SEE OMICRON

rates in states like Florida and New York, Dominguez said infectious disease doctors are relying on data from those states as they prepare to handle the anticipated increase.

“Really, in terms of what we are seeing here right now, it’s just not quite where the rest of the country is,” Dominguez said. “At the state level, we have no real good data for comparisons (between the delta and omicron variants) at this time.”

Even as Colorado is playing catch-up with the rest of the country, Dominguez said the newest variant it is here, and the biggest concern is how transmissible it is.

Like Colorado doctors, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to work on a world scale to get a grasp on what kind of impact the new variant will have on the U.S. As cases spread, the CDC reported that omicron spreads more easily than the original COVID strain and more studies are needed to see how it compares to the Delta variant.

According to the CDC timeline, Omicron was fi rst reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Nov. 24. By Nov. 26, WHO classifi ed Omicron as a “variant of concern.” The U.S. followed suit with the same labeling by Nov. 30. By Dec. 1, the U.S. had its fi rst confi rmed case of the new variant that is now competing with the Delta variant, which has been the dominant strain since summer.

On the website, the CDC stressed that “anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.”

The CDC said more data is needed to know if Omicron infections, including breakthrough infections for vaccinated citizens, cause more sever illness or death than infection with other COVID variants.

According to the CDC, the current vaccines on the market, including Pizer and Moderna, are expected to protect people from “severe” illness, hospitalizations and deaths. However, the CDC warned that it expects an increase in breakthrough cases among people who are fully vaccinated.

U.S. health offi cials continue to encourage residents to not only get the fi rst round of vaccinations, but also get the booster shot for added protection.

In children, Dominguez said, vaccinations are an important preventive step for ages 5 and older to be protected as much as possible.

As omicron becomes the most prevalent variant spreading COVID, Dominguez said winter break from schools is both good and bad to help prevent the spread among children and youths.

“The time off means decreases in spreading (COVID) in the schools,” he said. “But the bad side is there are a lot more holiday gatherings this time of year where it can also spread. Traveling also tends to increase this time of year.”

As families gathered and traveled throughout the holiday season, Johns Hopkins University reported the highest total cases of COVID since pandemic tracking offi cially began on Jan. 21, 2020. Breaking the record on Dec. 29, data showed the U.S. had 377,014 confi rmed cases.

In Colorado, the state had just over 4,700 confi rmed cases on Dec. 29, up about 67% from 2,824 confi rmed cases the week before.

As cases increase, the need for testing centers has also increased. According to the Douglas County website, testing at Sky Ridge Medial Center resumes this month. In Arapahoe County, testing sites can be seen with increasing lines at the UCHealth Campus along Arapahoe Road and the Arapahoe Crossing Shopping Center.

Still, Dominguez said, the “silver lining” for children and young adults is that it is the demographic least impacted in contracting COVID.

“Overall, children have done a lot better handling this than adults,” he said. “But to say children are not impacted or cannot get this at all is just wrong.”

Dominguez stressed that children can still get COVID, spread COVID and some can get sick from it. Another area of concern for the younger population, Dominguez said, is that children can contract a condition known as MIS-C.

MIS-C, or multisystem infl ammatory syndrome, is a serious condition associated with COVID-19 where different body parts can become infl amed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

Symptoms of MIS-C can include: • Abnormal gut pain • Bloodshot eyes • Chest tightness/pain • Diarrhea • Feeling extra tired • Headache • Low blood pressure • Neck pain

For testing centers in Douglas County, visit the website at douglas.co.us/health-department/ covid-19/testing. For a list of COVID testing centers in Arapahoe, Jefferson and Adams counties, visit the website at tchd. org/827/Free-Testing-Sites.

Doctors say that children have been the least impacted in contracting COVID-19 but fear that could change as a third variant

begins hitting the streets in Colorado. SHUTTERSTOCK

Public Notices

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap1000 First Publication: January 6, 2022 Last Publication: January 6, 2022 Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

Public Notice

ARAPAHOE COUNTY NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

ment will be made on January 25, 2022.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by Kc Construction, Inc. or any of its subcontractors, or that has supplied rental machinery, tools or equipment to the extent used by Kc Construction, Inc. or any of its subcontractors in or about the performance of the work done for the above-described project whose claim therefore has not been paid by Kc Construction, Inc. or any of its subcontractors may file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid with the Arapahoe County Attorney's Office (on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners) at 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120, at any time up to and including January 24, 2022. file such verified statement and/or claim prior to the aforementioned date for filing claims shall release Arapahoe County, its officers, agents and employees from any or all liability, claims, and suits for payment due from Kc Construction, Inc.

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1006 First Publication: January 6, 2022 Last Publication: January 13, 2022 Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Purchasing Division will be accepting proposals for the selection process for the construction of a new neighborhood park, to include new walking trails, benches, a dog park, community gardens, and a unique new playground for the surrounding residents of the Four Square Mile neighborhood for the Arapahoe County Open Space Department.

A MANDATORY pre solicitation meeting will be held on January 18, 2022, 2:00 p.m., local time, via Microsoft Teams. Contractors are required to attend this conference in order to become eligible to participate in the solicitation. Mountain E-Purchasing Systems (RMEPS), www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado.

Submittals must be received, electronically, no later than 2:00 p.m. local time on February 3, 2022.

The County reserves the right to waive any or all informalities or irregularities and to reject any or all submittals.

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap1001 First Publication: January 6, 2022 Last Publication: January 6, 2022 Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen ###