INDEX: 2 year anniversary of COVID in Colorado

A year ago, there was talk about how we would be able to go mask-free and have a BBQ with friends on the 4th of July. We began to see noticeable drops in the number of cases in April and May, and we begin to tip-toe into living close to normal lives. But then the Delta variant sprang upon us, and took the number of cases to new heights, and lasted throughout the summer.

By fall, the schools had decided to bring the kids back to the classroom, but with masks.

During this crazy “yes masks”/”no masks” time, Planet Bluegrass first offered “corrals” for social distancing groups of people to attend a music concert. They brought back both its Rocky Fest and Folk Fest in the summer with no masks. In the fall, residents in Lyons thought it was ok to attend the “Rave to the Grave” in October with 800 people, outdoors in the Park, with no masks. And also residents attended the “Lights Parade” in early December with about 400 people lining the streets. Then in January the Winter Wonderland live music in the park came back. 

In the fall, we experienced the Omicron variant, which was not as deadly, but was much more contagious. It spread like wildfire, hitting hard and fast. On November 23, Denver and three surrounding counties brought back the mask mandate. Others soon followed.

Delta vs Omicron: With Omicron you are 1/2 as likely to be hospitalized compared to Delta, and tended to have shorter hospital stays. None studied needed a ventilator. There were 91% less deaths with Omicron than with Delta. Omicron spreads faster–almost 1/4 of all COVID cases have been in January (and continued in February).

Omicron was highest on January 20^th in the US — January 10th in Boulder County. (But ICU’s were still averaging 89% full.) It was not until later February that we started to see the numbers drop again. By the end of the month, all the counties in Colorado (except one) had dropped their mask mandate.

Most counties, and cities across America were at the goal of 70% or more being vaccinated, so mask mandates across America dropped. The rule still standing is the federal one on wearing masks on buses, trains, planes and in federal buildings.

On November 21, the Booster (or “3rd vaccine”) became available to all adults, and about a month later youth ages 11 to 17 were added to the list. 

Despite announcements in January and February that the benefits of getting a 3^rd shot/booster made you: 12 x less likely to be hospitalized, and 56 x less likely to die; there are still 85 MILLION PEOPLE in American who are eligible and ineligible (eg, young kids) who have not received their booster (about half the population); and 63 million eligible Americans who remain completely unvaccinated. (per ABC News 1/28/22) – so watch out! You may be standing next to one of those people. — 175,000 people a day are still getting the virus in the US (2/16/22) and approximately 2,000 people are dying each day from the virus.

UNRULY PASSENGERS – airlines are reporting TEN of them each day! – the majority of them are over face coverings.

2/11/22 – COLORADO is 8^th LOWEST in hospitalizations; and in the top 10 for fully vaccinated.

The remaining concern is for kids ages 6 months to 11 years. The studies are still continuing as to what size dose is necessary. In the US 808,0000 children tested positive for COVID in the last week of January.

It is likely that we will have to get a booster shot next fall, the same as we do with annual flu shots.

(See statistics below for “updates”)