As cases of COVID-19 fluctuate, the economic, mental, and physical conditions of community members are greatly affected. With a hopeful recovery in mind, the Aspen Community Foundation launched its navigator program, Bridging Resources, Monday, March 22.

Bridging Resources is a helpline for individuals (from Aspen to Parachute) with various needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The helpline navigator connects community members to resources and agencies that offer financial assistance in specific sectors.

• Rental assistance is one of the most frequent requests
• Others include mental health, domestic violence, and general healthcare assistance
• Note: direct financial assistance is not offered through this program

You can reach both English- and Spanish-speaking navigators working the helpline at (970) 456-1091 or visit the Aspen Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response page for more information.

This helpline is free, and accessible to anyone. Once community members are referred, agencies will then determine eligibility.

Several community members that are reaching out to Bridging Resources are people who have never needed assistance before now. Bridging Resources’ main contribution to relieving individuals of financial and healthcare hardship include:

• Pinpointing the appropriate resources for individuals through the state or local district that can help outline the needed assistance to ease everyday living expenses
• Nonprofit organizations providing grants in the valley where community members are referred to, depending on their needs

At this time, the Bridging Resources program is planning to administer assistance regardless of the course of COVID-19, while its initial intent was to run until December 2021.

**A gentle reminder that needing additional help in a global pandemic is nothing to be ashamed of. Programs such as Bridging Resources are established as a form of relief due to difficult events such as the COVID-19 pandemic**

On March 5, 2020 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s public health laboratory confirmed the first COVID-19 test result in Colorado.  Six days later the pandemic arrived in Pitkin County with nine visitors from Australia testing positive for COVID-19, the largest outbreak in Colorado at the time.  So started an unprecedented year for our community.  This inauspicious anniversary is a time to step back and reflect on the last year and what it has meant for our community — what we’ve lost, what we’ve gained and what the coming year will bring.  There is room for sadness,  joy and hope in this reflection.

Over the past year there have been nearly 30 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, and over 525,000 confirmed deaths.  Colorado has had over 433,000 cases and 6,000 deaths, with Pitkin County accounting for over 2,000 cases and 4 deaths.  All of these numbers are overwhelming and abstract, but not for the impacted families in Pitkin County with an empty seat at the table or those continuing to suffer the long term effects of COVID.  Nor are they abstract for all of us that have experienced loss of different magnitudes:  lost jobs; a senior year spent online; holiday celebrations without friends and family; canceled travel plans; diminished savings and overdue bills; no live music; missed hugs from our friends — the list is long.  Taken together, the losses, big and small, are considerable for all of us, and have put us under unaccustomed levels of emotional and mental stress.  

While this is a time of observance for the challenges and loss over the past year, it is also a time to celebrate.    Responding to the pandemic has brought out the best in so many of us — donations of talent, time and money have poured in from all sectors of the community to help those most in need.  Also important to appreciate is the tireless efforts of those working in healthcare, public health, human services, and non-profit agencies who have gone to great lengths to meet the extraordinary needs of individuals, families and businesses over the past year. 

When we have a chance to take a breath and really evaluate how we responded as a community we will find many lessons learned, and many successes to celebrate.  This year has laid bare many issues, and generated many new fissures in our community.  Moving forward it is in these issues and fissures that we must find inspiration, opportunities for healing, and cause for hope. Our history is replete with examples of how we pull together following tumultuous times. That will be our call moving forward — taking what we have learned from the pandemic to transcend the impacts and build our community to be even stronger and better than before.

Please join the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Health in observing one year of pandemic response in Pitkin County.  Take time to mourn our losses, hug those you love a little closer and reflect on the good that has and will come out of this difficult year.

Sincerely,

Kelly McNicholas Kury, Chair Pitkin County Board of Commissioners

Patti Clapper, Vice Chair Pitkin County Board of Commissioners

Markey Butler, Chair Pitkin County Board of Health

Greg Poschman, Vice Chair Pitkin County Board of Health & County Commissioner

We are very excited to share our new COVID-19 vaccination dashboard! Track the progress of vaccinations at locations within Pitkin County and among residents vaccinated anywhere in Colorado. Learn about the number of vaccines being administered by dose and manufacturer as well as demographic breakdown of vaccinations. Our new dashboard is a great complement to our current COVID-19 Vaccine webpage where you can find detailed information about the current phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Key indications on COVID-19 vaccination include:

• Weekly summaries of first and second doses administered to Pitkin County residents anywhere in Colorado. 
• Weekly summaries of first and second doses by each vaccine manufacturer administered at locations within Pitkin County.

The goal of this dashboard is to provide equitable public access to high quality and comprehensive information on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Explore our new dashboard for the most up-to-date epidemiological data on the COVID-19 pandemic in Pitkin County residents. Study key indicators of COVID-19 that are being used to shape guidelines and policies around our COVID-19 response. 

Key changes include:

• We are moving the data on our Additional Metrics webpage to the Case Data webpage to create a more central location for key indicators. 
• We are replacing all data dashboards on the State Dial webpage (only the State Dial Incidence readings over the past two weeks), Case Data and Additional Metrics with ArcGIS versions. 

The reason behind some of these data platform changes is to provide more equitable public access to key data through powerful and comprehensive data dashboards.

On February 5,  the state announced an update to Colorado’s COVID-19 Dial 2.0. The Dial 2.0 changes the metrics that determine each county’s current level on the dial. This includes measuring counties with a 7-day incidence rate rather than a 14-day incidence rate. In addition, Dial 2.0 increases the range of incidence rates for each level.

The state has indicated there will be new metrics for communities of 30,000 or less, but has yet to release what those metrics may be.

Contact: pio@pitkincounty.com

PITKIN COUNTY-On Monday, Feb. 1 the Pitkin County Public Health daily report indicated the community COVID 14-day incidence rate was below 700 which allows the county to move businesses and restaurants back to Orange level restrictions on the state dial COVID-19 Dial | Pitkin County COVID-19 Response & Recovery. The move to the Orange level will take effect on Tuesday morning, Feb. 2 at 12:01 a.m.

NOTE: The Pitkin County Traveler Affidavit is still in effect under Orange levels and remains in effect until at least April 30th.

“It’s excellent news that our incidence rate has been brought down, and businesses will be able to operate at greater capacities,” said Greg Poschman, Pitkin County Commissioner and Board of Health Vice Chair. “However this is no time to let our guard down. It’s not over yet, and despite this decline, things are expected to get worse before they get better. Let’s keep our community safe by being smart.  We need to continue to follow the five commitments to containment and avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact settings. This is what we all need to do to keep our community open until vaccines are more broadly available.”

Beginning Feb. 2, Pitkin County businesses should follow Level Orange of CDPHE’s Dial Framework per the Fourth Amended Public Health Order 20-36. Level Orange Requirements include the following:

• Personal Gathering Size: Up to 10 from no more than 2 households (Lodging stays limited to a max of 10 people from no more than two households in any lodging unit)
• Restaurants: 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer; on-premise sale and service of alcohol must stop by 10:00 p.m.; dining parties limited to 10 people; patrons in different parties must be spaced a minimum of 6 feet apart. 
• Bars: Closed
• Offices: 25% capacity; remote work is strongly encouraged
• Gyms/Fitness: 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer
• Organized Youth and Adult Group Sports and Camps: Virtual, or outdoors in groups less than 10
• Retail: 50% capacity, with increased curbside pick up, and delivery; dedicated senior/at-risk hours encouraged 
• Personal Services: 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer
• Limited Health Care Settings: 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer
• Indoor Events: 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer
• Outdoor Events: 25% capacity, or 75 people, whichever is fewer
• Outdoor Guides Services: 25% capacity not to exceed 10 people, whichever is less
• Field Services: real estate open houses must follow the indoor event requirements
• Child Care: open, standard ratios

Under Level Orange, everyone must take these actions:

• Continue to stay home as much as possible
• When you go out, follow physical distancing requirements (6 feet of space between yourself and others)
• Do not go to work if you are sick
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested immediately
• Wear a mask in indoor public settings, as well as outdoor public settings where 6 ft. distancing cannot be maintained
• Limit private gatherings to 10 individuals max from no more than 2 households

A new public health order is effective in Pitkin County starting Sunday, January 17th at 12:01AM. This order moves Pitkin County to Level Red on the CDPHE State Dial and implements level red restrictions.

What changes?

Some key changes for the county under the state’s updated Level Red requirements include:

• Indoor Dining
  • Indoor dining at restaurants is prohibited; use takeout, curbside or delivery options instead. Outdoor dining is permitted with those in your household.
  • On all-premise alcohol must cease at 8PM. To go orders may continue until 10 PM.
    Outdoor dining must end at 10 PM,

• Ski areas
  • Improve mask and distancing enforcement
  • No indoor dining
  • Continue to monitor capacity and implement reservation system if target capacity is exceeded in accordance with the Ski Area Plan
• Lodging
  • Enforce one household per unit regardless of when reservation was made
  • CLARIFICATION: The only capacity limit for lodging is that reservations are restricted to single household per unit. THERE IS NOT A 50% CAPACITY LIMIT AT THIS TIME.

5-Star Program

In addition, with these changes, the Board of Health prioritized applying for the 5-Star Program with the State immediately. If accepted, 5-Star certified businesses will be able to operate at an increased capacity after a 2-week sustained decline in incidence rate (per the State report card). Pitkin County businesses have been working hard since the beginning of the pandemic, and we’re hopeful the 5-Star Certification Program will offer some much-needed relief and opportunity.

Why the move to Level Red? 

Pitkin County has the second highest incidence rate in the state which means 1 in 35 residents are currently infected with COVID-19. This is impacting our ability to reach agreed upon community goals that include in-person learning, indoor economic activity (restaurants/retail), increased transportation capability and winter tourism. 

In addition, the Board of Health adopted the following metrics for when Pitkin County will move into and out of the CDPHE Level Red as follows: 

Move into red if:

• Incidence rate is above 700 for 14 days; 

OR

• One dial metric is in red for 14 days (i.e. hospitalization, two-week average positivity rate) and a second dial metric goes into red for any period of time.

Move out of red if: 

• Incidence rate is below 700 and has been decreasing for 14 days.

Business and Individual Support

Pitkin County recognizes the impact red level restrictions will have on much of our workforce and our business community. We continue to compile a list of resources available and encourage anyone in need of assistance to visit the following:

Individual Financial and Layoff Support 

Financial Assistance for Businesses

What can YOU do to Help? 

The Board of Health decision today impacts our entire community and that means you. We need you to help us get this under control by doing the following: 

Follow New Quarantine Guidance – This new information will tell you exactly what to do when exposed, awaiting test results or feeling sick. We need everyone to adhere to this guidance which means staying home at times. 

In addition to adhering to quarantine and isolation requirements, there are important steps we all can take to lessen the spread of COVID-19:

• Wear a mask to protect yourself and others, even after you receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Keep 6 feet or more apart and avoid gatherings with people who do not live with you.
• Wash your hands often. 
• Get tested and stay home if you’re sick. There are many free testing sites around Pitkin County. Use the Pitkin County Testing Site Finder to locate a testing site. 

Community Meeting

Pitkin County will host a Community Meeting on Thursday, January 14th at 6 p.m. to discuss these changes and the resources available to businesses and individuals. We invite all members of our community to join us. Full details to join available at https://covid19.pitkincounty.com/upcoming-meetings/

At this time, Pitkin County Public Health has a “Vaccine Pre-registration Form” available for individuals who wish to pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available for their priority group. Pitkin County Public Health will contact pre-registered individuals based on current  Phase 1B eligibility and county residence each week, regarding the availability of vaccination appointments as vaccines are received from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE).All Colorado counties are operating under the same vaccination plan from CDPHE, and are limited to the number of vaccines that are received by each county each week.

The state is moving to phase 1B of the vaccination plan, which includes healthcare workers with moderate risk and first responders; and new additions: Frontline essential workers in education, food and agriculture, manufacturing, U.S. postal service, public transit and specialized transportation staff, grocery, and public health and direct care providers for Coloradans experiencing homelessness. Essential officials from executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Essential frontline journalists. Vaccinations of the new groups in Phase 1B will be prioritized once healthcare workers with moderate risk and first responders have received their vaccinations.

New Year’s Eve is this Thursday and Pitkin County’s COVID-19 incident rate ranks third in the state. We want to remind you about a few very important things for a safe and healthy celebration.

Non-Critical Businesses close at 10 pm – All non-critical businesses, which includes restaurants, must be closed at 10 pm with a last call for alcohol at 9:30 pm. This is in accordance with the current public health order.

DO’S

The safest way to celebrate is at home with the people you live with

• Plan a virtual party with friends and family 
• Only congregate with your own household. 
• If you want to spend time with people who don’t live with you, the safer choice is to meet outdoors. You are less likely to be exposed to COVID-19 in outdoor environments.

Remember to:

• Wear a mask 
• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) apart
• Wash your hands
• Stay home if you’re sick

DON’TS

• Do not attend large gatherings this year. Personal gathering sizes are reduced to zero. This applies to all lodging reservations and accommodations. 
• Mix with your household if you are feeling sick

Consider other activities to celebrate New Year’s, such as: 

• Have virtual celebrations with loved ones.
• Plan a New Year’s party for the people who live with you.
• Plan an outdoor neighborhood countdown to midnight.
• Watch a live-streamed firework display, concert, First Night event, or other New Year’s programming from your home.