Highest positivity and one-week incidence rates in state

SAN LUIS VALLEY — The San Luis Valley region is seeing the highest COVID-19 positivity rate and the highest one-week case incidence rate in the state.  

On Monday, May 10, there were 163 known active cases of COVID-19 in the San Luis Valley. There have been three reported fatalities related to COVID-19 in the Valley over the past 2 weeks. 

This surge in cases has prompted questions by many about quarantine after exposure to the virus, health officials stated. Due to high case rates and the presence of variants in our community, the quarantine period for those who have close contact with a positive case is 14 days.  

“If you tested positive for COVID-19 and completed your isolation, there are 90 days of assumed natural immunity so you will not be required to quarantine if you come into close contact with someone who has a new case of COVID-19 during that 90 days. If you do not have proof in the form of a positive test, you will still need to quarantine,” health officials stated. 

If it has been at least two weeks since receiving the recommended doses of vaccine (two doses of Moderna or Pfizer, or one dose of Johnson and Johnson), a person is considered fully vaccinated and will not need to quarantine, even if they have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19.  

The chances of getting COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated are low, but it is not impossible, health officials stated. While those who are fully vaccinated and later have contact with a new positive case do not need to quarantine, they should still watch for symptoms for two weeks just in case. For those rare few who do develop COVID-19, the vaccine greatly reduces the likelihood of severe illness.  

Among SLV residents aged 65 and older, 68% have been fully vaccinated. This is reflected in lower hospitalizations in this age group. In the past two weeks, there were 15 local hospital admissions related to COVID-19, many of them under the age of 50.  

If a person has symptoms of COVID-19, officials advise getting tested even if they think the symptoms may be something else, like allergies. Many people have assumed they had allergies, and unintentionally exposed others before their illness worsened and finally prompted testing.  

Active case counts and other data are being updated weekdays at https://www.slvphp.com/slv-regional-covid-dial.  

• Alamosa County — 76 
• Conejos County — 52 
• Costilla County — 6 
• Mineral County — 1 
• Rio Grande County — 8 
• Saguache County — 20 

Some special free one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccination opportunities are coming up in the form of Servicios Mobile Services Clinics staffed by doctors traveling by van to these locations:  

• Friday, May 14: Capulin, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Joseph's Parish; 2-6 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley 
• Saturday, May 15: Fort Garland Visitor's Center, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
• Sunday, May 16: San Luis Community Park, 1-6 p.m. 

People can sign up to be vaccinated at www.slvphp.com.