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December 31, 2020
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 125 | ISSUE 48
County reaches out to restaurant owners Committee will help BOCC apply for variance that could allow in-person dining BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Restaurant owners in Elbert County were invited to join County
Commissioner Chris Richardson and Elbert County Public Health Director Dwayne Smith for a Zoom meeting Dec. 17, to discuss whether or not they were interested in restoring in-person dining while the county remains at level red-severe risk status on the state’s COVID dial framework. The informal meeting covered requirements by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environ-
ment for restaurants to apply for the 5-Star business certification program, which would allow restaurants in Elbert County to resume in-person dining if successful. “This was an initial meeting with our restaurant owner/operators to see the level of interest and determine if this is something the businesses want to pursue,” said Richardson. “I can say that CDPHE was made to do this. They are very
clear this was put together grudgingly based on the direction from the governor’s office. There was definitely some turmoil but it appears that local government, chambers of commerce and business associations were successful in fighting for a path to get the most impacted parts of our economy at least partially reopened.” SEE COUNTY, P4
‘A little bit of light at the end of the tunnel’ Frontline workers at hospital receive first vaccine dose BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Respiratory therapist Robin Mannino receives a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 17, the first dose administered by Parker Adventist Hospital. The hospital began inoculating staff working closely with COVID-19 patients. The vaccine process requires each person to receive two shots of the same vaccine dosage 21 days apart. After the shot, staff are monitored for 15 minutes for any PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT reactionary symptoms related to the vaccine.
Working in the Parker Adventist Hospital intensive care unit, Robin Mannino has witnessed the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A respiratory therapist of more than 20 years, Mannino stood in a waiting area at the hospital Dec. 17 with a slight twinge in her left arm from having received an injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. She remembered the past nine months, feeling grateful for her coworkers who have fought alongside her on the frontline of the pandemic. “It’s been hard,” Mannino said. “but I think this just finally a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.” Mannino received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 17, three days after the state received 45,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to distribute among Colorado’s frontline workers. The inoculation process SEE VACCINE, P5
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