SAN LUIS VALLEY - The latest reported case numbers indicate community transmission of COVID-19 is increasing right now in the San Luis Valley. Twenty-one new cases have been reported since yesterday, eight more for Alamosa County, two for Costilla County, two for Rio Grande County, and nine for Saguache County. This brings the total number of active cases reported for the Valley to 80. Numbers are updated weekdays at http://www.slvemergency.org/slv-covid-19/.

A breakdown of the new COVID cases confirmed in the past two weeks (as of today, May 27th)  is below:

• Alamosa County: 28 new cases

• Costilla County: 3 new cases

• Rio Grande County: 11 new cases

• Saguache County: 43 new cases

 

We can confirm that most, but not all, of the new cases in Rio Grande and Saguache Counties are residents living in and near Center. Some of them are results from the testing clinic held last Friday, May 22nd, in Center, CO. The rest of those tests are still being processed and will be reported when the information is available over the next few days.

 

Currently, 31 total tests (from all providers) are still pending results. Of the cases we have reported since the beginning of the pandemic, 91% have been lab-confirmed through testing and 9% were identified through epidemiological investigation as showing symptoms after having direct close contact with someone who tested positive. 

 

Remember that this virus can spread even when a person has no symptoms, which is why it is imperative to continue social distancing, washing your hands frequently, and wearing a mask in public. 

 

If you are sick, please stay home.

• Limit contact with family members or housemates as much as possible

• Stay in one room and use a separate bathroom

• Wear a mask when you need to interact with others

• Wash your hands frequently

• Stay away from others for at least 10 days from when your symptoms began, and until you have had no fever for at least 2 days without fever-reducing medication.

• Call your doctor or one of the hospital call-lines for medical advice, and/or to pursue testing.

• Rio Grande Hospital 719-657-4990

• SLVHealth Respiratory Clinic 719-589-2511 ext. 9

• Valley Wide Health Systems 719-589-3658 ext. 9

• If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

• Stay connected by telephone with friends or family 

If someone in your family is sick, or you’ve been in contact with someone known to have COVID, please stay away from others for at least 14 days.

• Stay home, have someone outside your home run necessary errands

• Wear a mask when you need to interact with others

• Wash your hands frequently

• Stay connected by telephone with friends or family 

If you know someone who is sick or staying home due to COVID and want to help them, offer to run errands for them and deliver groceries or medications to their doorstep. Stay in contact with them by phone.

For mental health support, call 719-589-3671, or the crisis hotline 1 (844) 493-TALK (8255). After business hours, please call 911 or the crisis hotline 1 (844) 493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255. New online resources are also available at www.colorado.gov/ruralmentalhealth.

SLV COVID general questions 719-480-8719. You may also email your questions to [email protected].