The latest coverage from our team of reporters and correspondents in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, Colo., and Colfax County, N.M.
MCMC: coming out of the COVID surge
by Sharon NiedermanRATON — “We’re coming out of the COVID surge,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Conder announced to the Miners Colfax Medical Center at the March 15 board meeting. “With fewer people in the ER, we’re switching back to outpatient services, catching up on stress tests, pulmonary function and sleep studies,” she said. Dr. Donald
Despite technological advancements, COVID-19 made a bigger impact on Las Animas County than the 1918 Influenza Pandemic
by Todd BrogowskiLAS ANIMAS — The year was 1918. US military involvement in conflicts overseas overshadowed news of the disease burning through civilian and military populations alike. Eight months passed from the start of the pandemic to its first mention in Trinidad newspapers. Instead, headlines focused on a joint US naval victory over the Austro-Hungarian
Fully vaccinated grandparents: Go ahead and hug those grandkids
One year into Colorado’s pandemic, CDC offers hope with its latest guidelines by Mark CraddockOUR WORLD — Exactly one year ago today (March 11, 2020), the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. That same day, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order declaring a disaster emergency because of COVID-19, the first in a long
New Mexico adds a new rating to its COVID dial
by Sharon NiedermanNEW MEXICO — New Mexico Department of Health has added a higher ranking in its “Red to Green “ COVID-safe county assessment. If a county has been rated “green” for two consecutive bi-weekly map updates, it will be allowed to move to “turquoise” level, the highest level of business, dining, and lodging openness. A
La Veta schools see COVID-19 outbreak
by Mark CraddockOUR WORLD — During a week in which President Joe Biden announced there would be enough COVID-19 vaccine for every adult in America by the end of May, and Colorado announced it would receive its first shipment of the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine as early as tomorrow, an outbreak at the La Veta
Colfax County vaccine report: 45 percent reached
New Mexico has highest percentage of vaccine received by Sharon NiedermanCOLFAX — According to Colfax County Emergency Services Manager Tom Vigil, “Forty-five percent of the county is in some stage of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.” With Friday clinics at Miners Colfax Medical Center reaching 600-700 people and this week’s completion of round two distribution of the
Nation marks tragic COVID-19 milestone amid local signs of hope
by Mark CraddockOUR WORLD — Flags are flying at half-staff this week as the nation marks a grim milestone – more than a half-million Americans have died of COVID-19 in the nearly year-long pandemic. As of Wednesday morning, Johns Hopkins University put the number of dead at 502,698. In that time, more than 5,800 Coloradans have
New NM Data Dashboard shows pandemic pain
by Sharon NiedermanCOLFAX — Ahead of a vote in the State Legislature on a $25 million special appropriation for tourism, the NM Tourism Department has released a “data dashboard” showing county-by-county losses due to COVID-19 on a scale from 1-8. Colfax County’s current measurement is 6.5. The department’s intention is to educate the public about the
90% of local educators seeking vaccines have received them, public health says
by Mark CraddockOUR WORLD — During a week when a blast of arctic air turned much of the nation into an icebox which slowed vaccine delivery to a glacial pace; when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued somewhat controversial new guidelines to promote in-school education before teachers are universally vaccinated, there is some good
Health department maintains two-front battle against COVID-19
by Mark CraddockOUR WORLD — As evidence continues to mount that the worst of the late-2020 COVID-19 surge has passed, as Las Animas and Huerfano counties both see case counts drop to the point that local restrictions have been eased on the state’s COVID-19 “dial,” the Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department is maintaining its two-front