SM County: 6th in Healthiest Communities Rankings 2021

08 Jul SM County: 6th in Healthiest Communities Rankings 2021

U.S. News and World Report scores counties based on 10 categories that drive community health.

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Last week, the US News and World Report, in collaboration with the Aetna Foundation, released the fourth annual Healthiest Communities rankings. The annual report measures a population’s health and wellness on the county level using 84 metrics. San Miguel County ranked sixth out of nearly 3,000 counties across the United States.

The rankings are scored based on 10 categories that contribute to community health on a scale of zero to 100. The categories include population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality and infrastructure.

Throughout the COVID pandemic, San Miguel County Public Health has intentionally implemented a response to increase equitable access to healthcare and necessary inclusivity in pandemic response.

“This health ranking is an incredible feat for our county, and we recognize the importance of thanking all who were involved in creating healthy communities across the county from schools and medical centers to public servants and agriculture,” said Public Health Director Grace Franklin. “As Public Health moves from an emergency response to longer term plans, we will amplify our focus on equity to better meeting the needs of our communities.”

The metrics from the Healthiest Communities rankings directly reflect San Miguel County’s mission and Public Health’s work to promote and protect the health of the people and communities where we live, learn, work, and play. Providing free and low-cost immunizations, supplemental food programs for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum individuals, and air quality monitoring are a few ways Public Health contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of the county.

Over the next year, Public Health will strengthen existing programs and work within the community to better understand and address community health needs.

Public Health has confirmed eight new positive cases of COVID-19 from test results received from
July 1 through 7. Of these cases, seven are confirmed as residents and all actively contagious cases are currently in isolation. As of release time today, there are 7 active cases.

• 77-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, social
• 65-year-old male, resident, symptomatic, workplace
• 33-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, workplace
• 21-year-old male, resident
• 17-year-old male, resident, symptomatic, workplace
• 7-year-old female, nonresident
• 3-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, social
• 3-year-old male, resident, asymptomatic, household

To date, there have been 926 total COVID cases among residents including 9 breakthrough cases and one COVID-related death.

To learn more about the county’s current COVID-19 metrics, please visit the County COVID-19 dashboard.

Power The Comeback:

• Crowded places, covered faces
• Get vaccinated
• Stay home when sick and get tested