FAQ

Read the Pitkin County Public Health Order.

Q: Are masks still required?

A: Pitkin County has aligned with State and Federal Mask guidance. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Order 20-38 states “Fully vaccinated people can go without masks in public indoor spaces unless the setting requires otherwise while unvaccinated people are encouraged to continue wearing masks in all public indoor spaces.

Face coverings are still required for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated patients, residents, and visitors, and medical-grade masks are required for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated staff, in the following settings that serve vulnerable or at-risk populations:

• Homeless shelters;
• Prisons;
• Jails; and
• Emergency medical and other healthcare settings (including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care centers, clinics, doctors’ offices, and non-urgent care medical structures).

People who are not required to wear a mask, even if unvaccinated, include:

• People who are 11 years old and younger
• People who cannot medically tolerate a face covering
• Children younger than 2 years old should NOT wear masks.”

Per Federal Orders, individuals 2 years old and older must still wear masks on public transportation, such as on buses, taxis, planes, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, and/or out of the country, regardless of vaccination status.

Businesses and other entities may still require COVID-19 mitigation steps, such as mask wearing among employees and patrons. Please wear a mask when asked out of respect.

For more information about CDPHE exceptions, review the Order linked above. For information regarding CDC guidance, visit the Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People. For information about the Orders Pitkin County is following, please review our Public Health Order.

Q: What exemptions apply to the face covering requirement?

A: The following exemptions to the face covering requirement, outlined by CDPHE’s PHO 20-38, are:

• individuals 11 years of age or younger,
• individuals who cannot medically tolerate a face covering, and
• individuals participating in one of the following activities:
  • individuals who are hearing impaired or otherwise disabled or who are communicating with someone who is hearing impaired or otherwise disabled and where the ability to see the mouth is essential in communication;
  • individuals who enter a business or receive services and are asked to temporarily remove a face covering for identification purposes;
  • individuals who are actively engaged in a public safety role, such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel; or
  • individuals who are officiating or participating in a life rite or religious service where the temporary removal of a face covering is necessary to complete or participate in the life rite or religious service.

Q: Can my business still require employees and patrons to wear masks?

A: Yes, businesses and other entities may still require COVID-19 mitigation steps, such as mask wearing among employees and patrons. it is advised to carry a mask with you and to wear a mask when asked out of respect.

Q: Do I have to wear a mask when I am outside?

A: No, individuals are not required to wear a mask outside. Pitkin County Public Health strongly recommends that individuals who are unvaccinated or who are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease continue to wear a mask when in outdoor crowded areas or in outdoor large gatherings of individuals, and maintain physical distancing. Crowded areas and large gatherings of individuals include but are not limited to venues, event areas, sports events, fairs, festivals, parades, graduation ceremonies or wedding receptions. 

Q: Will guests be required to wear masks when in line at an outdoor business?

A: No, individuals are not required to wear a mask outdoors. Unvaccinated people are encouraged to wear a mask when interacting with people outside their household, inside or outside. 

Q: Do restaurant servers need to wear masks on outdoor patios?

A: No, restaurant servers are not required to wear face coverings when serving customers on outdoor patios. However, consider implementing a policy around mask wearing when serving outside, especially if not all employees are vaccinated or if vaccination status is unknown among all employees. For more information about best practices in restaurants, review the Aspen Institute’s Safety First guidance, section “Reducing COVID Risks in Restaurants.”

Q: Do children 11 years and younger need to wear a mask in school?

A: While not required, we encourage masks over the nose and mouth for students 2 and older, including during in-person lessons and extracurricular activites, unless a student cannot medically tolerate a mask.

Q: What should a transit provider do if a customer tries to get on the bus and says they have a health condition and cannot wear a mask, face covering or face shield? 

A: A transit provider should arrange separate transportation for the person or make some other reasonable accommodation to provide transportation for the person, but the person should not be allowed on the bus. Please note that there is no exception for wearing a mask for fully vaccinated individuals on the bus or other public transportation or transport hubs.

Q: When should I consider getting tested for COVID-19? What symptoms would I be exhibiting?

A: You should consider getting tested if you meet any of the criteria below:

• Have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
• Have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local or state ​health department.

Please visit our testing page for more information about how to get tested HERE.

You could exhibit a wide range of symptoms of COVID-19 that range from mild to severe including:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Q: Can we carpool? 

A: We are encouraging people not to carpool. If you can’t use an individual vehicle, steps to follow include: use fresh air through vents or windows, do not use air recirculation mode, bring hand sanitizer, reduce car capacity by 50%, ride to work with the same people, passengers sit in the back, passengers should wear cloth masks when more than 1 person is in the car, disinfect car at the end of the day or after different people use the car.

Q: Are Business Safety Plans still required?

A: No, this form is not required for businesses to complete. However, we still recommend businesses adopt evidence-based practices, where they see fit. For more information about recommendations and best practices, please visit our Business Playbook.

Q: Are Event Safety Plans still required?

A: Event Safety Plans are no longer required by Public Health, but will continue to be available as a COVID-19 Event Safety Plan to all event planners to implement Public Health best practices. Pitkin County Public Health will continue to review the plans and provide feedback with the hopes that we can support your event planning efforts. While no longer required under the Public Health Order, Pitkin County, City of Aspen, Town of Snowmass Village and Town of Basalt Special Event Permitting integrated the event safety plan into their application process.  

Q: Are masks still required?

A: Face coverings are still required for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated patients, residents, and visitors, and medical-grade masks are required for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated staff, in the following settings that serve vulnerable or at-risk populations:

• Homeless shelters;
• Prisons;
• Jails; and
• Emergency medical and other healthcare settings (including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care centers, clinics, doctors’ offices, and non-urgent care medical structures).

People who are not required to wear a mask, even if unvaccinated, include:

• People who are 11 years old and younger.
• People who cannot medically tolerate a face covering.
• Children younger than 2 years old should NOT wear masks.

Additionally, individuals age 2 and older must still wear masks on public transportation, such as on buses, taxis, planes, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, and/or out of the country.

Q: Are hotel shuttles considered public transporation?

A: Yes, hotel shuttles are considered public transportation. For more information about the federal mask order when on public transportation, please review CDC’s Order. This is set to expire after September 13th, unless amended and/or extended.

Q: What will capacity limits and social distancing requirements be in Pitkin County after May 28?

A: There will be no capacity or social distancing requirements. Recommendations to consider these measures will be based on risk.

Q: Where can I find sector-specific guidance?

A: Visit the Colorado Department of Health & Environment Guidance by Sector page to see recommended COVID-19 guidance your industry should consider implementing.

Q: What are recommended best practices?

A: Visit the Pitkin County Business Playbook to learn about the Public Health recommendations you can implement in a business setting. Additionally, consider reading through the Aspen Institute’s Safety First guidance.

Q: Is carpooling allowed?

A: Yes, carpooling is allowed. Please consider implementing best practices, such as providing hand sanitizer, limiting the vehicle’s occupancy whenever possible, ensure all passengers wear non-medical cloth face coverings when in a vehicle containing more than one person, maximize the ventilation by opening windows, and disinfect all high-touch areas of the vehicle. 

Q: Will indoor self-serve buffets be allowed?

A: Indoor self-serve buffets may be allowed starting on May 28th. However, consider eliminating multi-use utensils and implement touchless self-service wherever practicable.

Q: What is the guidance for plexiglass at buffets? Checkout stations and hostess stands?

A: Barriers are recommended specifically for work situations where staff have the potential to come in contact with people known, or suspected, to be infected with COVID, or where there is high turnover and infection status of personnel is unknown.

Q: What are the farmers’ market Covid-19 requirements for vendors?

A: There will be no requirements for vendors. Consider reviewing the Colorado Farmers Market Association 2021 Recommendations for Farmers Markets

Q: “I Think I have COVID-19”

A: You might have COVID-19 if you have:

• ANY of the following: fever of 100.4°F or higher, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, chills, diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, congestion, stomach pain, or vomiting.

Call your doctor to get a referral to be tested at Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) or visit our testing page here for additional testing sites available in Pitkin, Eagle, or Garfield County. 

When symptomatic, help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by:

• Staying home except to get medical care
• Separating yourself from other people (including others in your household)
• Monitoring your symptoms
• Wearing a cloth covering over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people
• Cleaning your hands often
• Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Covering your coughs and sneezes

Q: I tested positive for COVID-19: 

A: Isolate (stay home) until it’s safe to be around others. You may discontinue isolation when the following conditions are met

• 24 hours with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
• Other symptoms have improved (for example, cough, shortness of breath), AND
• 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

If you had no symptoms but tested positive for COVID-19, stay home until 10 days have passed since the test was administered.

Someone from Pitkin County Public Health will contact you to answer any questions you have about your test result and potential isolation letters, gather more information about your illness and a list of close contacts, and provide resources you may need to safely isolate (e.g., food/medication delivery, mental health supports). Contact tracing is a key strategy to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Pitkin County Public Health staff will inform your close contacts that they may have been exposed, so the contact can monitor for symptoms and separate themselves from others in case they become ill. This conversation will be confidential. 

During isolation: 

• Do not go to grocery stores or other public places (food deliveries and other supports can be found here and/or discussed with the Disease Investigation staff who calls you) 
• Do not use public transportation
• Do not go to work. Working from a home-based office is permitted
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
• Clean your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes

We realize that the above requirements may be difficult for many. To minimize the negative effects, we have compiled a list of resources that may provide mental health support, as well as support acquiring groceries and housing for isolation. 

Resources available in English y Español

Q: I think I was exposed to someone with COVID-19:

A: Quarantine (stay home) and monitor your health for COVID-19-like symptoms for 10 days from last date of exposure OR 7 days from last day of exposure with a negative test within 48 hours (i.e. day 5-day 7). People who had close contact with a case infected with a COVID-19 variant virus must quarantine for 14 days from last day of exposure. 

COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

For 14 days after exposure, regardless of your quarantine length, you should:

• Watch for symptoms of COVID-19.
• If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health authority or health care provider.
• Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and take other precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 
• Avoid contact with high-risk individuals.

During quarantine:

• Do not go to grocery stores or other public places (food deliveries and other supports can be found here and/or discussed with the contact tracing staff who calls you) 
• Do not use public transportation
• Do not go to work. Working from a home-based office is permitted
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
• Clean your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes

We realize that the above requirements may be difficult for many. To minimize the negative effects, we have compiled a list of resources that may provide mental health support, as well as support acquiring groceries and housing for isolation. 

Resources available in English y Español

If you develop symptoms, call your doctor to get a referral to be tested at Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) or visit our testing page here for additional testing sites available in Pitkin, Eagle, or Garfield County. 

Do I need to quarantine if I have been vaccinated?

• For most people, if a full two weeks has passed since your second dose of the vaccine, you do not need to quarantine if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19. If you live and/or work in a congregate setting (such as correctional settings or homeless shelters), then you may still be required to quarantine after the exposure even after you are fully vaccinated.

Q: “I do not have symptoms but would like to get tested”

A: At this time, we are not recommending that asymptomatic individuals (people without symptoms) who have not had a known exposure to COVID-19 receive testing. 

A negative test for an asymptomatic individual only means that you are negative at that point in time and you could still become infected later on. A test done too early on in the incubation period could lead to a false negative test. Testing negative one day does not prevent one from testing positive the next day. The current testing method (PCR nasal swab) will return a false negative result 100% of the time when administered the day of transmission, 40% of the time four days after transmission, and 20% of the time in those who have symptoms three or more days after transmission. 

However, if an asymptomatic test is necessary, please visit our testing website to review the sites that may conduct asymptomatic testing.

Q: I would like an antibody test for COVID-19 to see if I was infected before:

A: The current most widely used antibody tests test for IgG and IgM antibodies. IgG antibodies generally develop between seven to ten days after infection, while IgM antibodies are a sign of a more recent infection. At this point, it is unclear to what extent the presence of antibodies may protect from future reinfection.

Please note, a negative test result does not rule out previous COVID-19 infection, and a positive test result could be wrong (false positive) and does not guarantee immunity. Positive results may be due to past or present infection with a different coronavirus strain. Current guidelines, such as social distancing, frequent hand hygiene, staying at home if symptomatic, and use of face masks, will remain in place regardless of the test result.

If you would still like to arrange for an antibody test, you may do so by reaching out to your primary care physician.

Q: I work with somebody who tested positive for COVID-19:

A: Currently, best practices dictate that those who are considered “close contacts” with a positive case quarantine for 10 days from last date of exposure OR 7 days from last day of exposure with a negative test within 48 hours (i.e. day 5-day 7) while monitoring for the onset of  symptoms. People who had close contact with a case infected with a COVID-19 variant virus must quarantine for 14 days from last day of exposure. Those who are deemed close contacts will be contacted by Pitkin County Public Health with quarantine instructions.

Close contacts are those who had close contact (within 6 feet) for more than 15 minutes (regardless of whether or not masks are worn) with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 while that individual was contagious (two days before diagnosis as well as for all days on which the case was symptomatic).

If you develop symptoms (fever of 100.4°F or higher, cough, shortness of breath, loss of  taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, chills, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite) during your quarantine period, please reach out to your doctor or primary care physician to see if you qualify for a referral for testing. 

Q: I went to a restaurant or business (grocery store, coffee shop, etc.) where someone tested positive for COVID-19:

A: Unless you were in close contact (within six feet for 15 minutes or more; regardless of whether or not masks were worn) with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19, you do not need to seek testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend testing for those who are not close contacts. 

If you are identified as a close contact, Pitkin County Public Health will reach out to you with quarantine instructions. 

Q: I have an employee who tested positive for COVID-19:

A: Contact Pitkin County at the information line at (970) 429-6186, if Public Health staff  have not already reached out to you. Additionally, refer to the Employer Guidance document for more information. These precautions are steps any place of work can enact if they presume they may have an employee that tests positive.

The Public Health Disease Investigation Team will initiate contact tracing with the individual. Do not notify other employees about the individual’s positive test result (this is a private medical matter) or attempt to contact trace yourself.

If your place of employment is identified as a location where exposure may have occurred, a member of the Disease Investigation Team will reach out to you directly. The CDC defines a “contact” or an “exposure” as a person who has been closer than 6 feet to a positive person for more than 15 minutes (regardless of whether or not masks are worn), while the person who has tested positive is considered contagious. People who are identified as “contacts” are required to quarantine for 10 days from last date of exposure OR 7 days from last day of exposure with a negative test within 48 hours (i.e. day 5-day 7). People who had close contact with a case infected with a COVID-19 variant virus must quarantine for 14 days from last day of exposure.

Unless your employee self reports to you as the employer, you as the employer may or may not be aware if your employee has tested positive. CDC Guidelines for Businesses provide precautions and steps any place of work can enact if they presume they may have an employee that tests positive.

Maintain confidentiality. Your employee’s health history is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and should remain private. The individual’s identity must not be revealed to other employees.

Provide support for the individual as well as enabling the individual to continue working remotely, as much as possible, if their health allows. The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 will need to complete their isolation orders before returning to work in-person.

Do not refer employees for testing (unless symptomatic). Pitkin County Public Health will work directly with you to determine if exposed employees need to be quarantined or tested. Individuals in isolation or quarantine will be released to work by Public Health.

Encourage all employees to:

• Wear required face coverings at all times when on shift and while socializing with coworkers
• Wash hands regularly, especially before eating or touching your face
• Maintain 6 feet of space between self and others
• Cover cough or sneeze into the elbow or tissue
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if sick and seek testing within the first 48 hours of symptoms
  • Sick employees, regardless of testing, are asked to stay home and isolate for 10 days after symptoms start, you haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours, AND your other symptoms have improved

Your business may or may not be required to close depending on the contact tracing and level of exposure identified. If a recommendation to close is being considered, Pitkin County Public Health will reach out to that business to discuss the concerns and process in detail. Regardless of whether or not a business is asked to close, all businesses should follow CDC Guidelines for Businesses, including: 

• If it has been less than 7 days since the sick employee has been in the facility, close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person. 
  • Clean, sanitize, and disinfect the employee’s working area.
  • If practical, wait 24 hours before using or cleaning the area with windows open to minimize other employees being exposed.
  • If waiting 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
• If it has been 7 days or more since the sick employee used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary. Continue routinely cleaning and disinfecting all high-touch surfaces in the facility.

Q: I want to visit someone who is at a higher risk for severe illness (aged 65 and older, underlying health conditions):

A: Pitkin County Public Health does not currently recommend testing for individuals visiting higher risk individuals, as a positive test one day does not ensure that you are disease-free the next day. 

Try to limit contact with those at a higher risk for severe illness. It is possible to spread COVID-19 even if you do not have symptoms of illness. If you have been staying home and limiting interactions for two weeks, you may be less likely to be carrying the virus. 

If you decide to visit someone who is high-risk:

• Wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth
• Maintain 6 feet of space 
• Stay outside if possible
• Keep the interaction short
• Avoid taking public transportation
• Clean your hands often
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Consider leaving children at home unless you are confident that they understand distancing guidelines

Q: I am traveling somewhere or enrolled in a program/camp that requires testing for COVID-19:

A: If you are traveling somewhere or have enrolled in a program or camp that requires a negative COVID-19 test before arrival, reach out to your primary care physician to arrange testing  or review our testing website for sites that test asymptomatic individuals. Ensure ample time, as getting an appointment and receiving your test results may take 1-2 weeks. 

Make contingency plans if you receive a positive test result and are unable to proceed with your trip or program. Even if you receive a negative test result, due to the increased risk of COVID-19 with any kind of travel, we also encourage you to have a plan for how to isolate if you develop COVID-19-like symptoms while traveling or at your camp as well. 

Q: My employer requires that I am tested before I can return to work:

A: At this time, we are not advising employers to require asymptomatic individuals to be tested before returning to work. If your employer still requires this to return to work, you may be able to arrange for testing through your primary care physician. If an individual tests positive through a nasal swab, they will need to isolate for ten days from the time of receiving their results. A negative nasal swab does not preclude an individual from becoming ill at any time in the future.

Q: What is the delta variant, and why is it concerning?

A: The delta variant is a naturally occurring mutation of the SARS CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. Data show that the delta variant is more contagious and spreads more easily than the original COVID-19 virus. The delta variant accounts for a growing proportion of new coronavirus cases across the U.S., and people infected with the delta variant are more likely to need hospitalization than those infected with earlier strains of the virus.

Q: Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective against the delta variant?

A: Yes. Data show that the COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective in protecting fully vaccinated people from catching and spreading the virus, including the delta variant. But it is critical that you are fully vaccinated to be protected.

Q: Why have some local governments reinstated mask policies?

A: Local and state officials establish policies based on local scenarios, including vaccination and transmission rates. Where there are lower vaccination rates and higher infection rates, or where disparities persist across population groups, officials may reinstate masking policies – such as indoor masking – with the goal of protecting their communities and people who are not or cannot be vaccinated.

Q: What metrics are being monitored?

A: CDPHE and Pitkin County Public Health are closely monitoring regional and local hospital capacities.The data are broken down by the regional hospital capacity as identified by the State for both ICU capacity and general bed capacity. If either the ICU capacity or general bed capacity for the region exceeds 85% or local hospital capacity is threatened, capacity limits and public health requirements may be reinstated for the community.

Q: What are some commonly used COVID-19 Terms?

A:

Coronavirus: A family of related viruses. Many of them cause respiratory illnesses. Coronaviruses cause COVID-19, SARS, MERS, and some strains of influenza, or flu. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is officially called SARS-CoV-2, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Asymptomatic: Not showing any symptoms (signs of disease or illness). Some people without any symptoms still have and can still be contagious and spread the COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC): The United States’ federal health protection organization

CDPHE: Colorado Department of Public Health and environment. Primary department in Colorado responsible for Public Health and Environment regulations

Communicable: Similar to the word, “contagious.” Used to describe diseases that can be spread or transmitted from one person to another.

Community Spread: People who have been infected with the virus in a particular area. Some may not even know where or how they were infected. 

Infection Rate: Can be referred to as incident rate. Is the probability or risk of infection in a population. Used to measure the frequency of occurrence of new cases of infection within a defined population during a specified time frame

Epidemic: A situation where more cases of disease than expected happen in a given area or to a group of people

Epidemiology: The branch of medicine that studies how diseases happen and spread in communities of people. A person who studies epidemiology is called an epidemiologist

Flattening the curve: Reducing the rate of new COVID-19 cases. The “curve” refers to a graph showing the number of cases of COVID-19 that happen over a period of time. Many cases happening in a short period of time create a graph that looks like a tall spike

Outbreak: A sudden increase of a specific illness in a small area

PPE: PPE Stands for personal protective equipment, which includes masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and other coverings used by  healthcare workers to prevent the spread of infection

Incubation period: The time between when a person is infected by a virus and when he or she notices symptoms of the disease. Estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 2-14 days