COVID-19 HHRC Update: COVID-19 Information and Update and Grand County Variance Request Approved
May 29, 2020 6:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Information
Grand County has been awarded a variance by the state of Colorado. Therefore we are operating under a local public health order in addition to CDPHE’s Public Health Order 20-28 and other orders of CDPHE or the Governor of Colorado.
Looking for information regarding Grand County’s Variance? See Short-Term Lodging, Fitness and Recreation, or Places of Worship.
Are you a Business Owner? See Business Specific Guidance.
COVID-19 Update
*Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed.
+Deaths due to COVID-19.
Grand County Variance Request Approved
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approved Grand County’s request for a variance from some of the provisions of their Safer at Home public health order that is in effect until June 1. According to a letter from Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of CDPHE, “This variance approval is granted based on the facts and circumstances today as you have described them in your request. If the county were to exceed 100 cases per 100,000 population in a two week period (15 cases in two weeks), the variance is automatically rescinded. Additionally, CDPHE reserves the right to modify or rescind this variance approval as circumstances warrant. This approval is in effect until the final expiration of PHO 20-28, which will be extended in some capacity beyond the current expiration date next week” (June 1).
Effectively immediately, short-term lodging including vacation-style home and condo rentals like those using VRBO and Airbnb online platforms will be able to resume business if they follow strict sanitation and disinfection protocols to protect public health and safety. Owners will also be required to communicate the current guidelines to guests including social distancing practices and face-covering recommendations.
Places of worship will be able to increase the number of participants up to 30 people, provided that social distancing is practiced at all times between individuals and family groups. The facilities must implement certain safety protocols including face coverings, public health signage and environmental cleaning. Places of worship are encouraged to continue online or drive-up services if practical and make reasonable accommodations for vulnerable populations.
Gyms, health clubs, workout, and other recreation facilities can conditionally open their facilities for limited use, including classes, IF strict physical distancing practices are possible, there is no sharing of equipment, and regular disinfection and cleaning occurs. Best practices and guidelines can be found in the Grand County Recreation Playbook and must be adhered to. As with all of these This phased opening opportunity is completely voluntary.
Short-term rentals, places of worship and fitness facilities that choose to open for use may do so under the requirements and guidelines set forth in this May 29, 2020 Grand County Public Health Order (PHO).
Brene Belew-LaDue, Grand County Public Health Director, emphasizes, “these requirements and guidelines are part of our local pandemic suppression plan designed to protect public health and be responsive to COVID-19 conditions and healthcare capabilities in Grand County. There is the potential to increase or decrease these requirements based on changing conditions and data.”
All Grand County residents and visitors are strongly urged to protect themselves and others by washing hands frequently, staying home if sick, staying six feet apart from others, wearing a face-covering if in public, and limiting gatherings to under ten people. If you have symptoms such as a fever, dry cough or shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider for guidance. Dr. Darcy Selenke noted, “if our citizens fail to comply with the public health protective measures and our case count increases, we will have no choice but to return to more restrictive orders.”
Please direct short-term rental questions to the Grand County STR Office, [email protected] or call 970-725-3737.
For general questions regarding Grand County’s COVID-19 response please call 970-725-3803 or email [email protected].
May 27, 2020 9:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
*Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed. +Deaths due to COVID-19.
New Positive Cases
Today, Grand County Public Health (GCPH) was notified of an additional four confirmed positive test results for COVID-19. All of them are Grand County residents, located throughout the entire county. This brings the total positive cases in Grand County to eleven. All four are individuals who were tested due to their symptoms and not from the surveillance testing.
GCPH is investigating each case and is contacting everyone with very close, prolonged contact with the infected people during the specific timeframe of exposure. The individuals deemed high risk have been ordered to quarantine themselves. GCPH officials emphasize that they are following the protocols put in place by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC). They also must adhere to strict HIPAA laws protecting patient health information.
Adapting to COVID-19
It is important to understand that the Stay at Home orders and the current Safer at Home restrictions were never meant to stop COVID-19, but instead are utilized to slow its spread. By slowing the spread, we provide ourselves with the time needed to adjust and adapt our daily activities while taking into account the threat posed by COVID-19. We find ourselves living in unusual times and realizing that adapting to COVID-19 means we are not going to be without some restrictions until a vaccine is available. We are going to have to minimize non-essential travel, recreate responsibly, limit gatherings to small groups, practice good personal hygiene (wash hands, cover coughs, do not touch your face, stay home if sick), wear face coverings in public areas, protect our vulnerable populations like the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions, and understand that it truly is safer at home. It will not be this way forever, but it will be for a while.
Managing Risk
There are many things that are being considered as we begin to “reopen” our county. We are performing risk assessments and determining how much of that risk can be mitigated by implementing certain guidelines or restrictions. It is about learning lessons and learning to be comfortable living in the gray area. There is always the caveat that we will need to continue to analyze the numbers, the data, and the situation on the ground then adjust guidelines accordingly. While we understand the urgency to “reopen” faster, we need to make sure we do it right. This pandemic has affected us all in many ways and has caused a lot of disruption in our lives. But we have to work together, taking each day and challenge one at a time. The most important thing to understand is that every step forward is going to depend on compliance. Adherence to the guidelines put in place is crucial in our effort to move forward as our community continues learning how to adjust and adapt to COVID-19. Please continue to listen to the health officials and practice good conduct and habits.
For questions regarding Grand County’s COVID-19 response please call 970-725-3803 or email [email protected].
Safety Guidelines for Restaurants, Summer Camps and Private Camping | Executive Order D 2020 079 | Public Health Order 20-28 | View all Executive and Public Health Orders
May 26, 2020 2:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
*Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed. +Deaths due to COVID-19.
Executive Order D 2020 044 is amended as follows:
- Travel to within their local community or as necessary to access outdoor recreation areas. If travelling outside their community, Coloradans are urged to honor all restrictions in place at their destination and avoid travel to counties or municipalities that issue travel restrictions.
- Permit Places of Public Accommodation to offer food and beverage using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, drive-up service, curbside delivery, outside dining, limited indoor dining (50% capacity), or any other manner set forth in an existing Executive Order or PHO and in accordance with mandatory Social Distancing Requirements.
- Except as modified by this Executive Order, all Executive Orders issued due to COVID-19 that are currently in effect shall remain in full force and effect as originally promulgated. This meaning all short-term lodging and leisure stays are still prohibited.
- CDPHE shall develop and issue guidance governing restaurants and summer camps. CDPHE may authorize public gatherings of groups in these settings that exceed the limits in paragraph above, if justified by public health conditions.
Safety Guidelines for Restaurants, Summer Camps and Private Camping | Executive Order D 2020 079 | Public Health Order 20-28 | View all Executive and Public Health Orders
May 25, 2020 10:05 am
Information shared from Sky-Hi News
Two more cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Grand County in the last two days, according to Grand County Public Health.
Here is the article to read the details:
May 21, 2020 8:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
Public Alert & Warning
The COVID-19 Response Team (IMT), in cooperation with the Grand County Communications Center, will be utilizing the CodeRED Emergency Notification System and IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) to send alerts from public health officials to both local residents and visitors in Grand County on Friday, May 22. This will allow our local leaders to test and evaluate IPAWS in Grand County, as well as disseminate important information about COVID-19 restrictions prior to the holiday weekend. The messaging will be dependent upon whether or not the county’s variance request is approved by the CDPHE, and will reflect the appropriate public health order information.
Update on Restaurants
We have NOT heard from the state on the approval of our variance request. We will update the public as soon as we hear from CDPHE, but, until then, restaurants should follow the Governor’s Safer at Home Order which states that restaurants may be open for take-out and delivery only (no on-premise consumption, indoors or outdoors).
Once restaurants are allowed to open for on-premise dining, owners/managers will be expected to enact strict social distancing protocols and safety measures to protect the general public and their employees alike. Examples of restrictions may include, but are not limited to: daily staff health screenings; face coverings for all restaurant staff and customers (except when seated); reduced seating capacity and extra distancing between tables; signs posted for customers outlining requirements–wear a mask, wash hands, don’t enter if symptomatic; hand sanitizer available for customers; single-use or single-serving condiments only, no self-service stations or buffets; and utilization of a reservation system (waiting areas closed).
Leader’s Intent on Lodging
Since the publication of our press release on Tuesday evening, we have fielded several questions about lodging in Grand County. We hope this helps clear up the confusion.
- The Grand County Public Health Order regarding all short term lodging restrictions expires tonight at midnight, which leaves everyone under the state CDPHE “Safer at Home” Order. Hotels are allowed to be open, but STRs are not.
- According to the CDPHE “Safer at Home” order, critical infrastructure includes “Hotels, and places of accommodation, excluding private, short-term vacation-style rentals such as those arranged through an online hosting platform, including but not limited to VRBO or Airbnb, homeowner rentals, and privately owned residences for rent that are rented for a period of 30 days or fewer, except if offered for use for the public health response”.
- CDPHE has provided the following additional guidance over the last few weeks: As recreational and leisure travel is discouraged and is contrary to the ‘Safer at Home’ intent, hotels and accommodations should only be used for critical activities. This is in reference to the CDPHE order stating “Individuals are encouraged to limit travel to Necessary Travel.”
Our role as Public Health and the IMT is to help guide and assist our businesses and help them understand the orders; however, there is still a lot of gray areas. The public health assumption would naturally be that lodging would be for local, essential and COVID-19-related isolation and quarantine uses. Nevertheless, as the state order “encourages” people to limit travel but does not mandate limited travel, it would be hard to enforce any lodging component, other than privately-owned STRs.
Enjoy the holiday weekend Grand County, but be sure to be safe!
May 20, 2020 8:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
*Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed.
+Deaths due to COVID-19.
Thank you for your support and understanding through these difficult times. Together, #WeAreGrand and together we will get through this.
May 19, 2020 5:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
Reminding Citizens and Businesses of Restrictions Heading into Holiday Weekend
Memorial Day Weekend has traditionally been the beginning of the busy summer tourist season in Grand County. Businesses look forward to this weekend to jumpstart their cash flows and welcome in a new season of prosperity. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in some way and has caused a lot of disruption in our lives.
Over the last ten weeks, Grand County Public Health (GCPH) and the COVID-19 Response Team have made some difficult decisions to keep our community safe and healthy. We assure you that the revenue losses to our economy have weighed heavily in those discussions. It is for that reason that Grand County submitted a request for variance from state provisions that impose certain restrictions on restaurants, short-term lodging, fitness/recreation centers, and places of worship. If approved, the variance would allow Grand County to tailor its responses and public health orders in a manner that best addresses our county’s needs based on science, data and local factors.
Schelly Olson, Lead Information Officer for the Grand County COVID-19 Response Team, noted, “Our variance request was submitted last week, but it has not been approved yet. We are hoping to hear back from CDPHE in the next day or two, as they stated that the approval process takes about a week.” According to Ann Hause, CDPHE Director for the Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, “the variances are approved for the same time frame as the Safer at Home Order, which currently is set to expire on May 26. CDPHE will communicate how we intend to treat those variances after May 26 shortly, as we do not want counties reapplying for the same variance to be effective on May 27.”
Because the holiday weekend is quickly approaching and the variance approval is not guaranteed, GCPH wishes to remind all Grand County residents, visitors, and businesses that the state’s Safer at Home guidelines and restrictions are in effect until further notice. GCPH will update the community if the variance is approved by enacting a Public Health Order (PHO) outlining the new guidelines for the holiday weekend. Until then, everyone should assume that the state’s current Safer At Home restrictions prevail.
Individuals/Families
- Continue staying at home to the greatest extent possible and only travel for essential activities.
- Stay within ten (10) miles of home or inside your primary county of residence when recreating.
- Only participate in solo recreation or recreation that involves just your household members.
- Limit gatherings to less than ten (10) people, this includes graduation parties.
- Travel should be for essential activities only, not leisure or vacation.
- Practice best personal hygiene practices (wash hands, cover coughs, do not touch your face, stay home if you are sick).
- Campgrounds, picnic areas, and playgrounds are closed. (except for Colorado Parks and Wildlife campgrounds)
Businesses/Lodging
- Retail, personal services and other businesses can be open with strict social distancing and cleaning requirements.
- Restaurants shall remain CLOSED to on-premises consumption (take-out and delivery is permitted).
- On-premise drinking establishments (bars, brew pubs, wineries, tasting rooms) shall remain CLOSED.
- Short-term lodging, such as vacation-style rentals, VRBOs, Airbnbs, cabins and hotels/motels are CLOSED FOR LEISURE STAYS.
Note from the State on Hotels
Many people live in hotels and some essential workers require use of them, so they are continuing to operate as critical. Longer term stays, where an individual is using the space as a residence rather than a short-term accommodation, is not restricted. We understand that we cannot enforce who is staying at hotels and that some people may be using them to recreate outside of their communities. However, the intent behind restricting short-term, vacation-style rentals is to encourage compliance with not recreating more than ten miles from your home.
Note from GCPH on Short-Term Lodging
While Grand County’s Short-term Lodging Order ends on May 22, the State’s Safer at Home Order does not expire until May 26. Please read the note above regarding the booking of hotel/motel rooms for essential personnel ONLY.
For questions regarding Grand County’s COVID-19 response please call 970-725-3803 or email [email protected]. Information regarding the County’s variance request status will be posted here.
May 15, 2020 6:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed.
Second Homeowners
While messaging for second homeowners has been to please limit travel to and from the county except for necessary activities, we never instituted policy to keep anyone out of the county. Our request for second homeowners to stay at their primary residences was based on Governor Polis’ Statewide Stay-At-Home Order and was rooted in the desire to reduce disease transmission and keep everyone safe. The Governor’s Stay-at-Home Order expired on April 26 and evolved into a Safer at Home Order on April 27. The Safer at Home Order states “all individuals currently living within the State of Colorado are encouraged to stay at home and avoid unnecessary interactions whenever possible. Travel for recreational purposes should be limited to your own community like your county of residence or traveling no more than about 10 miles.” Thus, we are still discouraging second homeowners from coming to Grand County except for necessary activities, but we cannot stop you from coming here. If you choose to come to Grand County (and it does not violate any active orders where you currently reside), we ask you to please limit your interactions with others, continue social distancing measures, wear a facial covering in public, and perform best hygiene practices.
Short-Term Rentals
While Grand County’s short-term lodging (STRs) order expires on May 22, the State’s Safer At Home Order does not expire until May 26. The State of Colorado order restricts any private vacation-style rentals like Airbnb and VRBO, but “hotel and other places of accommodation” are listed as “critical infrastructure”. Under the Safer At Home Order, people are urged to stay home when not performing necessary activities. If they are recreating, the Governor says people should do it within 10 miles of their primary residence. Hotels and motels can be open during this time to provide housing for essential travels and workers. If the state order expires on May 26 (and is not extended), then leisure travel would be allowed starting on May 27.
Please note that the county has applied for variance from the state order that could allow STRs starting on May 22. The variance application has been sent to the state and we are waiting for a response. We do not know when or if we will be approved for the variance. Thus, it should be assumed (at this point) that STRs cannot operate until at least May 27.
Timeline from Governor Polis
The Governor provided updates for when decisions would be possibly made around whether or not Colorado can begin to reopen other industries or loosen restrictions. These dates do not reflect when an industry may or may not open, only when the state will have more data to inform a decision around when they may be able to open and at what level.
- May 25 – the state will decide if restaurants can begin reopening and at what level.
- May 25 – the state will decide if summer residential and day camps can open in June, and if so, under what conditions.
- After June 1 – the state will decide if the Safer at Home order can be further modified to phase in other things like summer activities and public spaces like libraries. The Governor will make these decisions on a rolling basis, based on the latest data and evidence.
Thank you for your support and understanding through these difficult times.
Together, #WeAreGrand and together we will get through this.
May 13, 2020 6:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed.
Variance Request
A county variance request essentially asks the state to allow the Grand County Public Health (GCPH) Director to make local decisions on guidance and restrictions. It does not mean that every business and every citizen will be free to do as they wish. We took input from each industry, combined it with their regulatory agency when appropriate, and addressed any public health concerns. Please note, in some cases, the variance request is broader than what the businesses may experience on “opening day” as we tried to build them broad enough to withstand the next few months, or phases of the state orders. If our request is accepted by the state, the GCPH Director will issue a Public Health Order that will largely parallel, but may have some tighter restrictions for the first period of this step. A variance request is merely a tool that allows the flexibility to increase and decrease restrictions as needed. The Grand County request is asking for a variance for four sectors: recreation, restaurants, places of worship, and lodging.
Antibody Testing – FAQs
Q: What’s the difference between an antibody test and a test for COVID-19?
A: A test for COVID-19 detects the presence of the virus itself whereas an antibody test detects antibodies to the virus. Antibody tests can show that a person had an infection in the past. But, it’s possible for people who still test positive for COVID-19 through a viral test to also test positive for antibodies. Medical providers should not use antibody tests to determine if a person has COVID-19.
Q: Do antibody tests for COVID-19 work?
A: Many commercial antibody tests are not accurate and therefore can be concerning. Medical experts don’t know yet if antibodies to COVID-19 will protect people from future infections. Researchers are working to learn if antibodies will be protective, and if they are, how long they would last or how many antibodies would be necessary to fight COVID-19. In addition, the virus can change or mutate as it travels from person to person and country to country. This is what happens with the flu virus and is the reason we need a new flu vaccine every year.
Q: Why is it so hard to create an accurate, high-quality antibody test?
A: COVID-19 is a disease that stems from a type of virus called a coronavirus. Coronaviruses are very common. Some of them cause familiar illnesses like the common cold. But the specific coronavirus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is highly infectious and can be dangerous or deadly. Some inaccurate antibody tests are resulting in what are known as “false positives.” These tests may be detecting other coronaviruses, but not SARS-CoV-2. Be very cautious about results from an antibody test as well as antibody testing in general.
As we move forward, it is important to continue complying with the following guidance:
> Wash your hands frequently
> Cover your face in public
> Only gather in groups smaller than 10 people
> Stay socially distanced from others
> Stay home if you’re sick
May 8, 2020 8:00 pm
Information shared from Grand Country Public Health https://www.co.grand.co.us/COVID19
COVID-19 Update
Because clinical diagnoses can be made based on symptoms and evident exposure without performing a test, the number of positive cases reported may increase without an equivalent increase in tests performed.
County Variance Request
It is safe to say that this pandemic has affected all of us in many ways; mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. The toll it has taken on residents and businesses of Grand County is apparent, and we all wish it would end sooner rather than later so we can get back to “normal” life. The County and the Team have been working diligently to support Grand County residents and businesses through these trying times.
The County and the Team are working toward returning to a healthy community and strong economy and hope to approach the CDPHE with a variance request. The variance request process takes time and must meet the designated criteria including robust surveillance testing, adequate personal protective equipment and expansive public health disease monitoring. A county must create an alternative COVID-19 suppression plan and must have approval for the plan and the variance request from the county public health director, all local hospitals and the Board of County Commissioners before submitting it to CDPHE. Variance requests do not exempt a county from state orders, and we must identify in the application how we will be consistent with the state’s intent. It should also be noted that counties face significant penalties for disregarding state orders, which may include the loss of public health preparedness monies from the state and CDC, and COVID-19 FEMA funding.
Community Surveillance Testing
Today Grand County Public Health (GCPH) performed COVID-19 surveillance testing on a sample of predetermined, high-contact, frontline workers in Grand County. The goal of this testing is to gauge the extent of COVID-19 transmission in our community. It was performed using a Molecular PCR Test that detects recent or active disease. The testing is free to businesses and their employees through a partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Tests are being sent to a state lab for processing and results should be returned by Monday. This testing is a critical requirement for state and local government to open more business operations and increase economic function in our county. Testing data is also a fundamental element in getting an approved variance from state public health orders and Grand County does not have much data yet.
Case Count
The State of Colorado reports positive COVID-19 cases by county based on patients’ primary addresses. Grand County Public Health has reported that there are five positive cases in the county since March 12. This includes three positive test cases and two probable positives. There are now five additional cases that are “associated with” Grand County but are not included in Grand County’s total case amount as the patients have permanent residences in other Colorado counties. GCPH has worked closely with the State Epidemiological team to identify local risk associated with these exposures. The local risk was identified as low; however, this is an indication that COVID-19 is in the community and everyone needs to follow social distancing protocols and hygiene practices to avoid contracting the disease.
Further Information
We are aware that the public has many questions related to Governor Polis’ Safer At Home Executive Order and the associated CDPHE Safer At Home Public Health Order. Thankfully, the State has created a webpage to address many of those questions. Visit the Safer At Home FAQ page at covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home-faq. For all other things unknown, rest assured that we are doing our best to prepare.
No matter what may come, together we will get through this.
