According to a source from within the task force created by Governor Jared Polis to combat the rising cases of COVID-19 in Colorado, the latest variant of COVID, known as the Omicron Variant, will be hitting Colorado counties and will be exceptionally contagious.

“Because of the incredibly contagious nature of Omicron, most Colorado counties will likely begin to experience record breaking COVID-19 case growth in the coming days and this may last for 2-3 weeks before it subsides. The speed of this variant is truly unprecedented, and this should be considered a red flag event for anyone at high risk.”

Omicron has already been identified in Eagle County, and the growth rate is unlike any of the previous variants. According to the source, the key elements to keep in mind are the following:

• If you are high risk for any reason, treat this as a red flag event starting immediately.

• Risk factors are complicated and difficult to surmise, but the older a person is, or the longer it’s been since receiving an mRNA vaccination, the higher the risk for that individual.

• Wear a high quality N95, or KN95 type mask indoors until this wave abates.

• Only those who have received recent doses of mRNA vaccines, or those with very little contact with the public, are likely to avoid contracting the Omicron variant.

• Covid cases, reinfections, breakthroughs, and unreported cases are at all-time highs in

Europe, and we can expect the same in Colorado, already seen in

Eagle County. • Hospital rates are dependent upon age, and other factors, and the long-term effects of Omicron are not yet known. • Due to the extremely high numbers of affected combined with those already being treated, hospital beds will be few, and care will be stretched to its limit.

The source went on to say that although they have not seen the speed and infectiousness of this variant before, the wave of infections should subside in 2-3 weeks and the relatively high number of those who have been vaccinated should protect the vast majority from severe disease.

However, the aggressive nature of this variant should not be underestimated. According to the source, “The case counts will tell the story very soon, but by that time anyone who has been indoors with the general public without a good mask or recent vaccine will very likely become infected. This strain is incredibly contagious.

“In one example from Norway, around 100 people attended an indoor wedding, all of whom were vaccinated. Someone had Omicron and 80 people came out of that wedding with Omicron. That sort of infectiousness means that if one person in a restaurant has Omicron then nearly everyone in the restaurant will get it (if they haven’t been boosted).”

For the latest information about all cases in Colorado, check out https:// COVID-19 covid19.colorado.gov/.