This report gives you a summary of the data over the past week and the status of COVID-19 in the community.** For more detailed information, please visit our COVID-19 data dashboards.
Current CDC Risk Level
Low
Moderate
Substantial
High
Pitkin County is currently experiencing a High Level of community transmission (defined as >= 100 cases / 100,000 cumulative incidence rate or a testing positivity rate of over 10%). Learn More.
Hospital Status (As of 12/22)
- Aspen Valley Hospital Capacity: CAUTIOUS*
(Based on an evaluation of inpatient hospitalizations, transfer capacity, healthcare workers out and average daily visits in ER, respiratory evaluation and COVID-19 testing)
*Aspen Valley Hospital’s Essential Healthcare Workers Out w/ COVID and COVID-like symptoms indicator in the hospital’s capacity matrix is CONCERNING. The Average Daily Visits indicator is CAUTIOUS. These changes are directly related to those two indicators and not based on hospitalizations at AVH, which remain comfortable. - Pitkin County Resident Hospital Admissions: 0 (in past 2 weeks anywhere in CO)
- Pitkin County Resident ICU Admissions: 0 (in past 2 weeks anywhere in CO)
- All Colorado Hospitalizations:
- 94% of Acute Care Beds in Use
- 93% of ICU Beds in Use
- 83% of Those Hospitalized are Unvaccinated
7-Day COVID-19 Case Summary (12/15 – 12/21)
- New Pitkin County cases: 101 (6 are under 18 years old)
- Vaccinated – 79 cases (breakthrough)
- Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated – 16
- Unknown Vaccination Status – 6
- Resident Incidence Rate: 569/100,000
(The cumulative incidence rate is calculated by dividing the total number of cases over the census population, then multiplying by 100,000) - School and Childcare Cases:
- Child/Student – 10
- Teacher/Staff – 0
- New Out of County cases tested in Pitkin County: 28
(Visitors and those working, but not living, in Pitkin County)
7-Day Testing Summary (12/15 – 12/21)
- Positivity Rate: 12.8%
- Positivity Increase/Decrease: 5.2% increase over the prior 7-day period
- Testing Turnaround: 99.3% of test results within 2 days
Vaccination Status (As of 12/22)
- 79% of all residents are fully vaccinated
- 97% of all residents have received at least one dose
Mask Status
- Indoor Mask Mandate – Effective 9/16
- All individuals 2 years or older are required to wear a face covering in all indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more
Updates
COVID-19 Cases Quadruple in Last 5 Days
In the past 4-5 days our cases have quadrupled which has never happened in Pitkin County. In addition, Aspen Valley Hospital moved to “cautious” due to staff out sick, Pitkin County is currently at a high level of community transmission according to the CDC Data Tracker and over 1250 tests are scheduled for today in the county. Please be vigilant and make the best choices for you and your family during the holiday and the coming weeks. Continue to wear a mask, get tested, and stay home if sick.
Holiday Testing
Testing needs have increased due to the emergence of the Omicron variant and increased COVID-19 incidence rate locally – all as Pitkin County’s winter holiday season peaks and travel is at an all-time high. In addition, holiday testing lab and shipping schedules are creating potential delays in testing turnaround times. If you are in need of COVID-19 test results for travel with quick results, please choose a provider that will guarantee turnaround times. Find those locations on our Get Tested webpage. Read more in our recent blog.
COVID Cases Rising as Omicron Makes Its Way to Pitkin County
This past weekend Pitkin County’s incidence rate jumped from 186 to 287, then to 569 by Tuesday, December 21st. These numbers include only cases among Pitkin County residents, though cases among people out of county have also increased. The sudden increases are likely due to the transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the increasing number of holiday and winter season tourists and visitors in Pitkin County. The first confirmed Omicron case was reported to Pitkin County on Monday, December 20th.
It is imperative, now more than ever, to get vaccinated and boosted when able, mask up indoors, get tested if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals or experience flu-like symptoms, and stay home if you are sick. Vaccine boosters are what make the difference between a mild and severe case of COVID-19. If you have received your initial vaccination series of Pfizer or Moderna, or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson in their respective timeframes, then it’s time to schedule your booster on our Get Vaccinated page.
**The COVID-19 case data was collected by Pitkin County Public Health and may not reflect data reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Testing results are from CDPHE reports of all COVID-19 tests among Pitkin County residents. There may be differences between CDPHE positivity estimates and those presented in this report.
