COVID-19 HHRC Update: Stats and Grand County Sees First Outbreak of COVID-19
June 29, 2020 7:30 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
Grand County Sees First Outbreak of COVID-19
GRAND COUNTY, CO – On June 17, 2020, Grand County Public Health was made aware of a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 of a worker at a construction site in Granby, CO. On June 18, 2020, Grand County Public Health (GCPH) was notified of a second confirmed positive case of COVID-19 at the same construction site. On June 24, 2020, GCPH conducted testing of 33 site employees. As a result of that testing, a third positive case has been confirmed. Despite the fact that none of the positive cases have primary residences in Grand County and will, therefore, not be counted in our county’s official positive count, this unfortunate circumstance is considered an ‘outbreak’ in Grand County.
An outbreak is reported to the state when two or more confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 are identified in a facility or (non-household) group with onset in a 14-day period. Because the employer provides housing for workers involved in this outbreak, it is considered an extension of the workplace ‘facility’. Grand County Public Health and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will continue to monitor the outbreak until two incubation periods (28 days) have passed with no new outbreak-related COVID-19 positive cases.
At this point in the investigation, the symptomatic crew members and those living and working closely with them have been placed on quarantine or isolation through an incubation period (14 days) based on the last date of contact with a positive. It is important to note that the provided in-county housing for workers at this jobsite is neither a hotel nor a condo-style house, so there are no shared entries, hallways, or stairwells. Besides the identified positive cases, the company has not reported symptoms in any other crew members.
The Grand County epidemiologist has contacted the supervisor of the crew and is working with the construction company and its primary contractor on continued monitoring of the situation and assessment of the involved company’s COVID-19 safety precautions and employee housing. The company and it’s primary contractor have been very cooperative, and worksite COVID-19 safety protocols are above state requirements. The company took quick action to mitigate the spread of any illness to the rest of the crew and has been diligent in making sure that other crew members are not showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19. They are making sure that the quarantined crew is able to remain in the house and have their essential needs met. One member of the crew that tested positive has been hospitalized and will remain outside of Grand County once they are released.
A construction site is usually a very low risk environment due to the outdoor setting and well spaced projects. COVID-19 exposure risk is LOW to VERY LOW regarding interactions with retail and food services, grocery store employees, or other service providers. HIGH and MODERATE risk contacts are identified as people you live with, ride in a car with, share a workspace with, or have other close interactions with a positive case. If you closely interact with a positive COVID-19 case (within 6 feet), without a mask, for more than 15 minutes, you may be identified as a close contact and will be contacted by Grand County Public Health if your name and contact information are provided to the contact tracers. If you have brief interactions (exchanging money, delivery of purchased goods, food or beverages), conversations at 6 feet or more of distance, with a mask, and for less than 15 minutes, you will NOT be placed on quarantine or monitored for symptoms.
If you have been in contact with someone who has been placed on quarantine: they are not contagious—yet. They are being monitored for symptoms and are not identified as a COVID-19 positive case. Your contact with a quarantined individual does not put you at risk. Quarantined individuals have been in direct contact with a positive COVID-19 case but may not have enough virus in their system to be contagious, or even develop the illness at all. Should that quarantined person develop symptoms or test positive, their contact with you within the investigation timeframe could be considered in their case investigation.
It is important to remember that it is every individual’s personal and professional responsibility to make the right decisions and hold each other to the safest standards possible. Please continue to take preventative measures to protect yourself and others. #StayHeathyStayOpen
