Weather station is up and working gate.  The Camera is in the process of being replaced so for your viewing pleasure and just a little laugh, you get to see the river at a different angle!!  Thanks again for your patience. The camera will be upright again soon! 

Please read the message below from the Conejos Co. Public Health Dept. regarding the signficant rise in cases we have had here in the past week. Important points to note:

• Both the Conejos Co Hospital and the SLV Regional Medical Center are almost at capacity. 
• Cases are rising from young to middle age and older.
• IF you have not been vaccinated, you are asked to still wear a mask. 
• If you’ve had COVID or been exposed you SHOULD STILL wear a mask. 
• If you’ve had COVID or been exposed you SHOULD STILL get vaccinated! 
• BE RESPECTFUL of each other, your neighbors. IF you choose to not follow the guidelines, please understand if your neighbors, family, and friends do not want to invite you to their next event, or hang out just to visit.  

Key Things to know about COVID-19 Vaccines

FAQ’s about COVID 19 Vaccines 

• Valley-Wide Health Systems (719) 587-9610
• Rio Grande Hospital (719) 657-2418
• SLV Health (719) 587-1355
• Alamosa County Public Health (719) 589-6639
• Conejos County Public Health (719) 274-4307
• Costilla County Public Health (719) 672-3332
• Silver Thread Public Health (719) 658-2416
• Rio Grande County Public Health (719) 657-3352
• Saguache County Public Health (719) 655-2533
• City Market Pharmacy – www.citymarket.com/rx/guest/get-vaccinated 
• Safeway Pharmacy – www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt 
• Walgreens Pharmacy – www.walgreens.com
• Walmart Pharmacy – www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine 

• Rio Grande Hospital 719-657-4990
• SLV Health Respiratory Clinic 719-589-3000 ext. 9 
• Valley-Wide Health Systems 719-589-3658 ext. 4 (M-F), 719-589-2562 (Sa/Su)

PLEASE note the water restrictions for our area. We should always be conscientious about water resources living here in Colorado, but we tend to forget when coming from other states that don’t have the same issues. This was posted 4-8-21 during the Antonito Town Meeting. Thank you everyone!

SAN LUIS VALLEY – There have been 3,139 cases of COVID-19 in the San Luis Valley since the pandemic began. Our region has 25 known active cases today. We have not seen a number this low in over 5 months, since the first week of October. At our peak on December 18th, there were 346 known active cases in our six-county region. 

Our local COVID-19 related hospitalizations peaked around the same time, with 27 local hospital admissions in the second half of December. In contrast, there were only 6 local COVID-19 related hospital admissions in the most recent two-week period ending March 13th. To date, the San Luis Valley has had 195 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 58 deaths among cases, and 31 deaths due to COVID-19. 

While conditions have drastically improved, COVID-19 is still with us and presents a potential danger in our community. Please continue to take precautions against the spread of illness. Wear a mask and practice physical distancing. If you feel sick, stay home, and get tested if you have symptoms of the virus. To pursue testing for COVID-19 through our regular testing providers call:

• • Rio Grande Hospital 719-657-4990

  • SLVHealth Respiratory Clinic 719-589-3000 ext. 9 

  • Valley-Wide Health Systems 719-589-3658 ext. 4 (M-F), 719-589-2562 (Sa/Su)

Widespread vaccinations are a key to ending the pandemic. Eligibility for vaccine is expanding on March 19th to Phase 1B.4. More information on who is eligible can be found at https://covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine. COVID-19 vaccinations continue to be available through local vaccine providers. In most cases appointments are required. To sign up to receive a vaccine, contact a local public health agency, hospital, clinic, or pharmacy. Online signup links for these providers can be found at www.slvphp.com. 

Vaccine events in the San Luis Valley are part of this effort to increase vaccine accessibility.

This Saturday, March 20th, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa will host a vaccine clinic using the Moderna vaccine from 10am to 4pm at Faistl Hall on 715 4th Street in Alamosa. Please register at www.sacredheartalamosa.org. This event will be able to serve people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine through Phase 1B.4. Sponsors are Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Los Promotores del Valle de San Luis, the SLV Area Health Education Center, and CDPHE. For more information contact Lisa Lucero (719) 588-5363. 

There is a Board of Directors meeting Tuesday, March 16th at 6:30 pm.  All members are welcome to join. You will be asked to identify yourself. 
Call in # 866-398-2885; Passcode 687701
Link to Agenda SLCA BOD Meeting Agenda 3-26-21 (76 downloads)

If you are 65+ and are interested in signing up for the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine, please use the link below to sign up. Or you can sign up by calling 719-274-4307, follow the prompts and leave you name and telephone number. We will you call you with an appointment.

There will be Board of Directors meeting Tuesday, December 15th at 6:00 MST.  All members are welcome to join. A short agenda is planned and you will be asked to identify yourself.  Telephone is 866-398-2885; Passcode 687701

The Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) has issued this Thanksgiving Message –  CDPHE-COVID-Letter.pdf (79 downloads) and link for Thanksgiving Do’s and Don’ts.  Please think about your plans, and decide if it is really worth the risk of traveling and seeing family members that may be at risk. 

The Colorado COVID-19 dial is a tool that allows Colorado to balance the urgent need to contain the virus with the need for localized guidance during the pandemic. “We are adding a new level to the dial in response to out-of-control levels of COVID-19 transmission across the state,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, CDPHE. “Coloradans must take proactive steps to reduce the spread of the virus to protect their families and communities. Wear a mask, avoid in-person interactions with people from outside your household, and wash your hands frequently. If we are not careful now, we risk plunging into the deep end of the dial, where hospitals are not able to serve everyone who needs care, whether they are COVID-19 patients or other types of patients. It’s up to all Coloradans to help our essential health care workers save lives.” The new dial levels, effective Nov. 20, are:

1. Level Green – Protect Our Neighbors: for counties that are able to locally contain surges. Most businesses are open with generous capacity limits. 
2. Level Blue – Caution: for counties with low transmission levels that aren’t quite ready for Protect Our Neighbors. Capacity limits are more permissive than yellow.
3. Level Yellow – Concern: the baseline level for counties with elevated transmission levels but stable hospitalizations. 
4. Level Orange – High Risk:  for counties where numbers are going up but not to the point where everything needs to be shut down. The capacity limits are moderate.
5. Level Red – Severe Risk: for counties with high levels of transmission, hospitalizations, and positivity rates. Most indoor activities are prohibited or strictly limited, and outdoor activities are encouraged as an alternative. The capacity limits are significant.
6. Level Purple – Extreme Risk: for counties where hospital capacity is at extreme risk of being overrun. At this level, all businesses must significantly curtail in person functions and people must stay at home except for necessary activities.

https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/covid-19-dial-dashboard 

https://covid19.colorado.gov/press-release/several-counties-move-to-level-red-on-state-dial

We wish you all a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.  

We have had some power surges in our area and when that happens, it affects our weather station.  The camera is working okay but I’ll have to reset and do a little work on the weather station. I appreciate your patience and ask that you give me a few days and hopefully we’ll have it back up by first of next week at the latest.  Thank you!

When picking up your mail or taking trash please be respectful of those properties along the road in that area.  When you make a U Turn and even slightly go over on to private property it starts to rut out and cause damage to the property owners lot.  It doesn’t take much effort to back up using our well maintained roads.  Thank you for doing your part in keeping our lots in good condition.