From the Public Health Director
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It’s hard to believe springtime is right around the corner, and with that, comes the Daylight Savings time change. Did you know that time changes can have significant impacts on the public’s health? Research overwhelmingly shows that transitioning the time every year takes its toll on the individuals in our communities, and a 2020 University of Colorado study found that U.S. fatal car crashes spike during the workweek after Daylight Savings time begins. Research also shows that in the ten days following the shift to Daylight Savings Time, the total amount of sleep decreases and the portion of the night spent awake increases, leading to sleep deprivation. Youth are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges due to a lack of sleep. I encourage you and your families to ease into the time change and get extra rest in the next couple of weeks.
In Health,
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Honoring Dr. Florence Sabin During Women's History Month
In the history of public health, women have always played a central role. Their roles have included those of doctors, nurses, midwives, activists, and public health experts. Women have worked to heal patients, study diseases, and improve access to health care. Florence Sabin (1871-1953) was a pioneer of public health and medicine, being the first woman to teach at Johns Hopkins and was the first woman to join the National Academy of Sciences. After retiring from the Rockefeller Institute, where she helped to lay the foundation for the cure for tuberculosis and many other illnesses, she retired and moved to Colorado. In the early 1940s, Sabin fought for public health improvements, and “Sabin Health Laws” helped to reduce rates of tuberculosis in Colorado. A statue of Dr. Sabin stands in the Hall of Columbus in the U.S. Capitol, honoring her contributions to the field of science, medicine, and public health.
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Tips for a Safe Spring Break!
Whether you’re planning a staycation or traveling out of the country this spring, keep in mind these basic health and safety tips recommended by the CDC.
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Protect yourself from illness by washing hands frequently with soap and warm water or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
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When outdoors, wear a hat and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
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Avoid bug bites by using effective insect repellent.
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Pack a travel health kit that includes your prescriptions, travelers’ diarrhea medication, over the counter pain and fever reducers, antihistamine for allergies, and first aid supplies like bandages and antibiotic ointment.
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Larimer County COVID-19 and Respiratory Viruses Update
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Larimer COVID Indicators:
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The overall picture from wastewater and hospital data suggests that COVID-19 transmission continues to fall rapidly to low levels as the JN.1 variant remains the dominant variant over the last two months. An estimated 90+% of COVID-19 cases in the US are the JN.1 variant which means we’re not seeing any new variants that can compete with JN.1 at this time.
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Hospital admissions have fallen to 4.2 per 100k compared to 7.8 per 100k last month.
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Hospital occupancy is down as well to 1.3% of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients from 2.2% last month.
The graph below shows the number of Larimer County residents who visited an Emergency Department (ED) and were diagnosed with COVID-19, Influenza, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
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Emergency Department visits for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV have continued to decline since late December.
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Colorado is categorized as having “Moderate” influenza activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was recently downgraded from “High”.
Wastewater Monitoring
Levels of COVID-19 detected in wastewater in Larimer County have fallen consistently over the last month and are now at levels that are just above the all-time lows. This trend is occurring across most of the state.
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