The Montezuma County Public Health Department reported Tuesday that more than 7,000 people in the county have now received their first shot of the coronavirus vaccine.

Officials continue to urge the public to engage in basic COVID-19 mitigation practices such as social distancing and wearing masks.

As of Tuesday, 7,121 individuals have received their first dose, and 1,959 have received their second “booster” shot. Current vaccines require two doses to finish the inoculation.

For the week of Feb. 15 to Feb. 21, 1,562 people received their first dose, and 495 received their second.

The state entered Phase 1B.2 of its intricate distribution plan this month. Phase 1B.2 allows Coloradans age 65 and older, educators, child care workers and a small number of state government officials to receive the vaccine.

The county still seeks to vaccinate as many people age 70 or older as well.

Entities administering the vaccine in Montezuma County include the county health department, Southwest Health System, Axis Health System, City Market, Safeway and Walgreens.

All teachers and staff from Montezuma-Cortez School District that wanted to receive the vaccine got their first dose over the weekend, according to county public information officer Vicki Shaffer. Educators and staff from Mancos and Dolores school districts received them earlier this month.

According to Shaffer, the county does not plan to move into Phase 1B.3 of the state’s distribution plan until March. That group includes frontline essential workers and people ages 16 to 64 with two or more high-risk conditions.

anicotera@the-journal.com