Pitkin County COVID-19 Status
Pitkin County Public Health is currently monitoring and making decisions about mitigation strategies based on two things:
- Current CDC Risk Level – As indicated by the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker community transmission metric to guide healthy best practices and mask recommendations for Pitkin County residents, businesses, and visitors.
- Regional and Local Data – Measuring hospital capacity and key indicators based on Pitkin County Public Health and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) data.
See below for more information.
Current CDC Risk Level
For Pitkin County
Low
Moderate
Substantial
High
Our current risk level is based on the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker community transmission estimates for Pitkin County. This metric uses the total number of new cases per 100,000 persons within the last 7 days (7-day incidence per 100K residents) and the percentage of positive diagnostic and screening Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests (7-day % positivity). If the two indicators suggest different transmission levels, the higher level determines Pitkin County’s Risk Level.
CDC compiles this data from CDPHE and the thresholds are displayed on the COVID-19 Hospital Capacity and Key Metrics dashboard along with local data and can be found in the “Footnotes” section of the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker webpage. The CDPHE COVID-19 Dial Dashboard continues to be available to view transmission across Colorado.
Low Transmission
Control is achieved largely through individual prevention behaviors and the public health response to identify and isolate cases or clusters. Threshold: Counties with fewer than 10 cumulative cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, AND a cumulative PCR percent test positivity result below 5% in the past 7 days.
Moderate Transmission
Adherence to individual and selected community level prevention strategies are needed. Threshold: Counties with 10-49 cumulative cases per 100,000 population OR a cumulative PCR test positivity result between 5.0-7.9% in the past 7 days.
Sustantial Transmission
Everyday activities should be limited to reduce spread and protect the health care system. Threshold: Counties with 50-99 cumulative cases per 100,000 population OR a cumulative PCR test positivity result between 8.0-9.9% in the past 7 days.
High Transmission
Significant measures are needed to limit contact between persons, with priority given to maintaining essential community activities and services (e.g., health care, transportation, food and agriculture, schools). Threshold: Counties with cumulative cases =100 per 100,000 population OR a cumulative PCR test positivity result =10.0% in the past 7 days.
Regional and Local Data
Hospital Capacity and Key Metrics
Pitkin County Public Health is closely monitoring local hospital capacity at Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH). See the “AVH Status” tab in the middle panel of this dashboard for more information. If AVH inpatient hospitalization and/or transfer capacity reaches a “concerning” level, capacity limits and public health requirements may be reinstated for the community. Visit the AVH website for more information on units and departments.
In addition, CDPHE will continue to monitor each county’s COVID-19 status, as well as regional hospital ICU and Acute Care bed capacity displayed in the bottom panel of this dashboard.The middle panel will display the key metrics Pitkin County Public Health monitors to inform COVID-19 recommendations for our communities and businesses. Our 7-day incidence rates and 7-day average % positivity are displayed alongside CDC community transmission thresholds (see above). The three metrics inside the dashboard are based on Pitkin County data which include presumed positives from case investigation, positive PCR and positive antigen test results. Note that CDC incidence rates and percent positivity estimates are only based on PCR test results. Also, CDC data may lag Pitkin County data by 1-2 days.
