*Total COVID-19 Cases: 76,661 (+402)

Total Cases in Berthoud: 3,424 (+18)

Deaths in Larimer County: 468 (+2)

7-day case rate per 100k: 38.9 (-63.1)

7-Day test positivity rate: 3.5%

Risk Score: Low

Deaths attributed to the virus comprise 0.61% of reported cases. Of reported deaths, 24% were age 75 to 84, 20% were 65-74 and 38% were 85 and older. Thirty-three people in the county between the ages of 18-54 have died.

As of Monday, March 14, there have been 623,088 doses of the vaccines administered in Larimer County. 79.9% of eligible county residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

*Case data as of Wednesday.

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By March 31, the state of Colorado will transition from offering COVID-19 vaccines through state-run community vaccination sites to traditional healthcare settings. This step is part of the state’s “Roadmap to Moving Forward.” The transition from community vaccination sites will be phased, and equity will continue to be prioritized through the mobile vaccine buses. Final operations for community vaccination sites will be listed at covid19.colorado.gov/community-vaccine-sites.

Nearly 2000 provider locations across Colorado have become enrolled in the COVID vaccination program, including pharmacies and doctor’s offices.  More information about COVID vaccines, as well as assistance with scheduling an appointment, is available at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.

For the last 24 months, the state, in partnership with 54 local public health agencies, multiple community and health care partners, has created systems outside of the traditional healthcare system to administer testing, therapeutic treatments, and vaccines in the emergency. If necessary, the state is prepared to reestablish these systems, including community vaccination sites, within a four-to-five-week timeline.

The state’s mobile vaccine clinics will continue operations through at least June 30 to help get the vaccine to hard to reach communities. In addition to mobile vaccine clinics, there are numerous equity-focused, vaccine-related resources and programs that will continue as part of the state’s strategies to address health disparities, including community-based pop-up vaccination clinics, regional equity coordinators and resource specialists, the Champions for Vaccine Equity program, a forthcoming equity-focused grant program, and CDPHE’s partnership with 9Health:365 to offer free and low-cost vaccinations and health screenings.

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A new grant program that will provide funds to small grassroots community groups for hazard mitigation projects and improve community and neighborhood resilience is now accepting applications.

The Community Mitigation Grant Program, created through the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management [OEM], is a pilot program for 2022 with $50,000 allocated to fund community and neighborhood mitigation work in Larimer County.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, estimates that for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation, $6 in savings are gained. Often, community mitigation programs can have high costs and sometimes obstruct their completion.

Hazard mitigation minimizes disaster impacts and other disruptions while encouraging preparedness. Reduced loss of life, property and economic impacts are also realized.

Applications are now open through April 3 for the grant funding for community projects that support mitigation, resilience efforts, and engagement. Grant awards will be announced in mid-April.

Further information, how to apply, and grant criteria are available by visiting Larimer.org/larimer-oem-community-mitigation-grant-program.

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The Colorado Department of Transportation reported that Interstate 25 was closed for over an hour due to a crash early Monday morning near Mead.

The crash happened around 5 a.m. It is unclear how many cars were involved or if anyone was injured.

A part of northbound and southbound I-25 were closed following the crash. The interstate reopened around 6:15 a.m.

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According the Colorado Climate Center the statewide average temperature for February 2022 was 24.9, which was 4.1 degrees below the 1991-2020 normal. February 2022 was ranked as the 30th coldest in the 128-year record and is the fourth consecutive February to be colder than the 20th-century average. This was the 14th coldest February minimum temperatures on record for the Arkansas basin (southeast CO).

Much of the Front Range mountains and urban corridor were wetter than average for February, with drier than average conditions over the northern mountains and west slope.

The coldest recorded temperature in February was recorded on February 4 at Antero Reservoir at -48. The warmest temperature was recorded February 15 in La Junta at 73.

Widespread improvements were made across the northern Front Range and into northeast CO. The Sangre de Cristos also saw some
improvement. Over 91% of the state is still in a drought category with 8% of the state experiencing extreme (D3) drought conditions. This makes 97 consecutive weeks of D3 in Colorado.

Statewide snowpack was 95% of average on February 28, 2022, marking a significant decrease in percent of average since the beginning of the month. This was due to the lack of storm activity across much of the high elevations. The Yampa-White and Arkansas basins were the lowest, each at 83% of average, while the Gunnison was doing the best at 105% of average.

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Rocky Mountain National Park is seeking the public’s engagement and input on proposed infrastructure changes and improvements to Moraine Park Campground and nearby areas. The proposed project will take place in the eastern portion of the park, at the Moraine Park Campground (MPCG)  and the northeast section of Moraine Park focused near the Moraine Park Discovery Center, the portion of Bear Lake Road located just west of the Moraine Park Discovery Center, and along Moraine Park and Fern Lake Roads.

MPCG is accessed via Bear Lake Road and is the largest of the park’s five front-country campgrounds. It is open year-round and has 244 campsites that can accommodate a variety of camping equipment types, including up to 40-foot RVs, sprinter vans and tents. Over 30,000 campers stay at MPCG annually.

The proposed project will include repairs and improvements to water, wastewater and electrical distribution systems servicing MPCG, nearby areas in Moraine Park, Beaver Meadows Entrance facilities and park housing units located on the western portion of High Drive within the park’s boundary. This infrastructure was installed in the 1960s and is well past the typical 30-year service life. This project will also relocate electric powerlines underground to reduce system damage caused by snow, wind, falling tree branches, electrical hazards or wildfire.

Public engagement is an important part of the park’s planning process. Rocky Mountain National Park is accepting public comments via PEPC on this proposed project for 30 days, beginning on March 10, 2022. To learn more, visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/rehabilitateMPCG. To leave a comment on the project’s PEPC page, click the “Open for Comment” link located on the left side of the screen.

Please be advised, before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, that your entire comment – including all of your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public view, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so.

For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.