FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 118
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020
VOLUME 117
THE SEASON FOR SHARING
75cI
ISSUE 40
Re-8 teacher urges reconsideration of mask use
ISSUE 48
Delta variant brings cautious update from Weld Re-8 district BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A Fort Lupton High School teacher urged the Weld Re-8 School District and its board of education to do more to protect students and staff from coronavirus. Amy Palmore made her plea during a business meeting of the board Sept. 23. She asked the board The ambulance entrance to the Chest Pain Center at Rose Medical Center in Denver, a HealthONE hospital, on Jan. 11, 2020. to reconsider its decision on mask SHUTTERSTOCK mandates -- they are optional -- in light of an incident involving a student. Because of federal regulations, Superintendent Alan Kaylor could release little information about the student, other than a last date of attendance, which was Sept. 2. those hospitals in other states.” “I have no confirmation on a posipecting to experience a staff shortHow has Colorado been able to tive COVID test for that student,” age within the next week. Hospital avoid the hospital horror of other Kaylor said by text. leaders speak of staff burnout, of Western states? Palmore said even though some trouble keeping employees when State health leaders point to two board members already made up lucrative gigs as traveling nurses factors. their minds about masks, she urged to COVID hotspots abound. First, Colorado’s vaccination rate a reconsideration. Despite the renewed — and exhausting — strain on the system, makes a big difference. BY JOHN INGOLD “We’ve heard arguments that kids In the Mountain West, Colorado things in Colorado are nowhere THE COLORADO SUN feel stifled by wearing a mask,” she has the second-highest vaccinanear as bad as they are in other told the board. “But that’s only by tion rate in the region, behind only parts of the country. adults in positions of power. Last Nearly 19 months in, these are New Mexico. Put another way, Amid crushing waves of delta year, people were telling students some of the toughest days for Coloof all the landlocked U.S. states, not to get tested because that would rado hospitals during the coronavi- variant-driven coronavirus infecColorado’s fully vaccinated rate is tions, hospitals statewide in Idaho jeopardize prom.” rus pandemic. third-best. are operating under “crisis stanShe didn’t identify anyone. Even as the latest surge in coroAs of Sept. 23, nearly 60% of dards of care” — essentially ra“Withholding information is navirus hospitalizations appears people in Colorado are fully imtioning care because COVID cases contradictory,” Palmore said. “It’s to have plateaued — what state munized against COVID-19. (This have so overwhelmed the availunfortunate that we are politicizing epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herfigure is for the entire population, able resources. Some hospitals in a health issue. We aren’t keeping lihy recently called an “unstable Alaska and Montana have done the including kids too young to be vacanyone safe.” equilibrium” — hospitals across cinated.) In Wyoming, the rate is same. The governor of Wyoming Kaylor said the positive test rate Colorado have still been scramonly about 41%. called in the National Guard to his in the district stood at 10.74 percent bling to add critical-care beds and And there is a clear connection state’s hospitals. as of Sept. 17, which he said was some have been postponing nonEvery year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothinglow” Bankcompared provide community between vaccination status and “We are very, very full, and are to surrounding emergent surgeries in order to free members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change 4 Change, hospitalization. On Sept. 23, 80% concerned right now,” said Dan districts. However, the district is up space. Weaver, vice president for com-2. of those hospitalized in Colorado encouraging students and staff to As of Sept. 23, Colorado a with the another organization thathad helps food the drive. See more on Page munications at UCHealth. “But scant 148 ICU beds available stateSEE HOSPITALS, P10 we are not at the level of some of wide and 28% of hospitals were exSEE MASKS, P11
Colo.’s hospitals have bent, but not broken, during new COVID surge The state’s relatively high vaccination rate is one reason
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