The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is reporting that there are 11 active COVID-19 outbreaks connected to 7 ski resorts across the state.
The most recent outbreak was identified at Winter Park Resort. The resort released a joint statement with Grand County Public Health:
“It has been determined that these cases have not been traced back to the transmission through interaction with visitors but, rather, from social gatherings outside of the workplace and congregate housing,”
You can find the entire statement at the bottom of this post.
These are the other 10 outbreaks at ski resorts according to CDPHE:
- Beaver Creek Ski Rentals
- Breckenridge Adult Ski School: January 2021
- Copper Mountain Guest Services/Copper Sports Center
- Copper Mountain Parking/Base Operations
- Keystone Mountain House Adult Ski School
- Keystone River Run Adult Ski School
- Keystone Ticket Scanning
- Monarch Ski Mountain
- Steamboat Ski Corp – Ski School
- Vail Mountain Lift Operations
Here is the criteria for an ‘outbreak’ declaration from CDPHE:
- There are two or more individuals* who have tested positive (by a
molecular test like PCR, NOT a serology test) for COVID-19Â ) *OR* - One positive AND two or more probable** cases within a 14-day
period in your facility, business or other non-household group.
It appears that many of the cases are linked to social gatherings, common housing, or employee meetings, and not to skiers and riders.
Stay tuned here at Unofficial Networks as this story develops.
2/8/21
Joint Statement from Grand County Public Health and Winter Park Resort
GRAND COUNTY, CO – On the week of February 8, 2021, Grand County Public Health (GCPH) will be reporting to the state an outbreak at Winter Park Resort (WPR) among resort employees. This declaration allows more state resources to be pulled in to aid with suppressing COVID activity in the WPR employee group. WPR, GCPH and CDPHE will continue to monitor the outbreak until two incubation periods (28 days) have passed with no new outbreak-related COVID-19 positive cases. Through case investigations, it has been determined that these cases have not been traced back to transmission through interaction with visitors but, rather, from social gatherings outside of the workplace and congregate housing.
WPR has worked closely and been transparent with state and local public health authorities since the onset of the pandemic and in recent weeks to navigate these dynamic circumstances. WPR has an onsite testing site that they have managed since December and has consistently utilized GCPH testing sites as deemed necessary.
Throughout the past few months, WPR has implemented robust contact tracing among employees which has helped GCPH and a CDPHE contact tracing support team has been enlisted as needed during this outbreak. WPR has also enlisted a CDPHE epidemiology/hygiene consult to further investigate changes that could be made that could suppress COVID activity among employees.
CDPHE and WPR are proactively enacting protocols that allow more state resources to be used in aid of suppressing COVID-19 activity in the WPR employee group, including increased testing and this announcement. WPR, GCPH and the Grand County Board of Health (BOH) will utilize all local and state resources in order to address these cases and support the community.
It is important to remember that it is every individual’s personal and professional responsibility to make the right decisions and hold each other to the safest standards possible. Please continue to take preventative measures to protect yourself and others.