An increase in new COVID-19 cases, fueled in part by a series of store and restaurant outbreaks, has jeopardized the reopening and large gatherings in Larimer and other Colorado counties.
Larimer led the state in new coronavirus outbreaks this week with five facilities reporting two or more cases of COVID-19 in a short period. The outbreaks occurred in two restaurants, two stores, and a dental office.
The virus also reached the Colorado State Penitentiary in Cañon City, where 24 inmates and seven staff members have tested positive.
The increase in outbreaks coupled with a general increase in new cases prompted the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to issue a warning to Larimer County about its continued variation of the state public health order.
The variance, granted to Larimer in May, allows the county to have more capacity than state order allows in restaurants and some salons and stores. It also allows larger events of up to 50 people, while the state order limits events to 10 people. In response to the warning, Larimer County released a draft mitigation plan on Monday, which includes intensive contact tracking and the use of an outbreak response team.
Along with Larimer County, the state health department has granted an additional 42 counties, two-thirds of the state, additional privileges through public health variations since May. Variations range from allowing the opening of some facilities, such as zoos, cinemas, or churches, to allowing special events. Each variation can be rescinded if COVID-19 conditions worsen.
Larimer is just one of 15 counties in Colorado that received a CDPHE warning this week. The other counties at risk of losing their variations are Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Chaffee, Custer, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Grand, Mineral, Pitkin, and Prowers. Pueblo is also preparing a mitigation plan to try to prevent a reversal of its variance.
If COVID-19 conditions continue to worsen in any of those counties, they may be required to return to all regulations included under the State’s Safer Home Order.
The state continues to report a large number of new COVID-19 outbreaks with a total of 23 facilities reporting new outbreaks this week. The new outbreaks occurred in five offices, three restaurants, three nursing homes, three prisons, two stores, a police department, an oil and gas company, a hotel, a concrete company, a casino, a dental office, and a warehouse.
New outbreaks for the week of July 22:
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/20/20
Facilities: All copy products
Type: Office
County: Denver
COVID-19 cases: 17 positive employees
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/18/20
Facilities: Alpine Bank – Carbondale
Type: Office
County: Garfield
COVID-19 cases: 3 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Ameristar casinos
Type: casino
County: Gilpin
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/18/20
Facilities: Arrowhead Correctional Center
Type: Jail
County: Fremont
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive residents, 2 positive employees
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Associates in Periodontology
Type: Dentist
County: Larimer
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/16/20
Facilities: Avant Garde Aleworks
Type: restaurant
County: Larimer
COVID-19 cases: 3 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/20/20
Facilities: Black Cat Restaurant
Type: restaurant
County: rock
COVID-19 cases: 3 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Boulder County Jail
Type: Jail
County: rock
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive residents
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Englewood City Police Department
Type: Compliance with the law
County: Arapahoe
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/20/20
Facilities: Woodland City Park
Type: Office
County: ATM
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive employees, 2 probable employees
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/15/20
Facilities: Colorado State Penitentiary
Type: Prison
County: Fremont
COVID-19 cases: 24 positive residents, 7 positive employees
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Crossfire LLC
Type: Oil and gas
County: Silver
COVID-19 cases: 4 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/16/20
Facilities: Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Type: hotel
County: great
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/15/20
Facilities: Elms Haven Center
Type: Nursing home
County: Adams
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive residents, 1 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/16/20
Facilities: Concrete floor control
Type: Building
County: Eagle
COVID-19 cases: 4 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Hobby Lobby
Type: Store
County: Larimer
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/17/20
Facilities: Parker’s Driver’s License Office
Type: Office
County: Douglas
COVID-19 cases: 5 positive employees
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/20/20
Facilities: Brightdale Riverdale Care and Rehabilitation Community
Type: Office
County: Adams
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive residents, 1 suspicious staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/20/20
Facilities: Sedgwick County Memorial Nursing Home
Type: Nursing home
County: Sedgwick
COVID-19 cases: 4 positive residents, 3 positive employees
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/16/20
Facilities: Target distribution warehouse
Type: Warehouse
County: Village
COVID-19 cases: 3 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Tony’s Restaurant Lounge
Type: restaurant
County: Larimer
COVID-19 cases: 3 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/21/20
Facilities: Walmart
Type: Store
County: Larimer
COVID-19 cases: 3 positive staff
Date of confirmed outbreak: 07/15/20
Facilities: Westone Laboratories
Type: Office
County: Step
COVID-19 cases: 2 positive staff
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