Jake Wolf | Special for the newspaper
With the increase in local COVID-19 cases, Eagle County is expected to modify its current public health order on Thursday and tighten restrictions on public meetings.
The decision came out of the Wednesday morning work session of Eagle County commissioners. Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry said she expected the modified public health order to be issued Thursday morning.
Chandler-Henry said the movement was state-driven. Eagle County Director of Public Health Heath Harmon was contacted by former Commissioner Jill Ryan, now head of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Ryan told Harmon that the growing virus cases in Eagle County require a mitigation plan. The county has two weeks to lower its numbers, or it could lose its exemption from current state public health orders.
Changes in the current public health order will have “some pretty big impacts,” Chandler-Henry said.
The first event canceled was the Avon Live concert Wednesday at the park. Other events in the park have also been canceled.
“I deeply regret that I canceled Avon’s free concert series and film events,” Avon Town manager Eric Heil wrote in a statement. “But there is no other responsible option given the recent sharp increase in COVID-19 cases and the risk of reopening school plans and the risk of keeping our businesses open.”
Also affected is the Bonfire Block Party concert at the Eagle County Fairgrounds, originally scheduled for this weekend. In an email sent to ticket holders, the organizers announced that the event was canceled and that credit card purchases would be refunded through Eventbrite, and cash payers should send a postal address to [email protected] so they can mail a check.
While the organizers are disappointed that the event has been canceled in the short term, they understand the decision.
“Until today, we had his full approval to move forward, and our creative plans for social distancing, crowd segmentation and messaging were being applauded by other event producers and county staff,” said Bonfire Brewing co-owner Amanda Jessen. “We absolutely support the efforts of our county government to control the spread of COVID-19 in our community, and we are fully confident in our ability to produce a safe event.”
We need to be more cautious
Chandler-Henry said he understands the possible impacts of adjusting group size. But, he added, “We have to be more cautious again. By loosening the restrictions, we may have sent a message that it’s okay to be away from home. “
Chandler-Henry said that the majority of the new cases are residents of Eagle County, which means that much of the spread has been from residents, not visitors.
Vail’s director of economic development Mia Vlaar said adapting to the rules so far has been “challenging.” But, she added, the city’s economic and event planning has to adapt to any current public health order.
“We take that orientation and try to reimagine what we are doing,” said Vlaar. That reinvention must also be done in a way that still provides the high-level experience that Vail’s guests expect, he said.
Vlaar said the city is ready to redial the size of the groups to meet the new requirements.
Ready to adapt
“We are prepared to do whatever it takes,” said Vlaar. “We are not going to throw in the towel over this.”
Mark Gordon is a member of the Vail Commission on Special Events. That volunteer board works with city officials and private promoters to bring the events to the city.
“We need to put the health of our guests, residents and locals above everything else,” said Gordon. But, he added, that health goes beyond the safety of the virus and includes behavioral and economic health. “We need to do something to keep the food on the table and the ceilings above our heads.”
Chandler-Henry recognized the impact on local businesses.
“It was a difficult move to make,” he said, adding that county officials are now working with state and regional health officials to accelerate obtaining test results. Delayed results mean that people stay home from work longer than necessary, or go to work and potentially infect others.
That has to change, she said.
In Vail, Vlaar said that staying as open as possible is the intention of the city’s economic development team.
“We have an amazing community that comes together and leads,” said Vlaar. “We don’t give up and try our best.”
Vail Daily Business editor Scott Miller can be reached at [email protected].
