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Boulder County enters High Level for COVID

Individuals as encouraged to take precautions.
Macie May
Macie May
CDChandoutCOVID-19PublicDomain
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Boulder County Public Health announced Friday that it is moving the community level for COVID-19 from medium to high.

The county cited a continued rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as the reason for the move.

According to the most recent data supplied by the county, there were 114 positive cases per 100,000 people in the county on Nov. 21. The county data also records PCR positivity among Boulder County residents which brought the county to a 12.02% positivity rate on Nov. 17. On Nov. 29, the county reported 23 people were hospitalized due to the virus. 

Hospitals are further strained due to an increased caseload of season flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. 

"The shift to high levels signals a higher risk of COVID infection," a news release from the county states. 

Our hospital system is already under strain due to RSV, and the flu season is just getting started. We can all take steps to protect the people we care about, especially our loved ones and community members who are older or immune-compromised. The steps that we take will also support our local health care system during the holiday season,” said Carol Helwig, Boulder County Public Health communicable disease control manager. “We are fortunate to have the tools and resources needed to prevent the worst outcomes––wear a mask when needed, get tested if you have symptoms, keep up to date on vaccinations, access treatment promptly if recommended for you, stay home if you are sick and practice good hygiene.”

Take these steps to stay safe: 

  • Get yourself and your family fully vaccinated and stay up to date by getting boosted when eligible. Vaccines are safe, effective, free and authorized for anyone over six months old, and they drastically reduce the chance of hospitalization and death.
  • Have a plan for testing – If you plan to be near someone at high risk for severe disease, hospitalization, or death, consider getting tested prior to gathering.
  • Increase airflow and ventilation – While indoors, use HEPA filters or increase ventilation and airflow by opening windows or increasing air circulation. Consider moving activities outdoors for the best protection.
  • Keep your loved ones and community safe by following BCPH recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds regularly throughout the day.
  • Consider wearing a well-fitting, medical-grade mask as an added layer of protection, especially in close indoor settings or when close to people at high risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death.
  • If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease:
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, such as Paxlovid, and make a plan ahead of time to access them if needed.
    • Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities to limit your exposure.

For more tips on how to consider your risk for contracting the disease, visit boco.org/COVIDrisk.

Additional information about CDC Community Transmission Levels and the recommended precautions for individuals is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/communitylevels

Boulder County also provides a number of other resources for individuals concerning COVID-19.