Los Alamos Reporter

Council Chair Sara Scott: Los Alamos Has It’s First Confirmed COVID-19 Case

Sara Scott

BY SARA SCOTT
Los Alamos County Council Chair

The County has just received notice from the Governor’s office that Los Alamos has its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The information I have is that the patient is a male in his 40’s, and that he is currently isolating (not in the hospital). As usual, the Department of Health is conducting an investigation to determine exposure history. 

This news underscores the need to continue to protect each other through taking the Stay at Home Instruction, social distancing, frequent hand washing and other important measures seriously. I’d also like to reinforce the state’s and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new recommendation that cloth face coverings may provide some additional benefit due to spread of the virus by asymptomatic individuals. While we still need to focus on the key measures listed above, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises using cloth masks as we are out in public to slow the spread of the virus. (Additional information regarding cloth face covers can be found at cdc.gov.) Medical grade materials such as those used in surgical and N95 masks should still be reserved for front line medical and emergency workers.

I know how much we respect and care for each other and our community. Our personal actions and responsibility can and will continue to have a critical impact on our health and well-being by minimizing the spread of the virus. 

While you continue to care for others and our community, please don’t forget to take care of yourself. If you have questions about County services, how to get help with critical needs, or areas where volunteers are needed, please call 505-662-8333. They have a list of a broad set of available resources. Websites provide daily updates regarding the status of testing in our state, pandemic guidance, and press releases (cdc.gov, cv.nmhealth.org, and the COVID-19 button on the front page of the County’s website (losalamosnm.us). We are all in this together and together we’ll continue to make a difference.