THE Alamosa School Board on Thursday adopted a 14-day mask requirement beginning on Monday, Oct. 11, for students in kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the school district’s efforts to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
A recent surge of the delta variant across the San Luis Valley prompted Alamosa School District Superintendent Diana Jones and the board to revisit the school district’s COVID-19 safety procedures. Ahead of the start of this year’s school year, Jones presented the school board with a school reopening plan that included a mask requirement, but the school board deadlocked 2-2 in its vote on that part of her initial plan. Board Chair Michael Mumper was absent when the first vote to require masks was taken.
This time, with Mumper in attendance, the school board voted 4-1 to support the plan after watching the school district’s COVID-19 positive cases and resulting class quarantines increase as the school year progressed. The vote Thursday came after nearly three hours of public comment from supporters and detractors. Mumper and fellow school board members April Gonzales, Amy Raya and Gloria Solis supported the plan. School board member Star Quintana was the lone dissenting vote.
“Beginning on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, all K-8 students will wear masks for a period of 14 days to help mitigate spread,” read the school district’s reopening plan memo. “At the end of the 14-day period, masks will be highly recommended. On Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, if the positive cases within a school are below 1%, masks will be highly encouraged but optional.”
It was a decision bolstered by a letter read from Dr. Justin Buchholz, hospitalist medical director for SLV Health Regional Medical Center in Alamosa and Conejos County Hospital in La Jara, who painted a statistical picture with the most recent data and told stories of COVID-19 patients he and his colleagues have treated:
Here are some of the latest SLV indicators, he wrote:
- On September 29th, our region’s 7-day average reached 36 new cases per day, which exceeded our previous record of 34 cases per day set back on December 18, 2020.
- September 2021 had the highest number of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the SLV since the beginning of the pandemic.
- Last week, 33% of new COVID-19 cases in the SLV were ages 0-18.
“The strain COVID-19 has placed on our health care system in every regard is unprecedented.” – Dr. Justin Buchholz
- Five new fatalities have been reported since the beginning of last week.
- Positivity rate for the week: 9/26/21 – 24.3% (Double from 8/22/21 – 12.3%)
“The strain COVID-19 has placed on our health care system in every regard is unprecedented and I’d like to thank those in our community who are actively participating in precautions such as masks, vaccinations, and hand washing to help prevent further spread within our community,” Buchholz wrote in his letter.
“This month in particular,” he wrote, “has been a very difficult month in the San Luis Valley for COVID-19. In particular, the Delta variant has created a new surge that mimics November/December 2020. Fortunately, there has been great strides in treatment, but unfortunately, this virus is still extremely deadly. For those that don’t die there may also be a lifetime of complications and they may never return to their previous health.”
Buchholz went on to tell the school board he and his colleagues “have seen far too many tragic deaths and lives lost in our community than people will ever realize. I just finished a 10 day stretch working nights at SLV health and three patients passed, all unvaccinated. This rate of fatality is not new.”
He said it is “heart-wrenching to be caring for an actively dying patient who regrets not taking covid seriously by wearing a mask and getting vaccinated. Countless times they ask, and often beg, for the vaccine but it is too late.”
Buchholz also told a story of one of his patients who did all the right things by getting vaccinated and wearing a mask. “Unfortunately,” Buchholz wrote in his letter to the school board, “an elementary-age grandchild brought the virus home and unknowingly spread the virus to the patient who later tested positive for Covid-19. The patient started showing symptoms and came to the hospital when it became difficult to breathe but died 4 days after admission.”
In addition to the 14-day mask requirement, the school board adopted elementary and middle school protocols that will be implemented after the initial 14-day period.
Alamosa High School, meanwhile, is not part of the 14-day mask requirement because it has a high number of vaccinations and low number of positive cases this school year.
The following materials were presented to the Alamosa School Board at its Thursday meeting:
Full Text of Dr. Justin Buchholz letter to Alamosa School Board
October 7, 2021
Dear Alamosa School Board Members, Parents, and Community Members
I would like to provide an update regarding our current COVID-19 situation in the community and the strain it is placing on our community and our hospital. We are a team of 5 full time providers (three internal medicine physicians and two nurse practitioners) and 10 part time internal medicine physicians and pulmonology/intensivists. The strain COVID-19 has placed on our health care system in every regard is unprecedented and I’d like to thank those in our community who are actively participating in precautions such as masks, vaccinations, and hand washing to help prevent further spread within our community. Every small action can tangibly save a life. We have been treating and seeing the ravages of this virus for more than 18 months now.
This month in particular has been a very difficult month in the San Luis Valley for COVID-19. In particular, the Delta variant has created a new surge that mimics November/December 2020. Fortunately, there has been great strides in treatment, but unfortunately, this virus is still extremely deadly. For those that don’t die there may also be a lifetime of complications and they may never return to their previous health.
My colleagues and I have seen far too many tragic deaths and lives lost in our community than people will ever realize. I just finished a 10 day stretch working nights at SLV health and three patients passed, all unvaccinated. This rate of fatality is not new. Sadly, almost all of our deaths in the last two months have been unvaccinated patients. It is heart wrenching to be caring for an actively dying patient who regrets not taking covid seriously by wearing a mask and getting vaccinated. Countless times they ask, and often beg, for the vaccine but it is too late. This leaves families filled with regret and remorse. For several very memorable patients this has literally been their last words. We have seen husbands and wives die within days of each.
One of my patients did all the right things; vaccination, masking, you name it. Unfortunately, an elementary age grandchild brought the virus home and unknowingly spread the virus to the patient who later tested positive for Covid-19. The patient started showing symptoms and came to the hospital when it became difficult to breathe but died 4 days after admission. This is why it is so important that we make our schools a part of the conversation. Although children may not seemingly be affected on the same level as adults, they are certainly vectors of transmission.
The particular surge has created a tremendous burden on all health care systems in Colorado. Often, at a regional medical care system such as SLV, cases that require a higher level of care need to be transferred out of the valley via helicopter or airplane for a higher level of care. Unfortunately, all hospitals in Colorado are at or near capacity. Because of this, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to transfer these patients. This includes COVID patients and non COVID patients. The burden of COVID has placed strain on all patients requiring hospitalization.
Due to high community transmission, Public Health encourages everyone to take precautions including wearing a mask in public indoor spaces, staying home if you are sick, and getting vaccinated if you have not already done so.
Here are some of the latest SLV indicators:
- On September 29th, our region’s 7-day average reached 36 new cases per day, which exceeded our previous record of 34 cases per day set back on December 18, 2020.
- September 2021 had the highest number of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the SLV since the beginning of the pandemic.
- Last week, 33% of new COVID-19 cases in the SLV were ages 0-18.
- Five new fatalities have been reported since the beginning of last week.
- Positivity rate for this week: 9/26/21 – 24.3% (Double from 8/22/21 – 12.3%)
Are vaccines helping? Yes. In September, there were 542 cases among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated residents, and 112 cases among fully vaccinated residents. The most recent data in Colorado shows that fully vaccinated people are 4.9 times less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are unvaccinated. There are now 22,185 San Luis Valley residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
In closing, we implore the community as a whole to assist in helping stop the spread of this virus. Covid does not discriminate against race, ethnicity, gender, age, or economic status. We thank those who have been vaccinated, continue to mask when appropriate, and hand wash to prevent the spread of germs. We want to keep ourselves, our families, neighbors, and community safe and healthy. Please help us work together to keep the San Luis Valley strong and thriving.
Warm regards,
Dr. Justin Buchholz
Medical Director, Internal Medicine
SLV Health Regional Medical Center and Conejos County Hospital
Alamosa School District Revised Reopening Plan Memo:
The Alamosa School District has been experiencing a high volume of quarantine cases in grades K-8. In an effort to keep our students safe and provide the opportunity for in-person learning, a tiered model approach will be implemented beginning Monday, October 11, 2021. “Beginning on Monday, October 11, 2021, all K-8 students will wear masks for a period of 14 days to help mitigate spread. At the end of the 14 day period, masks will be highly recommended. On Monday, October 25, 2021, if the positive cases within a school are below 1%, masks will be highly encouraged but optional. The following elementary and middle school protocols will be implemented after the initial 14 day period. Due to the high number of vaccinations and the low number of positive cases this year at Alamosa High School, students and staff at AHS will continue to follow the protocol of masks being highly recommended until an increase in positive COVID-19 cases emerge. If such a situation arises, the High School students and staff will follow the high school protocol stated below.
Elementary Protocol:
When a student or staff member within a class tests positive for COVID-19, the COVID-positive individual will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
After 1 positive case in a classroom/cohort, Students or unvaccinated staff within a 3ft. radius for 15 minutes or longer are considered to be exposed and will need to quarantine (14 days). All other members of the classroom/cohort regardless of vaccination status will need to wear a mask for 14 days from the last day of contact with the COVID positive individual. If another COVID positive case occurs that results in exposure within those 14 days, masks will continue to be worn for an additional 7 days. 7 day increments of mask wearing will continue until the classroom/cohort has zero (0) COVID positive cases.
After 5 positive cases within 14 calendar days in a classroom or team, the entire group will be declared an outbreak, and all unvaccinated members of the group will be quarantined for 14 calendar days. On day 11 of quarantine students may, upon testing negative for COVID-19 no earlier than day 10 (either by scheduling a test with the school nurse or furnish proctored test results), return to in-person learning on day 11.
When active positive cases of COVID-19 reach 2% of the student population, universal masking throughout the building will be required for 14 calendar days. Universal masking will continue in 7 day increments until the rate drops to 1% or less.
OMS Protocol:
When a student or staff member within a class tests positive for COVID-19, the COVID-positive individual will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
After 1 positive COVID-19 case in a classroom or team, unvaccinated students and staff within a 3ft. radius for 15 minutes or longer will need to quarantine for 14 days. However, if students & staff have been quarantined and exhibit no symptoms they may, upon testing negative for COVID-19 no earlier than day 10 (either by scheduling a test with the school nurse or furnish proctored test results), return to in-person learning on day 11.
After 5 positive cases within 14 calendar days in a classroom or team, the entire group will be declared an outbreak, and all unvaccinated members of the group will be quarantined for 14 calendar days. On day 11 of quarantine students may, upon testing negative for COVID-19 no earlier than day 10 (either by scheduling a test with the school nurse or furnish proctored test results), return to in-person learning on day 11. If an outbreak is considered to be within a grade level, that grade level will be required to wear masks for 14 calendar days.
When active positive cases of COVID-19 reach 2% of the student population, universal masking throughout the building will be required for 14 calendar days. Universal masking will continue in 7 day increments until the rate drops to 1% or less.
Alamosa High School Protocol:
When a student or staff member within a class tests positive for COVID-19, the COVID-positive individual will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
After 1 positive COVID-19 case in a classroom or team, unvaccinated students and staff within a 3ft. radius for 15 minutes or longer will need to quarantine for 14 days. However, if students & staff have been quarantined and exhibit no symptoms they may, upon testing negative for COVID-19 no earlier than day 10 (either by scheduling a test with the school nurse or furnish proctored test results), return to in-person learning on day 11.
When active positive cases of COVID-19 reach 2% of the student population, universal masking throughout the building will be required for 14 calendar days. Universal masking will continue in 7 day increments until the rate drops to 1% or less.
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