Weekly News From Los Alamos County
January 20, 2022
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Inside this newsletter you will find...
An update from the Deputy County Manager, Updated Mask Guidance, Q&A,
Resources for Assistance, COVID-19 Data, New Testing Resources.
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A message from the Los Alamos Deputy County Manager, Linda Matteson... |
"The County is providing more resources and options to families and local businesses to help combat this latest surge in cases."
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With a significant surge in positive COVID-19 cases within our community, we have all had to make adjustments to our business, school, and day-to-day tasks. Utilizing options such as telework, on-line bill paying, telehealth appointments, and minimizing gathering in groups are just a few ways we are making a difference in lowering spread across the community.
Starting this week, Los Alamos County is providing another tool to help address this spike in cases by increasing local testing options. Free PCR testing has begun at White Rock Overlook Monday-Friday (8am-3pm), and we are making the County's supply of rapid antigen tests available to local businesses for their employees at no cost. Increasing testing will help us manage the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
In addition, the Federal Government is providing households the opportunity to receive free at-home COVID-19 tests via the U.S. Post Office (see below). They also plan to make 400 million nonsurgical N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and community health centers across the country. Keep an eye out for more information about that in the coming days. Wearing the right kind of mask has proven to be an effective tool in slowing the spread of the Omicron variant.
The County COVID-19 Committee will continue to provide timely, accurate and valuable information via this newsletter to the community on a weekly basis. We appreciate the feedback we have received, and will continue to address your questions as best as we can. This is a very fluid time with new information coming to light daily. The County aims to better equip our citizens and provide new tools to manage COVID-19 as they become available.
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CDC Updates Consumer Mask Website to Emphasize Protection, Fit, and Comfort
CDC has updated its consumer webpage describing the types of masks and respirators used to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Masking is a critical public health tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask. To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.
The updated page lays out the protection provided by available masks and respirators, noting that some provide better protection than others. These updates reflect the science of masking, including what has been learned in the past two years, and will provide people the information they need to improve how well their masks or respirators protect them.
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Resources and Support in a Time of Need
The Los Alamos County Social Services Division manages the Health Care Assistance Program, which supports access to health-related programs and services, as well as half a dozen agencies that provide a wide range of programming for families, youth, and seniors throughout the community.
For additional resources, please see our additional links:
- Health care: Low-income insurance resources, and behavioral health support and resources.
The link below is a comprehensive list of programs offered by various organizations within Los Alamos County that offer services and programs to Parents and children/youth from birth to 18 years of age. This list provides the programs each organization offers, the age of which the program is intended for, and whether or not the program is at capacity (Keep in mind the capacity of the program may not be up to date as this information was collected over two months ago).
For more information, please call (505) 662-8068.
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Do you feel like you have the resources you need to get through this latest spike in cases?
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Yes. I have everything I need.
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I may need to contact someone for help.
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I know someone who needs help.
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I do not have what I need, but I know how to get help.
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I do not have what I need and I do not know how to get help.
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The Omicron variant: sorting fact from myth
There are knowledge gaps around Omicron, we have seen a great deal of speculation, assumptions, and misinformation being communicated about the variant, making it difficult for individuals and authorities to make informed decisions for health protection.
Through monitoring the media, social media and common search engine search terms, and working with fact-checkers, we are able to address some of the myths surrounding Omicron, and to give more explanation about the actual facts:
Fact: Omicron appears to be less severe than the Delta variant, but it should not be seen as mild.
Myth: Omicron only causes mild disease.
It’s important that we don’t get ahead of ourselves in terms of judging the severity and potential impact of Omicron.
A number of countries have shown that infection severity from Omicron in their populations has been lower compared to Delta. However, these Omicron impacts have been mostly observed in countries with high vaccination rates in the surrounding region. The comparatively lower rate of hospitalizations and deaths so far is in large part thanks to vaccination, particularly of vulnerable groups. Without the vaccines, many more people would likely be in the hospital. It is too early to say what impact Omicron will have on the countries with lower vaccination uptake and on the most vulnerable groups.
Fact: Omicron still presents a high risk to our health systems.
Myth: As Omicron is less severe, we will see fewer hospitalizations and our health systems will be able to cope.
The overall risk related to Omicron remains very high for a number of reasons. Current data indicates that Omicron has an even higher growth advantage compared to Delta. Even if an Omicron infection was less severe compared to Delta, the rapid increase in cases will result in an increase in hospitalizations, putting pressures on health care systems for treating patients with both COVID-19 and other types of disease.
To read the full article, as well as more facts vs. myths, click HERE.
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QUESTION:
I recently spent time with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. I’m fully vaccinated and boosted. Do I need to get tested?
ANSWER:
Yes! The CDC recommends individuals should get tested on day five (5). According to the latest CDC guidelines, if you are vaccinated and boosted, or have gotten your initial vaccine series within the last six months (for Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna) or the last two months (for Johnson & Johnson), you should wear a mask around others for 10 days and take a COVID test on day 5, if possible. If you develop symptoms, get tested sooner and isolate at home.
If you are unvaccinated, had your last Pfizer or Moderna shot more than six months ago and have not been boosted, or had your Johnson & Johnson show more than two months ago and have not been boosted, you should stay home for five days and wear a mask around others for an additional five days. If you can't quarantine, wear a mask around others for 10 days. Get tested for COVID on day 5, if possible. If you develop symptoms at any time, get tested and isolate at home.
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QUESTION:
Can a person who has been infected with coronavirus get infected again?
ANSWER:
The immune system responds to COVID-19 infection by stimulating white blood cells called lymphocytes to form antibodies that fight the infection. These antibodies and lymphocytes retain a temporary protective effect against reinfection. But it is only temporary. There have been many confirmed cases of reinfection with COVID-19. In other words, a person got sick with COVID-19, recovered, and then became infected again.
This has been especially true as the coronavirus has mutated into COVID-19 variants. There was a rise in reinfections with the Delta variant and an explosive increase in the reinfection rate due to the Omicron variant. Omicron has about 50 mutations, including more than 30 mutations on the spike protein, the region of the virus that our immune systems recognize after a previous infection. Because of this, Omicron is more capable than previous variants of evading our immune defenses and causing reinfection.
We have learned that vaccination plus a booster dose strengthens the natural immune response, even in those who have been previously infected, and further reduces the risk of reinfection. Although breakthrough infections after vaccination are also more common with Omicron than previous variants, vaccination continues to protect well against severe illness.
The bottom line? Get vaccinated and boosted whether or not you’ve already had COVID-19.
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Have a question? Email us. |
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Harvard Health FAQs
Harvard Health has an FAQs page for your reference. Find answers to questions like "When am I no longer contageous?" and "I had COVID-19. Am I at risk for future health risks?". Click HERE for those answers and more.
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CDC COVID Data Tracker - January 20, 2022
To get today's break down of positive case data, demographics information, vaccine status and more for Los Alamos County or other counties across the United States, click HERE
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NMDOH Epidemiology
The chart below shows the percentage of new cases each week by race/ethnicity The report also includes data by age groups and gender. To see additional, in-depth epidemiology reports as of January 17, 2022, click HERE
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LAC Emergency Manager's Report to Council click HERE
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Johns Hopkins
COVID-19 Status Report Dashboard for
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Mayo Clinic Vaccine Tracker
To see how many people are vaccinated and compare progress across states, click HERE
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LAPS COVID-19 Positive Reported Case Count
Cases Reported between
January 17-19
Total: 32
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To learn more about reported COVID-19 cases in the individual LAPS schools, click HERE.
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Testing Resources for Los Alamos County |
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Get free at-home COVID-19 tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests HERE so you have them when you need them.
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New COVID-19 Testing Option In White Rock
Los Alamos County Emergency Manager’s office has added a second COVID-19 testing site for the Los Alamos community starting this past Monday, Jan. 17. Located in White Rock at Overlook Park, Pathology Consultants of New Mexico (PCNM) will offer drive-through PCR-NAAT testing Monday - Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tests will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis (no appointments). The tests are at no cost to the individual. PCNM employees will ask for insurance information; however, insurance is not required to receive a test.
The PCNM drive-through testing will be set up in the first parking lot on the south side of Overlook Rd. The test is self-administered using a swab to collect a sample in the shallow part of the nose. PCNM will provide results to the individual within 24 to 48 hours. Individuals with questions regarding the tests and the testing process may call PCNM’s customer service line at 574-622-5600.
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Rapid Antigen COVID Tests Available for Los Alamos Businesses
The County's supply of rapid antigen tests is being made available to local businesses for their employees at no cost. Los Alamos business owners can pick up a box containing 25 tests from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 20 and 21, at the Municipal Building, and Monday, Jan. 24 at the White Rock Town Hall building.
The County has ordered more tests, but will make its 41 boxes available now. As there is a limited supply, businesses should call ahead to Los Alamos Senior Analyst Barbara Lai at (505) 730-3115 to reserve a box before heading over to the Municipal Building located at 1000 Central Ave., Suite 150, or the White Rock Town Hall at 139 Longview Dr.
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Additional Los Alamos County Testing Resources
Visit the County COVID Page for information regarding testing, click below:
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Vaccine/Booster Info for Los Alamos County |
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Los Alamos County Vaccine/Booster Resources
Visit the County COVID Page for information regarding vaccinations/boosters, click below:
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What else would you like to see in this newsletter?
Click below to email us your feedback and questions!
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