COVID public health order ends 7/1

But still a need to stay aware

[ By Mark Reaman ]

While Gunnison County has topped the 70 percent mark for adult residents that are vaccinated from the coronavirus, there is still some concern about variants that pose a risk for those that remain unvaccinated. But the public health order that has been guiding restrictions based on the pandemic will officially be totally lifted on Thursday, July 1.

According to Gunnison County public information officer Loren Ahonen, health order restrictions have been easing for the last month thanks to more than 10,000 residents being fully vaccinated. That number now stands at 10,404 and has put the county in the so-called “Green” level of light restrictions with the local Coronameter.

Ahonen emphasizes that it is a smart idea to get your vaccine if you have been putting it off. “Many communities across the Western Slope are seeing a significant growth in COVID-19 infection, particularly among the unvaccinated,” he said. “Much of this growth seems to be attributable to transmission of the “Delta” variant which the CDC has labeled as a ‘Variant of Concern.’ Variants of concern are viral mutations that show evidence of ‘an increase in transmissibility’ and ‘more severe disease’ amongst other factors.”

Numbers indicate that the Delta variant was first identified in Mesa County and is now being identified in additional Western Slope communities. Mesa County and other communities are seeing troubling increases in hospitalization from COVID-19 among unvaccinated populations. Gunnison Valley Hospital CEO Rob Santilli said GVH spent a two-week stretch helping Mesa County transfer COVID patients to the Front Range and other areas as its hospital system was overwhelmed. “As of yesterday they were seeing that hospitalization rate go down and they think they are getting to a better stage,” he said on Tuesday, June 23 in an update to Gunnison County commissioners.

Additionally, the San Luis Valley is experiencing an increase in significant illness and death due to COVID-19 amongst the unvaccinated.

The last mass vaccination clinic will be held Thursday, June 24 at the Fred Field Center in Gunnison from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Vaccines are being distributed at Clark’s Market in Crested Butte and at City Market and Walmart in Gunnison.
“We encourage all who are still considering vaccination to seek accurate information from sources like the CDC or to speak with a primary care physician about their vaccine concerns,” concluded Ahonen.

In other local COVID-19 news, Gunnison County will be decommissioning the Call Center on Friday, June 25. While the 641-7660 number will remain active, it will not be staffed with live respondents. Starting June 28, if you reach out to the Call Center you will encounter a call tree that will refer you to another County agency or community organization that can address your questions and concerns appropriately.