Weekly News From Los Alamos County
April 21, 2022
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Inside this newsletter you will find...
The Epidemiology Corner - Incidence Update, Public Health Order, Masks on ACT, COVID-19 Toolkit, Survey & Results, COVID-19 data and more.
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Incidence Update...
"Causes underlying the increase [in cases] may be multiple, and include both lack of vaccination...and reduction in protective measures, such as...mask wearing."
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COVID-19 incidence in the County continues to track what we are seeing nationwide with a modest rebound in cases following the rapid decline from the January Omicron BA.1 peak. CDC estimates the highly transmissible Omicron variants BA.2 (74%) and BA.2.12.1 (19%) now account for 93% of U.S. cases. The BA.2.12.1 variant predominates in some regions of the northeastern U.S., where it is thought to be causing a relatively sharper rebound in cases due to transmissibility estimated at 25% greater than BA.2. In Los Alamos County, 7-day average daily reported cases increased between the weeks ending March 28 and April 18 from 0.9 cases to 3.7 cases per day. Average daily cases peaked during the January Omicron BA.1 surge at around 55 cases per day.
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Incidence in COVID-19 Age-Vulnerable Groups
Age-vulnerable groups include infants (0-4 years), by virtue of vaccine ineligibility, and the elderly (65+ years), by virtue of natural declines in immune function and increased prevalence of predisposing co-morbidity. In the County, all age groups, except 0-4 year olds, are trending with increasing COVID-19 incidence. In 0-4 year olds, one case was reported during the four week time period ending April 18, accounting for measurable incidence only during the week ending April 4. Among residents 65+ years, incidence roughly followed the low levels seen in 0-4 year olds, except for the week ending April 18, where a total of 10 reported cases resulted in an incidence rate clearly elevated over that seen in all other age groups. Causes underlying the increase may be multiple, and include both lack of vaccination, waning immunity among the vaccinated, and reduction in protective measures, such as social distancing and mask wearing. CDC recently reported that wearing a comfortable, well-fitting face mask or respirator in indoor public settings protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection, with respirators (N95/KN95) offering the most protection by lowering transmission risks by up to 83% compared to going un-masked. See HERE.
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NOTE: The COVID-19 incidence data reviewed here are based mainly on PCR-confirmed testing results compiled by NMDOH and may not necessarily include positive at-home antigen tests. As such, case counts may be underestimated, but by how much cannot currently be determined. To assist with more complete case monitoring in New Mexico, NMDOH provides for on-line reporting of positive at-home antigen results HERE.
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State renews COVID-19 public health orders
A public health order issued Friday by the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) renewed the existing public health orders related to COVID-19. The renewal has been extended through May 16, 2022.
“We know being up-to-date on vaccines is the best way to safeguard ourselves, our families and our communities and reduce the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19,” said David R. Scrase, M.D. Acting Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health. “If you need your first, second, third or fourth vaccine dose, please get vaccinated – this is especially important for more socially vulnerable individuals and communities, where the risk of severe disease is more than doubled.”
COVID-19 cases have dropped since March and hospitalizations continue to be low. However, the most recent two-week data shows the new Omicron BA.2 variant makes up 22.1 percent of cases in New Mexico and continues to expand across the state, trailing behind the rest of the county.
As the vast majority of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths occur among the small number of unvaccinated New Mexicans, DOH encourages everyone 5 years and older to stay up-to-date on their vaccines and boosters.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages the public to use its county COVID-19 Community Levels (lower risk, moderate risk, higher risk) to help individuals make personal health decisions.
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Atomic City Transit - Effective April 19 Masks or Face Covering are Optional
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the order requiring masks and face coverings on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) along with Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) have also lifted any required mask or face covering orders.
Therefore, effective immediately, Atomic City Transit will abide by the directive and allow customers and operators the option to utilize a mask or face covering on Atomic City Transit bus service.
Atomic City Transit will continue to maintain employee and passenger safety by continuing to follow the practices below:
• Hand sanitizer will be available on all vehicles for both customers and staff
• All transit vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to being put into daily service, as well as high touch areas disinfected between trips, throughout the day.
Please call (505) 661-RIDE (7433) for any additional information or use the ACTracker to locate your bus route in real-time.
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Should You Still Wear a Mask?
Experts weigh in on where, and when, you can safely take one off.
As coronavirus infections tick up across the United States, there’s a lot of confusion about if, and when, to wear a mask.
One good way to frame the issue is to ask: Who is the most vulnerable person in your immediate circle? If you have compromised immunity, for example, or live with someone who does, it’s a good idea to continue wearing a mask and maintaining social distance around strangers, especially in indoor areas with standing air where the virus may collect. Masks are also important if you’re unvaccinated or spending time with others who are unvaccinated. Unvaccinated people are at overwhelmingly higher risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Masks are also a must in hospitals, where there are many vulnerable people.
But if you’re otherwise healthy and have received your vaccine and booster shots, your risk of getting seriously ill with COVID-19 is extraordinarily small. It’s about in line with other risks people take every day, such as driving in a car.
If infection rates where you live are high, as is the case pretty much everywhere during the latest Omicron wave, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend masks in most indoor spaces. But in many situations, the decision to wear a mask is becoming a personal one.
Should you mask outside?
There’s little scientific evidence to show that face coverings offer much added protection in many outdoor spaces such as sidewalks or parks. Things get a little hairier with crowds, like at a concert or sports venue.
“If you can’t feel wind on your cheeks, you’re probably not in an area of great outdoor ventilation,” said Dr. Asaf Bitton, a primary care doctor who is the executive director of Ariadne Labs, a public health innovation center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “If you’re really shoulder-to-shoulder with people, that might be a case of outdoor mask wearing, at least for now.”
How about indoor spaces, like supermarkets or gyms?
First and foremost, follow the norms and the rules of the business you’re entering. If the sign at the door says “Mask Required,” you don’t want to make retail workers have to enforce policies over which they have no control. Their jobs are hard enough, and everyone can wear a mask with little to no sacrifice.
If masks are optional at the business, consider the space, the crowds and the airflow.
Consider a cigarette analogy: If someone were smoking, would the smell and taste of cigarettes quickly fill the air? If yes, so would the virus. You’d be smart to wear a mask. If not, it’s unlikely that you’ll get infected.
What about on public transit or airplanes?
It’s a good idea to wear a mask on public transit; on buses and subways, there are a lot of strangers moving in and out of a tight, enclosed space.
A federal judge just struck down the national mask mandate on airplanes and public transit. But it’s a good idea to wear a mask, especially on airplanes. There’s no national mandate requiring airline passengers to be vaccinated, so even if you’re vaccinated you don’t know the status of the people around you.
Also, you don’t want to ruin your vacation or business trip by becoming infected and having to quarantine, even if your risk of becoming seriously sick remains low.
What about when my child goes to school?
Public health experts agree that school mask mandates should not last forever, but they differ on whether the time has come to remove them. For parents, changing rules can be confusing. Here are a few things to consider in making the choice for your own family.
Children almost never suffer severe symptoms, whether or not they’re vaccinated. Many students have gone to school without masks during the pandemic — in Britain, other parts of Europe and many American states, for example — and very few children have gotten seriously sick.
The jury is also still out on whether masks impede social development. But several studies do suggest that a mask makes communication difficult, inhibiting children’s ability to recognize one another or each other’s emotions.
And as much of the world opens up, consider all the ways children hang out with each other. Masks may stop transmission in the classroom itself, but children interact outside of school hours.
Also, the United States is an outlier in its policy on pediatric masks. The World Health Organization does not recommend them for kids 5 and under, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control doesn’t recommend them for children under 12.
What if you have the sniffles?
COVID-19 is not the only bug floating around and isn’t the only one potentially harmful to vulnerable people. The flu, for example, kills more than 30,000 Americans in a typical season, most of whom are older adults or immunocompromised.
If you feel a little sick, then you could be shedding virus into the air and transmitting to other people. You should stay home or, if you must go out, wear a mask.
To read the full article, click HERE.
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COVID-19 Toolkit
We now have many tools to fight COVID: masking, vaccines, treatment, testing, and social distancing. We have reached a new place in New Mexico where we can lift nearly all public health requirements that prevented many COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. It is now possible for us to manage COVID-19 in our homes and in our communities.
Click below to view the toolkit, which provides COVID-19 support and guidance for New Mexico communities and individuals.
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Los Alamos Vaccine & Booster Information |
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Tuesday, April 26, 2022
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Betty Ehart Senior Center
1101 Bathtub Row
Los Alamos
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
137 Longview Drive
White Rock
First & second doses (primary series) and first & second boosters to eligible individuals.
Pfizer, Pfizer for kids, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines available.
For more information call the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization at 505.662.8920.
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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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CDC COVID Data Tracker - April 21, 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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The charts available with this TOOL layout the key metrics for understanding the reach and severity of COVID-19 in a given area.
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Johns Hopkins
COVID-19 Status Report Dashboard for
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NMDOH Epidemiology Reports - Daily and Weekly Data
As part of the COVID-19 pandemic response, NMDOH collects and analyzes statewide data for COVID-19 positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. The reports reflect these critical data and are updated weekly - click HERE
See the daily report for New Mexico on the chart below.
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Do you still find the data and tracking charts and sites helpful?
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We are listening to you!
Your feedback is helping to shape future newsletters, inform decisions regarding services, and make Los Alamos County healthier and safer. Make sure to participate each week to be heard!
Remember, we appreciate your questions too. We always try to respond in a timely manner, and include those Q&As in future newsletters.
Take a look at these results from last week:
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Have a question? Email us. |
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Testing Resources for Los Alamos County |
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When to Get Tested for COVID-19
Get tested for COVID-19:
- If you have COVID-19 symptoms
- At least 5 days after known or suspected close contact to COVID-19
- For screening (schools, workplaces, congregate settings, etc.)
- Before and after travel
- When asked by a healthcare professional or public health official
Attending an upcoming event or gathering? Reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 by getting tested as close to the event date as possible.
Self-tests are one of several options for testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and may be more convenient than laboratory-based tests and point-of-care tests.
If you have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days and recovered, you do not need to be tested unless you develop new symptoms.
The Coronavirus Self-Checker is an interactive clinical assessment tool that can help you decide when to seek testing or medical care if you think you have COVID-19 or have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
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Los Alamos County Testing Resources
Visit the County COVID Page for information regarding testing, 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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