MINERAL COUNTY — For the past week, Mineral County remained in Yellow on the state’s COVID-19 dial and will be working with Colorado Department of Health and Environment in coming days to consider a potential move to Blue.
According to Silver Thread Public Health District Director Tara Hardy the county has met all state required metrics over the last two weeks and that both public health and Mineral County Commissioners are behind the change if all goes well.
“Our metrics are looking good and that is great news on that front. A representative from the state department reached out to me on Monday and we will be having a conversation later on Tuesday, Feb. 16 about the possibility to move to Blue on the state COVID dial.”
When Hardy broke the news to commissioners, all board members gave signs of approval for moving forward.
“We were able to hit those metrics and hopefully we can maintain those metrics and stay in Blue,” Hardy said.
The possibility of the county switching to level Blue will depend on there being no further changes in the county metrics or the state guidelines.
Hardy stated that after her phone call with state officials she will have more of an idea of what level Blue will look like in the county and will be releasing information as it becomes available to the appropriate sources including business owners.
Hardy continued her update and included current COVID-19 information for the county and the potential to increase public health staff to help with the increased workload on current employees.
“Our numbers have not changed over the weekend. We have zero active cases and remain at one hospitalization,” Hardy said. “As far as vaccines go, we have administered 333 first doses and 185 second doses. Our main focus this week will be to increase second doses and getting that number caught up. We are capturing more people than we previously thought outside of our population.”
Hardy continued, “We received extra COVID vaccine money, so I am looking to add more staff to my bench as far as nursing goes. I do have a question submitted to the state to see if local EMS can help fill some of those positions and I will update you on that when I receive an answer. My goal is to bring them on board to help with testing and vaccination to give some of my staff a break.”
Most current information can be found on the Silver Thread Public Health District website at www.silverthreadpublichealth.org.