Craig, Colorado — July 8, 2021

As of 8:00 a.m., Thursday, July 8th, two people are admitted in the MRH COVID Unit. Over the weekend, one COVID-positive patient was transferred to a higher level of care.

However, the prevalence of the COVID Delta variant remains high. The Memorial Regional Health Laboratory is participating in CDPHE’s SARS CoV-2 Variant Sentinel Surveillance program. The intent of this program is to identify possible COVID-19 variants in circulation and their burden of disease in the community. MRH submits positive COVID-19 tests weekly in order for them to undergo genome sequencing.  The majority of COVID-19 samples being analyzed have been identified as the Delta-variant of COVID-19 (see the green bar, B.1.617.2). This strain is proving to be more aggressive and is having a more severe impact on young people.

Last week, officials at Memorial Regional Health were notified by the Moffat County Coroner that an individual in their 20s died of COVID. This individual was not hospitalized. This is the youngest Moffat County resident to die from COVID-related complications. This brings the total number of deaths in Moffat County to 27.

Local data continues to show that the vaccines currently in use (Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson) are effective in preventing severe illness. Approximately 15% of all positive cases are in those who have received at least one vaccine. Please consider getting vaccinated to help slow the spread of the virus. If the vaccine can’t find a host, it cannot spread to others and it cannot further mutate. Viruses are resilient and the longer they are around the more likely they are to mutate and continue spreading.

Moffat County vaccination rates remains low – only 45% of those 18 and over have gotten at least one dose of vaccine. If you are not vaccinated, please use common sense to prevent the spread of COVID – were a mask (they work at reducing the spread of COVID), stay away from large groups of people who are gathering indoors – opt for outside, wash your hands, and stay home if you’re sick.

If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccine, please make time to do so now. It is free and convenient. Please contact the Memorial Regional Health Medical Clinic for more information. The number is 970-826-3109.