facilities are operating at 98% of their capacity compared to the same time last year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and several outbreaks at meat processing plants across the country, many facilities had been shut down.