Public Health Emerging Issues: COVID-19 Activity Update

Public Health Emerging Issues

July 22, 2021

COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE

School Guidance

Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) worked in coordination with Mesa County Valley School District 51 (D51) on their Keeping Schools Open plan for the 2021-2022 school year.
We will continue to work in collaboration with D51 to identify illness swiftly and take appropriate measures to slow the spread of illness, as well as monitor illness community-wide and make adjustments if needed. The plan remains flexible.

Delta Variant Spread

There are 836 cases of Delta variant in Mesa County.
- There were 634 reported last week, an increase of 202.
- We estimate the total number of Delta variant cases to be much higher.
- Not all positive COVID-19 tests are tested again for variants.
- Variant testing occurs through random sampling of positive tests.
These variants are more transmissible and can be more severe, with recent studies showing nearly double the hospitalization risk with the Delta variant.
Available vaccines reduce severe illness, including hospitalization and death, associated with all COVID-19 strains, including emerging variants.

Testing Efforts

Testing is FREE.
The Mesa County community COVID-19 testing site offers the Cue test, a highly accurate, rapid COVID-19 test. Results are available in about 20 minutes.

Cue and PCR testing is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Mesa County Public Health (MCPH), located at 510 29 ½ Road.
Appointments are not required, but you can pre-register online to save time.

Vaccination Efforts

The State of Colorado is offering $100 Walmart gift cards while supplies last to anyone who receives a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a participating state-operated vaccine site. The first opportunity in Mesa County is on Sunday, July 25. More information here.
On July 29, The Power the Comeback COVID-19 Vaccine Bus will be at Community Food Bank, 476 28 1/2 Rd. from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
MCPH offers COVID-19 vaccinations in a Mobile Vaccine Van at the Market on Main (5th and Main St.) every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
A toolkit from MCPH can help employers and organizations schedule on-site vaccination clinics and navigate COVID-19 vaccination in the workplace. Download the toolkit here.

Your Vaccine is Waiting

The Community Vaccination Site, located at 510 29 ½ Road, accepts walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccine.
Hours of operation are Wednesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All three vaccine types are available, residents are able to choose which vaccine they would like.
Immediate scheduling for appointments is still available. An appointment can make the process a little smoother. Schedule your vaccine today using these links: English or Spanish. Individuals who are more comfortable communicating in Spanish are encouraged to call the Mesa County Public Health Spanish-language line at 970-255-3700.
Search for other vaccine providers in our area including pharmacies and medical clinics, many offer walk-in vaccination. This provider map is updated weekly.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is quick and easy, plan for about 30 minutes.

Latest Data Vaccine Data

As of the week ending July 17, 55,357 first doses and 56,938 second doses have been administered in Mesa County for a total of 112,295 doses. By age that breaks down as the following percentages for first doses:

Approximately 43% of Mesa County residents age 12 and older are fully vaccinated, meaning they have received both doses in a two-dose series, or a single dose vaccine. A Vaccine Dashboard is updated weekly on the MCPH website with new data related to vaccine by age group.