Boulder County, Colo. – After serving the public by fielding over 4,000 calls, Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) has closed its COVID-19 call center. Federal funding for the Call Center, which opened in the fall of 2020, ended on July 31, 2023, consistent with the end of the national public health emergency.

BCPH’s resource navigation team took over call center operations in the last week of May 2021. That year, the call center received 2,675 calls, followed by 1,407 in 2022 and 189 in 2023. While most calls addressed vaccine questions, nearly 800 calls linked the public with testing, and nearly 500 calls provided vaccine appointment assistance.

“The call center team provided an important role in helping the community navigate the challenges and changing landscape of the pandemic, and we could not have been as responsive to the community without their dedication and effort,” said Carol Helwig, BCPH Communicable Disease Program Manager.

“For most of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCPH call center was able to provide critical information to residents regarding a variety of topics, including those related to vaccines, testing, and treatment,” said Fabiola Hernandez, a BCPH Bilingual Support Specialist. “BCPH will remain vigilant in addressing community health concerns moving forward but the demand no longer requires a dedicated call center.”

Take these steps to stay safe:

• Get yourself and your family fully vaccinated and stay up to date by getting boosted when eligible. Vaccines are safe, effective, and authorized for anyone over six months old, and they drastically reduce the chance of hospitalization and death.
• Have a plan for testing – If you plan to be near someone at high risk for severe disease, hospitalization, or death, consider getting tested prior to gathering.
• Increase airflow and ventilation – While indoors, use HEPA filters or increase ventilation and airflow by opening windows or increasing air circulation. Consider moving activities outdoors for the best protection.
• Keep your loved ones and community safe by following BCPH recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds regularly throughout the day.
• Consider wearing a well-fitting, medical-grade mask as an added layer of protection, especially in close indoor settings or when close to people at high risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death.
• If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease:
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, such as Paxlovid, and make a plan ahead of time to access testing and treatment if needed.
  • In the week or two leading up to important events, travel, or visits with loved ones who may be at higher risk of severe disease, take steps to avoid becoming ill such as wearing a well-fitting, medical-grade mask in public and reducing non-essential indoor activities to limit your exposure and getting tested ahead of time.

COVID-19 resources in Boulder County:

• Vaccine providers: boco.org/COVIDvaccine
• Testing: boco.org/COVID19testing
• Recommended COVID-19 precautions, masking: boco.org/COVIDprecautions
• Isolation and quarantine guidance: boco.org/quarantine-isolation
• COVID-19 therapeutic treatments: covid19.colorado.gov/getting-covid-19-treatment

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