By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County experienced a surge in reported COVID-19 cases this month and while the reasons behind this surge remain a mystery, the number of cases seem to be decreasing, retired epidemiologist Dr. Will Athas said during a virtual community briefing Thursday.

Following a similar format to the Cerro Pelado Fire public meetings, Los Alamos County hosted the virtual meeting which, in addition to Athas, featured Children’s Clinic’s Dr. Ben Neal, Los Alamos Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy, Los Alamos County Emergency Services Commander Beverley Simpson and Los Alamos Medical Center Infection Prevention and Employee Health Nurse Joyce Richins.

Athas said he has worked with the County during the last couple of months to do surveillance on COVID-19 in the County.

He explained data is presented in seven-day averages because “daily numbers jump around a bit so often times we use seven-day averages.”

Starting Nov. 9, 2021, the data shows a curve in the pandemic during the last 7-8 months, Athas reported. Successive waves of COVID variants have hit the County as well as elsewhere. The Delta variant was prevalent last summer and fall and Omicron was quite significant in terms of influence, he said. The Omicron variant caused a huge spike in cases – an average of 80-90 cases a day. However, it didn’t last long. The number of cases dropped although there was a gradual rise in mid-April. The cases rose in June but appears to have peaked in the middle of the month. During the past week, Athas said the number of cases is trending down. He added there isn’t an explanation for the rise in cases but there has been a focus on the age groups reporting positive cases.

“What I was interested in… was seeing whether there was any particular age group, which sort of disproportionally contributed to the total case load being seen in the County in June … there really wasn’t any obvious standout age group,” Athas said. “What I was a bit concerned about was the very young – 0-4 years old … as well as the elderly – 70, 79-80+ …  I was hoping that those rates would be relatively low compared to the other age groups because they tend to be more at risk. … but the risk levels were relatively similar to middle-aged adults and teenagers. To me this perhaps suggests … that there was a fairly wide community transmission of the virus to infect all these age groups ….”

The good news is that the case numbers do seem to be decreasing, he said, adding the hope is the numbers will continue to decrease.

To help with this effort, Dr. Neal reported on the vaccinations are being distributed by the Children’s Clinic. A vaccination clinic for children 0 to 5 years old was held Friday and he reported it was all booked.

He said the Pfizer vaccine is being distributed through the Children’s Clinic because it requires a lower dosage for children. He explained adults receive 30 micrograms of the Pfizer vaccine while children six months to 5 years receive one-tenth of that amount or 3 micrograms.

He added Pfizer has a 90 percent rate of preventing hospitalizations for severe disease, but the mild disease symptoms rate is 30 percent. Still, locally less than 10 percent are reporting reactions such as injection pain or fever. Similar to the flu shot, Neal said, the COVID vaccine keeps people out of the hospital.

While Pfizer is being distributed at the Children’s Clinic, Neal reported the Moderna vaccine is being offered in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. It is given at a higher dosage. However, it only requires two dosages while Pfizer requires three – patients receive one, three weeks later received a second and two months after gets the third shot. While the Pfizer vaccine is a little more inconvenient, Neal said it was selected for the local clinic because of its lower side effect profile.

Either is fine, he said, adding, “They all seems to do what we really want them to do, which is to keep kids and people out of the hospital.”

As far as the COVID situation at the schools, Guy reported the school year ended with 4,000 students on campus. The school district’s summer program started June 13 with 202 students on campus. During the summer classes masking is required indoors, Guy said. So far, one teacher and two students reported positive COVID cases the first week of classes. One of the students was never on campus but the other student and teacher were. In the community, 14 students and three staff members tested positive, but they have not been on campus. No new cases have been reported since. In addition to masks, air purifiers are in classes and Guy said safety protocols will continue throughout the summer programming.

Regarding the new school year, “We’re going to have all wait and see what Public Education Department tells us to do,” Guy said. “We will also watch community spread and the cases in our community to make any determinations on how we start school this fall.”

For the County’s side, Simpson said there has been an increase of 700 cases, which is a little higher than the median. However, she reported it has had a successful vaccination campaign.

“In the last two months the County, thanks to everyone for participating in this, has provided over 3,721 vaccines to the community,” she said.

As a result, the County is at 69.9 percent for fully vaccinated. Its rate for booster shots is on par on what is state is reporting – 25 percent. Simpson said Los Alamos Medical Center does not have any inpatients with COVID.

Additionally, she said the fire department continues to provide the vaccine for homebound people and those with mobility issues. A vaccine clinic is scheduled 3-7 p.m. June 27 at First Baptist Church to catch people after work. Simpson thanked Pastor Taylor for his help. She added that the County is working with Premiere Medical to setup a vaccination clinic for children younger than age 5. More information will be made available.

Touching on Los Alamos Medical Center, Richins said there was different levels of protections and restrictions throughout the pandemic. Right now, the entire hospital is open, but masks are required indoors. If visitors are experiencing COVID symptoms they are asked to refrain from coming to the hospital until they feel better, Richins said. If hospital staff are feeling symptoms, they report them to the hospital.