*Total Cases: 38,657 (+1,143 from last week)

Total Cases in Berthoud: 1,746 (+67)

Deaths: 317 (+10)

7-day case rate per 100k: 300 (+27)

Hospital Utilization: 81%

ICU Utilization: 119%

7-Day test positivity rate: 86%

Risk Score: High

COVID patients in hospital: 95 (+8)

10.47% of the population of Larimer County has been reported to have contracted the virus. Deaths attributed to the virus comprise 0.82% of reported cases. Of reported deaths, 26% were age 75 to 84 and 42% were 85 and older. 12 people in the county between the ages of 25-54 have died.

As of Monday, Oct. 25, there have been 464,976 doses of the vaccines administered in Larimer County. 74.3% of county residents over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

*Case data as of Wednesday morning.

Last Friday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) began sending text notifications to many Coloradans who are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose. Over the next 13 days CDPHE said they will send text messages to people whose records in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) indicate they are:

18+ and at least 6 months past their Pfizer or Moderna series.

18+ and at least 2 months past their initial J&J dose.

The text messages will go to over 1 million Coloradans. The text messages will be sent from 45778.

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners has allocated $1.5 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (FRF) resources to be made available to help the community with immediate needs related to COVID-19. The funds are allocated to three broad categories, which include:

• Health Needs related to COVID-19 recovery or prevention
• Economic Impacts of the pandemic, including those for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations
• Infrastructure – specifically related to drinking water, sewer improvements and broadband access.

Community groups, nonprofits, businesses, and special districts are encouraged to apply for these grants. The grant application period opens Oct. 20, 2001, and the deadline to apply for these grants is Nov. 12, 2021.

Consideration of projects under this program will prioritize immediate needs caused by or designed to alleviate the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, and to apply for funding, visit larimer.org/budget/frf.

Recent overcrowding issues, including those brought on by the influx of people returning to the office after more than a year of working from home, have put a strain on local animal shelters. The Weld County Humane Society desperately needs to find new homes for the more than 300 animals currently under their care.

In response to the need Nature’s Herbs & Wellness, a Colorado-based medical and recreational marijuana dispensary, is partnering with the WCHS to host an event called “Homies for the Holidays” pet event taking place on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are currently overwhelmed with sheltering needs for animals due to multiple animal hoarding cases along with an increase in medical cases,” says Kara Englert, Secretary of the Humane Society of Weld County’s Board of Directors.  “This adoption event will help more animals find the perfect forever home, and we are so grateful to Nature’s Herbs for their support and graciously allowing us to bring our animals to their facility for this event.”

Homies for the Holidays, which is planned to be held annually at Nature’s Herbs and Wellness in Milliken, Colorado, is a special pet adoption event full of fun, food, and furry friends.  A local radio group will have a DJ on site playing music and broadcasting live reads on both days of the event.  Wing Shack, home of the region’s best wings and a popular CO native favorite will also be in attendance, selling delicious wings, hosting games, and providing $25 gift cards to any family or individual that adopts a pet.

In addition to providing space for the event, the company has pledged to donate $100 for each animal adopted to the Weld County Humane Society, with a goal of matching 100 animals with their new families over the course of the weekend.

The event will be held at Nature’s Herbs & Wellness located at 3220 Center Drive, Milliken, CO 80543.  For more information, please contact Nature’s Herbs via email at [email protected].