Grand County reports the following testing and case numbers for local COVID-19 activity:
• Positive cases: 1
• Probable positives: 1
• Deaths: 0
The first positive case was reported on March 17. The one probable positive case is the spouse of the confirmed case. The positive case that was reported today is an individual who works in Grand County and has a permanent residence in another county. That case will NOT be counted in the Grand County tally but will be counted in the appropriate county.
We know the news today of a positive case associated with Grand County may be distressing to many. The lack of specific details regarding the patient’s identity, location, and ties to Grand County can be frustrating, but please understand that we are giving as much information as we can to protect our public about cases in our community. We must keep identifying information private to protect the individual. An individual’s medical information is not public information. Be assured that our team is working vigilantly to communicate with positive cases to identify people they have been in close contact with and are notifying those that may have been exposed, assessing their current symptoms if any, and encouraging self-quarantine to protect the health of the public.
Social Responsibility
The public must respect the fact that small mountain communities are NOT safe havens from COVID-19 and we have very limited resources and supplies. Grand County only has three small emergency departments and only two major grocery providers for the 15,000 permanent residents living here. We do not have the capacity to feed, house and care for a large number of visitors, especially immunocompromised or high-risk individuals. Please take this to heart when you think about traveling in Colorado. The safest actions you can take are stay at home, enjoy some fresh air and take care of your mind and body during this challenging time. The more we self-quarantine physically, the better we will be able to fend off the virus in our communities.
COVID-19 Website
Grand County’s Communications department has been working diligently to make sure the website, co.grand.co.us/covid19, has the most up-to-date and accurate information for our communities. Feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are normal during a pandemic. Staying informed not only reduces those feelings but helps stop false information from spreading. Currently, the website provides the following resources:
Guidance – Public Health guidance from local, state and federal resources about gathering, social distancing, and cleaning/hygiene. There are fact sheets and information for businesses and schools.
Community Resources – Here you will find information about food pantry and delivery services, grab and go meal pick-up locations, volunteer information, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program; resources for women, infants, and children (WIC), rental and utility assistance, transportation, medical and mental health support for vulnerable and immunocompromised individuals, veterans services, home services, and social support.
Business Resources – We are gathering information about small business loans, how to apply for unemployment, and emergency paid leave rules.
Local Business Status – Access live documents online that are being updated as business operations information becomes available.
Archives – This is where we compile our Team’s daily updates and press releases, Grand County declarations, and Colorado’s Executive and Public Health Orders related to COVID-19.
Additional Information – Many links to global, national, and state COVID-19 information.
