Larimer County has reached the high-risk level for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metrics.
The county moved up to high risk because of the increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations — even as the case rate has been declining since last week — because the CDC community risk levels are largely based on COVID-19’s impact to the health and hospital systems.
The high-risk rating means the CDC is recommending people in Larimer County:
- Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.
- Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines.
- Get tested if you have symptoms.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations have been steadily climbing for a few weeks, said Michelle Barron, UCHealth’s senior medical director of infection prevention and control. But thankfully, Barron said, this wave is not nearly as bad as the last wave the county experienced in December and January.
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As of Wednesday, there were 37 people hospitalized for COVID-19 across UCHealth’s Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and Greeley Hospital, according to spokesperson Kelly Tracer.
Barron said there are 101 people hospitalized for COVID-19 statewide across the UCHealth system, compared with about 450 hospitalizations during the peak of the winter wave. These patients are also needing less intensive care unit care and spending less time in the hospital overall.
UCHealth staff stopped giving COVID-19 tests to every patient admitted to the hospital in March and now only tests people who are symptomatic or who were recently exposed, Barron said.
“I don’t think hospitals are being overwhelmed by COVID-19,” Barron said. “… We’re getting better with managing this.”
Hospitals are keeping busy with other kinds of patients, Barron said, including people being treated for injuries from car crashes and people catching up on surgeries and other medical care they delayed during the pandemic.
“Our goal is to keep people out of the hospital,” Barron said. “Even though these numbers are not in the same magnitude (as the winter wave), still a fair number of people are being affected by this and ending up in the hospital.”
Larimer County health officials are recommending people who are not up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines get vaccinated. Barron said boosters have been especially effective in preventing people from requiring hospitalization if they do get sick.
“I understand people have COVID fatigue and are over this,” Barron said. “But to truly be over this, we need to get vaccinated.”
About 68.6% of Larimer County residents have had their first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 41.6% received their booster and additional doses, according to the county’s data dashboard on Thursday.
Barron said she anticipates this fall and winter will be a bad respiratory illness season, so getting on top of vaccines and other medical care now will help prevent you from getting sick and prevent the county’s health care systems from being overwhelmed.
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Avoid hospitalization with COVID-19 treatments
Larimer County health officials are recommending residents plan ahead with their health care provider for how to get treatment if they do test positive for COVID-19, according to a news release.
Multiple treatments are available to lessen the severity and prevent hospitalization from COVID-19, and about 75% of all adults are eligible for treatment — whether vaccinated or not, according to the county.
The first step in getting treatment is having a positive COVID-19 test, according to the county, and at-home tests can qualify someone for treatment. The next step is to contact a health care provider to discuss treatment options.
For more information about COVID-19 treatments, including health care providers who can discuss treatment options with you, visit larimer.gov/covidtreatment.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines are available at hospitals and pharmacies throughout Larimer County, and people age 5 and up are eligible for a vaccine. Visit larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine or call 970-498-6700 for help in scheduling a vaccine appointment.
Everyone age 5 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 booster, and everyone age 50 and older — or 12 and older for those who are immunocompromised — are eligible for a second booster.
Where can I get a COVID-19 test in Larimer County?
In-person, drive-thru COVID-19 testing is still available for free at Mako Medical sites at these locations in Larimer County:
- Foundations Church, 1380 N. Denver Ave., Loveland; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday
- Museum annex parking lot, 220 Fourth St., Estes Park; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday (This site is set to close June 30, according to the state health department)
Hospitals and pharmacies also provide COVID-19 testing. For more locations, visit larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-testing.
Where can I get a rapid COVID-19 test?
At-home tests are available for free through the federal government. People can order eight at-home tests to be delivered to their homes by filling out the form at covid.gov/tests.
Report results of your at-home COVID-19 test online at covidrapidtests.colorado.gov/login.
What should I do if I test positive for or am exposed to COVID-19?
If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to isolate, but the duration depends on how you’re feeling, according to the state health department. You should isolate for at least five full days, followed by five days of precautions.
You can stop isolating after five days if:
- You tested positive but don’t have symptoms.
- You had mild symptoms, you are starting to feel better and you don’t have a fever.
Your first full day in isolation is the first day after you started feeling symptoms or tested positive. If you tested positive and started feeling symptoms after, your first day is when your symptoms started.
In the five days following your isolation, you should:
- Wear a well-fitted mask around others, in your home and in public.
- Avoid eating and drinking around others.
- Avoid contact with people who are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- Avoid traveling.
If you can’t wear a mask, you should isolate for the full 10 days, according to the state health department. You don’t need to take another test to leave isolation.
If you still have a fever after five days in isolation, continue isolating until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours and other symptoms have improved.
If you were exposed to someone who had COVID-19, you may have to quarantine. People who don’t have to quarantine under current public health guidance include:
- People who are up to date on all recommended vaccine doses
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 (not counting antibody tests) in the previous 90 days
People who are unvaccinated or who are not up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccines do have to quarantine for five days after exposure and wear a well-fitting mask around others for five more days following quarantine.
If you can’t quarantine, public health officials recommend wearing a well-fitted mask around others for 10 days after exposure.
Sady Swanson covers public safety, criminal justice, Larimer County government and more throughout Northern Colorado. You can send your story ideas to her at sswanson@coloradoan.com or on Twitter at @sadyswan. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
