CENTER — Saguache County Public Health is asking residents to continue to follow all social-distancing guidelines and safe practices such as masks indoors to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Saguache County.

According to the daily report released by Mona K. Lovato R.N., Saguache Public Health Director, from the emailed daily report on Sept. 14, “Acute cases 25; two in Saguache, 12 in Center, eight in KV Estates, one in Moffat, two in Villa Grove. One current outbreak in Haskin Elementary School (third-grade class). Zero fatalities have been reported.”

Center School District was the site of the largest group of new positive tests. According to the CSD newsletter, “Center Schools continues to work in partnership with Saguache County Public Health in following the established guidelines for the state, county and public school districts. Last week, we quarantined one third grade class and the freshmen class due to several positive cases in those groups.”

Currently, the school district strongly recommends that all students and staff wear masks indoors, but it is not a requirement. There is currently no mask mandate for public schools.

According to Center School District, “As this pandemic is an ever-evolving situation, and the safety of our students and staff is our top priority, we will continuously assess the situation and respond to the medical guidance of experts.”

Mobile testing is available at the Saguache Community Building on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. Vaccination clinics are also ongoing, in Center at the EMS Training Center on Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Saguache at the Community Building on Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and one to be scheduled in Crestone at the end of the month with details to be released soon.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that people who are moderate to severely immunocompromised should receive a third dose of the mRNA version of the vaccine (either Moderna or Pfizer) after they have completed the two-dose series. This third dose should be administered at least 28 days after the completion of the first two doses.

According to Diana Herrero, Deputy Director, Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, “We have enough vaccine inventory in the state to begin administering an additional dose for these immunocompromised Coloradans.”

The vaccine is available for free to all Coloradans at any of the vaccine centers and mobile sites.