October 2020 WILDFIRE UPDATE Cameron Peak Fire: 196,171 acres and 56% contained Williams Fork Fire: 14,584 acres and 26% contained. Middle Fork Fire: 19,885 acres and 0% contained. Mullen Fire: 176,386 acres and 30% contained. Cameron Peak has now surpassed Pine Gulch as the largest wildfire in Colorado’s state history. As our firefighters remain focused on putting out this fire, Colorado’s Office of Emergency Management is supporting the county damage assessment process and fulfilling requests for additional law enforcement resources, fire resources, and shelter needs. The damage assessment is critical in determining a path forward for recovery efforts and identifying federal programs available to provide assistance, such as FEMA or Small Business Administration programs. The State Recovery Officer conducted tours with NRCS (National Resources Conservation Center) representatives earlier this week to assess support for impacted watersheds. The state applauds the efforts of local emergency management officials who are working with local, state and federal partners to help communities rebuild. If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms due to smoky conditions, please get tested for COVID-19 at covid19.colorado.gov/testing. ALARMING CASE TRENDS Colorado is still seeing an alarming number of new cases reported each day. As the Governor explained on Tuesday, last Saturday our state had its first day ever in which we recorded more than 1,000 cases in one 24-hour period. And today marks the third day this week with over 1,000 (1,312) new cases reported. What’s even more concerning is that our positivity rate is now beginning to rise above 5%. This is the threshold that the World Health Organization advises that governments should not reopen until positivity rates are below 5% for at least two weeks, and indicates an active outbreak. Additionally, a positivity rate hovering at 5% is very concerning for our efforts to reopen our state and our economy. Given that we do not yet have a safe and effective vaccine for today, tomorrow, or next week, the increase in emerging cases and hospitalizations over the past month is particularly worrisome. On September 4, there were 132 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state. Today, we have over 350 (352) COVID-19 hospitalizations. Coloradans are resilient, smart, and dedicated. We must be diligent in following guidelines put in place at the beginning of this pandemic to protect ourselves and our loved ones by wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands regularly, avoiding large crowds, and staying home if you are sick. Testing is also a critical component of our prevention strategy. And as it stands, one in 226 Coloradans could now test positive for the virus. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are feeling symptoms, please visit covid19.colorado.gov/testing to find a location near you for free, quick, and easy testing. VACCINE UPDATE Governor Polis was joined today by Dr. Eric France, Chief Medical Officer for Colorado, Dr. Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and Diana Herrero, Interim Deputy Director of CDPHE’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response and co-chair of the COVID-19 steering committee to discuss the state’s vaccine distribution plans. Earlier this week, news broke that Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly both paused their COVID-19 clinical trials due to safety concerns. This is not uncommon, and actually indicates that critical safety systems in place are working. These developments also highlight the uncertainty around the timing of a working vaccine. Many Coloradans have questions about vaccinations concerning safety, availability, and distribution. The State of Colorado is dedicated to providing answers to clear up any uncertainty, while recognizing that the situation is dynamic and constantly changing. In the coming weeks, the state will continue to keep the public abreast of what we know, what we do not know, and state efforts to effectively and rapidly distribute a vaccine when one becomes available. Mass uncertainty yields misinformation and disinformation, which like a virus, spreads rapidly. The Governor addressed the belief that there will be a vaccine made by the year’s end, and all of our troubles will be solved. That is simply not the case. The announcement of a vaccine will not eradicate COVID-19 from our daily lives overnight; once there is a safe vaccine, it will take time for it to be widely available. VACCINE DEVELOPMENT Coloradans can think of a vaccine as a fire drill, scrimmage, or a practice session on the immune system. Vaccines give the body a sneak peek at one or more key features of a disease before the actual disease barges in. The immune system then develops a “memory” of the disease so you can attack it if exposed. Immunization experts in Colorado’s immunization branch at CDPHE and local public health agencies, are up to the task. Public health has successfully distributed a new vaccine before in 2009 with the H1N1 pandemic, and they are committed to upholding the highest safety and efficacy standards in the development process. There are 3 clinical trial phases in the development of a vaccine: Phase one is the safety trial. A small group of healthy volunteers gets the vaccine candidate, and different dosages are provided to create the strongest immune response at the lowest effective dose without causing serious side effects. Phase two determines how well the vaccine works in test subjects. The Vaccine group is expanded to hundreds of people of different ages, racial, ethnic and health statuses. Phase three requires thousands of participants. This is typically the longest phase, because it occurs in what’s called “natural disease conditions.” The vaccine is introduced to a large group of people who are likely at-risk for infection by the target pathogen, then scientists wait to see if the vaccine is protective, meaning it must reduce the number of people who get sick or reduce severity of illness among people who get sick. If a COVID-19 vaccine is approved under an Emergency Use Authorization, many of the clinical requirements are similar, but expedited. Safety data from phases one and two, and an efficacy study in phase three must be submitted. The Governor and his administration look forward to learning about the data and research presented to the FDA about the COVID vaccine candidates. COLORADO COVID VACCINE PLAN The State of Colorado is submitting the Colorado COVID Vaccine Plan to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), detailing how the state will distribute a vaccine when it is made available. The plan comes after months of work with doctors, public health officials, local government and public health leaders, pharmacies, individual stakeholders, community organizations and more. And central to the plan is prioritizing health equity, to ensure that disproportionately impacted communities have an opportunity to be vaccinated earlier. The deployment of a COVID-19 vaccine will extend far beyond public health. That’s why CDPHE, with support from the Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS), convened the Joint Vaccine Planning Committee, a multi-agency, multi-sector team to focus on operationalizing receipt and distribution of a vaccine. The Steering Committee within the planning committee will provide oversight and coordination of all aspects of the Colorado COVID Vaccine Plan development and implementation. They serve as a conduit to Executive Leadership and the Governor’s Office and receive advice from the Governor's Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee (GEEERC). Colorado's COVID Vaccine Plan prioritizes the following: Distribution/Data Management: How COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed and how information is managed from the time vaccines are allocated to the time they are administered. Critical Populations: Developing phases that are right for Colorado-- and determining population groups for distribution of the vaccine since we know we won’t receive all the doses at once. Consequence Management: Working with the State’s Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and their Emergency Management team to identify resource needs, plus distribution and redistribution plans for the vaccine. Health Equity: Ensuring methods of vaccine distribution are equitable for all Coloradans. Public Information: Providing information for Coloradans to make an informed choice about what’s right for them. The Governor today recognized the many agencies and organizations that informed our planning, and the state is grateful for their continued partnership and guidance. HEALTH EQUITY Using national recommendations and the local GEEERC (Governor's Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee) advisory group recommendations as a guide, the state has developed an approach to vaccine allocation that includes increasing the number of eligible individuals to match anticipated increases in vaccine availability and aligns with implementation phases. While maximizing transparency around decision-making, the plan prioritizes populations most at-risk for contracting COVID-19, such as healthcare workers, first responders, and residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes. The next stage will be persons living in congregate housing, essential workers who have direct interaction with the public or are in high density settings, and at-risk populations more broadly, and the final phase is distribution to the general population. The state also continues to closely consult impacted and at-risk populations -- specifically the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and officials from the Urban Indian Health Program, advocates and individuals in communities of color, homeless shelters, advocacy organizations, and correctional facilities. Our team is experienced in assuring a strong immunization system by implementing high-quality, evidence-based and comprehensive immunization programs; communication campaigns; and program evaluation to continuously improve and enhance our activities. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that best-laid plans are just that: plans. And being nimble and flexible is of paramount importance. Our COVID-19 Vaccine Plan will ensure that the vaccine is safe and distributed as efficiently and effectively as possible. We are prepared and we are ready. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Visit Website Office of Governor Jared Polis | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected]