Public Health Agency

Announcements

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM)

NPM is an initiative sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the US Department of Homeland Security. 

You can find out more about it here.

Every year in September, National Preparedness Month serves as a call to action for individuals across the United States, urging them to ready themselves for potential disasters or emergencies within their communities. During this period, homeowners, families, and businesses have the chance to come together, exchange knowledge, and enhance their understanding of disaster preparedness, thereby mitigating risks to both public health and the environment. Making a go kit and a plan are great ways to prepare for the unexpected.

Gilpin County's 2024-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

Gilpin County’s Community Health Improvement Plan was accepted at the Gilpin County Board of Health meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2024. This plan includes background on Gilpin County including results of community surveys, focus groups, and interviews to inform the priorities for 2024-2028. Six Health Priorities for the years 2024-2028 are outlined in this plan:

• Radon awareness and mitigation
• Tobacco and nicotine addiction
• Safe drinking water
• Behavioral health
• Communicable disease prevention
• Environmental contamination (septic systems and lead)

This document will be updated annually to reflect the new objectives and strategies for each year within these six health priorities. Read the full plan.

Respiratory Virus Guidance Update

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updated guidance outlining best practices for handling common respiratory viruses, including for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV.

CDC’s first recommendation for people who get sick with a respiratory virus is simple: Stay home and away from others.

Updated COVID-19 recommendations include: 

• Returning to normal activities when symptoms have been getting better overall for 24 hours, and if a fever was present, it has been gone for 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication. 
• Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.

For more information, please visit the CDC website on Respiratory Virus Guidance.