HHD activates EOC in response to COVID spread

Haxtun Hospital District has activated their emergency operations center amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19, or coronavirus, in Phillips County, but over the past week, news of cases in Northeastern Colorado spread, most recently with two confirmed cases in Logan County.

"At this time, we have no known cases of COVID-19 within Phillips County, but activating our EOC puts a formal process in place to help assist in planning for an outbreak," Julia Biesemeier, HHD Director of Marketing said. "HHD continues to make adjustments to internal processes in order to keep our patients, staff and community safe."

Biesemeier said that visitor restrictions are now in place for the Extended Care Unit and hospital patient wings. She said visitors can rely on up-to-date information about restrictions at haxtunhealth.org.

Ancillary services such as laboratory and radiology are operating within normal hours, Biesemeier added, but that anyone needing information on specialty services should call HHD at (970) 774-6123 for updated information.

Haxtun Family Medicine Center has made changes to clinic appointments as the virus tends to make its way further east from the Front Range. Biesemeier said morning appointments will be used for all wellness exams and afternoon appointments will be used for those patients feeling ill or those needing same-day services.

Biesemeier said anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should call ahead prior to entering any HHD facility.

A press release from Melissa Memorial Hospital last week said that several patients have been tested for the virus at their facility in Holyoke, but those tests are still pending confirmation with the State.

The Northeast Colorado Health Department released a statement over the weekend saying two individuals in Logan County have tested positive for COVID-19.

"These people are in appropriate isolation," the local health department said. "Case investigations are in process and we will be contacting anyone who has had direct contact with the individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. In order to protect the privacy of the individuals, identifying information and medical records will not be released to the public."

On Monday, the NCHD declared the situation a public health emergency. "This is the first time the NCHD Board has signed an emergency declaration," said Trish McClain, Director of NCHD. "We are taking this important administrative measure to ensure our rural public health district is eligible for state and federal funding that may become available for the COVID-19 pandemic response."

The emergency declaration says COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that has spread to numerous countries around the world including the United States. The World Health Organization declared the worldwide outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern" on Jan. 30 and the federal government declared a national emergency on March 13. On March 10, in response to the growing outbreak, the Governor of the State of Colorado declared a state of disaster emergency. NCHD's health district includes Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties.

School information

Last week, Governor Polis issued an executive order suspending all in-person learning in public and private schools across the State until at least April 17, forcing both Haxtun and Fleming schools to close for the next three weeks.

Last week, Fleming Schools said their staff would be working to formulate a plan for off-campus/alternative delivery education in the event of an extended closure. Haxtun staff members have done the same.

"Beginning March 30, we will begin online learning," High School Principal Alan Nall said in an email to parents Monday afternoon. "In order to help students be successful, we need all students to pick up textbooks, computers, school supplies and grade level packets. We are asking that this be done on Thursday, March 26 following a strict schedule to ensure that we follow State guidelines for safe social distancing. We have divided up groups based on last names, so families will only have to make one trip to retrieve what they need. Students and/or one parent may come to the school at their assigned time."

The email says students with last names beginning in A through H may pick up education information between 9-10 a.m.; students with last names beginning with I through P can get materials between 10-11 a.m.; and those with the last name between Q through Z will be open to picking up packets between 1-2 p.m.

"State guidelines currently restrict us from holding in class learning until April 20," Nall added. "Moving forward this may change as new information is received."

In light of the extended school closure, Haxtun Schools is working closely with Chartwells to provide free grab and go breakfast and lunch for all students, which began this week. For more information, see ads on page 6 of this week's issue of the Herald.

"There will be no practices or school activities during closure; updates on future school activities will be released as they become available," Garretson said. "Access to all school facilities, including the weight room, gyms, playgrounds, elementary field and football/track facility is strictly prohibited until further notice."

The Colorado High School Activities Association has suspended all spring sport participation until April 18.

"We realize that closing school creates a hardship for all our families, our communities and staff," Garretson said. "We appreciate all your support as we work to do our part in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Please continue to practice social isolation; everyone must work together to keep our community safe to protect our most vulnerable members."

Other executive orders

Governor Polis has also ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms in the State of Colorado. The order declares all restaurants close dine-in services but allows for drive through and carry out options. In light of the information, C-Mart has closed their deli food service and The Daily Grind has closed temporarily; The Dutch Oven is currently offering to-go service.

Sunday evening, Polis ordered all Colorado's non-critical businesses to reduce in-person workforce by 50 percent as the State's COVID-19 cases near 600. According to covid19.colorado.gov/case-data, as of March 22, there have been 591 confirmed across 29 of Colorado's counties. Fifty-eight of those cases have required hospitalization; Colorado has a total of six reported deaths to the virus. The largest number of cases of COVID-19 in Colorado, by age gap, are those between the ages of 40-49.