Covid-19 Update: Friday, November 20th

Image: Center for Disease Control

Chaffee County Public Health is reporting 37 new Covid-19 cases in the last 7 days, 69 in the last 14 days, for a 2-week positivity rate of 5.92%.   

Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center has one Covid-19 patient and is operating at 48 percent capacity.   

Chaffee County Public Health is pleading with residents and visitors to follow the recently amended state and local health orders to protect everyone form the virus and the possibility of moving to a more restrictive level.  As the incidence of Covid-19 cases continues to climb in Chaffee County, county leaders are trying to keep businesses and schools open to the greatest extent for as long as possible.   

Recent further restrictions include: 

  • Only necessary events can take place following the 25 percent or 25-person cap.  In-person events are highly discouraged at this time.   
  • Personal gathering size is limited to 10 with no more than two households.   
  • Group sizes seated together at restaurants should exceed no more than 6.     
  • Remote work and staggered shifts are encouraged for all business sectors.     
  • Except for critical business or critical operations of the county, voluntary 14-day self-quarantine is strongly recommended when unnecessary out of county travel occurs.       
  • All residents who have engaged in activities that pose a risk should seek out testing.  

Chaffee County Public Health has changed their testing schedule.  Testing is now available Monday through Friday in Salida from 10:30 am to 12 noon at the Touber Building and on Wednesdays in Buena Vista at the Annex.       

All tests are now a mouth swab and results are usually available in 48-72 hours.       

Testing is by appointment only.  Appointments must be made the day before testing is held.  To be screened and scheduled, call Public Health at 539-4510.       

Colorado will impose tighter restrictions on 15 counties, including Denver and much of the metro area, effective today, in the state’s latest effort to curb the accelerating transmission of Covid-19 without ordering a lockdown.     

The new public health restrictions in those counties encourage people to stay at home, while prohibiting all personal gatherings outside of an individual’s household, barring indoor dining at restaurants and moving last call for alcohol to 8 pm.     

The tighter restrictions will be in effect beginning today in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, La Plata, Logan, Mesa, Morgan, Routt, Summit and Washington. 

Alamosa, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo and Weld counties will move to Level Red on Sunday.       

In addition, Custer, Lake, Costilla, Montezuma, Pitkin and San Juan Counties are moving to Level Orange today, while Las Animas and Gunnison counties will move to Level Yellow.       

Governor Jared Polis is asking all Coloradans to cancel holiday plans with those outside your household.  He is asking you to do the following during the month of November: Only socially interact with people in your household, keep your distance, and wear a mask.      

Dan R