DIRECTORS' CORNER

Life With COVID-19 and Wildfires

As Coloradans we are accustomed to a dry, hot wildfire season, but this year is a little different with the combination of both COVID-19 and poor air quality from wildfires. When it comes to our health, there are some steps we can all take to prevent complications from both wildfire smoke inhalation and COVID-19. It is also important to remember that people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are similar to populations at risk for complications from exposure to wildfire smoke. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has created a resource to help Coloradans get information on how to best care for yourself and those around you while wildfires and COVID-19 persist, including information about home ventilation, evacuations during the pandemic and more.

Additionally, we remind everyone that it’s always a good idea to have a plan for you and your family should a wildfire or other emergency strike. We’ve compiled tips and resources on what to do before, during and after a wildfire to get you started.

Stay well!

Sincerely,

Mark B. Johnson, MD, MPH
Executive Director

Jefferson County Public Health

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Preparing for a Healthy Fall with COVID-19 in Our Lives

On August 24, JCPH hosted a telephone town hall focused on how to protect your family from COVID-19 over the coming months. We covered a variety of topics, including a brief update on COVID-19 trends and the county’s response, how to safely celebrate Labor Day weekend as well as what to expect this flu season. We also had a Jeffco resident share their story about getting and overcoming the virus. You can access the recording in English and Spanish here.

Reminder: Fire Ban in Jeffco

Due to Jefferson County's geographic makeup, wildfire is always a concern, and it is a more potent threat during droughts or dry spells. Rainfall and cooler temperatures may reduce the danger of wildfire; however, people are encouraged to be vigilant as the danger of fire is always present in the high country. The risk is even greater when under a fire weather watch or red flag warning. Currently Jeffco is under a stage 2 fire ban — learn more here.

Flu Season is Almost Here

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses, like the flu, this fall and winter is more important than ever. It's recommended to get a flu vaccination in September or October, but getting vaccinated anytime during the flu season can help protect you. To find a vaccination location near you, use https://vaccinefinder.org/

NEW Posts up on JCPH’s Blog Series, Resilience

Have you checked out Resilience yet? Find topics related to mental health and coping during COVID-19. Weekly resources in Spanish and English. See posts on nature, empathy, sleep, creating healthy patterns, gratitude and more. Follow along to see the new posts every week. Read more.

Vaccinations Key to Keeping Children Healthy

As summer winds down and fall approaches, students and their families are gearing up for a school year filled with uncertainty. COVID-19 has changed many things, but the important role vaccinations play in keeping children healthy remains unchanged. No matter what this school year brings, we want it to be a healthy one, free of vaccine-preventable disease. The best way to ensure that is to check your children’s vaccination records and make sure their vaccines are up to date. Need your child’s vaccination records? Find out how to get them: http://www.CoVaxRecords.org

DATA ROUNDUP: COVID-19 Case Summary

536 Jeffco hospilizations, 242 death Jeffco

As we work to lessen the spread of COVID-19 in Jefferson County, you can stay up to date on the case data. Click here for a summary of cases at the state level. Click here for a summary of cases in Jefferson County.

GET INVOLVED

Talk with Your Teen About Coping and Hopelessness

Youth need support from their loved ones during the many ups-and-downs of their teen years. You can help them grow and develop strategies for dealing with the changes that come their way. Sometimes, just asking your teen how they're feeling can help. Validate their feelings. Help them learn how to care for themselves and cope in healthy ways.

The best way to show your teen you care? Be there. Have a talk with your teen. Learn more at twelvetalks.com.

Check Out Jeffco's Open For Business Spotlight

Have you seen some great businesses in the community creatively caring for their customers during COVID-19? Submit them for Jefferson County's Open For Business spotlight, which highlights businesses that are going above and beyond to create safe environments amid the coronavirus outbreak.

To be featured, a Jeffco business must be:

Following public health guidelines
Taking action to emphasize the safety of employees and customers
Creating an atmosphere that will make customers feel confident that they can safely visit the business.

Submit your favorite business today!

September Board of Health Meeting (Virtual)

The September Board of Health meeting will be held on September 15, beginning at 4 p.m. Find the Zoom information for joining virtually on our Board of Health webpage.

PARTNER PROFILE

Mile Hi Church

In partnership with JCPH and the Adelante Network, there is a new drive-up COVID-19 testing site available in Jeffco at Mile Hi Church on Wednesdays from 2-5:30 p.m. While anyone can get tested at this new site, it is designed to help meet the needs of our Latinx community members and includes bi-lingual registration and more. Latinx communities across the nation and Colorado have been underrepresented in resources for COVID-19 and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. To get tested at the site, pre-registration is required. We greatly thank Mile Hi Church for their partnership in this effort.

Join the conversation! Follow Jefferson County Public Health on Facebook at @jeffcopublichealth and on Twitter and Instagram at @jeffcoph. Visit our website at www.jeffco.us/public-health.

September 2020 // Volume 2, Issue 9