5/4/20 Update

If you are symptomatic, but otherwise ok, please self-isolate and self-report at www.gunnisoncounty.org/covid19

If you are symptomatic and worsening, please call the call center. 970-641-7660

We ask that you not show up to the screening site until you call first.

If it is an emergency, never hesitate to call 911.

Primary Information Sources

www.gunnisoncounty.org/covid19

Gunnison Health and Human Services Facebook page

Please self-report if you have any symptoms or have overcome your symptoms.

Be a Responsible Outdoor Recreation User

Stop the Spread of COVID-19 With Good Habits and Forethought

Rivers and Trails are open throughout the valley to SUPing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Kayaking, Rafting, Climbing, Fishing and Dirt Biking/Vehicle Travel.

Rules:

Go Explore: Groups of up to 10 people are allowed to play outside so long as social distancing, proper hygiene and no one in your group is at-risk.

Keep Your Distance: Social distancing must still occur on trails, during shuttles and in parking lots and trailheads.

Expect Closed Bathrooms: Go before you go! Use Leave No Trace principles on trail and never use the river bank as a toilet.

Come Prepared: Have your own food, water, clothes and gear so you don’t have to share.

Take It Easy: Medical support is extremely limited throughout the Gunnison Valley. Scrambling Search and Rescue teams makes it difficult for rescuers to stay socially distanced putting them at further risk.

Keep The Air Clean: Consider bike shuttles for river usage. Wear a mask when possible to avoid infecting friends. 

Know Your Fire Rules: Fires are currently banned in Gunnison National Forest, but allowed on BLM and County lands. Regardless, be careful, have water and a shovel on hand and don’t burn when windy. Don’t add additional burden to first responders.

Business Sector Plans

We have been receiving business sector plans from the various subgroups led by the ICELab. On Friday, we responded to both the Lodging and Guide/Outfitters plans to safely reopen. These plans showed how the businesses will operate in a creative and safe way.

Currently the State continues to restrict travel for only “necessary” purposes through May 26th. Based on State guidance, we will look to lift restrictions on our businesses that cater to travel on a similar timeframe. The following dates could change based on indicators here and direction from the State.

Short term lodging

  • The goal is to phase in over the month of May and June
  • Immediately lodges may begin preparations for opening
  • May 15th lodges should plan to open with <25% capacity for parties currently in the County such as residents, non-resident homeowners, and essential workers
  • May 27th is an appropriate target for lodges to open with up to 50% capacity to tourism
  • June 10th is the target for 75% capacity
  • June 24th 100% capacity

Guides and Outfitters

  • May 15th guides should plan to begin, with an exemption, for residents, non-resident homeowners and essential workers who are in the County
  • May 27th is an appropriate target for opening for all visitors, tourists, residents and essential workers unless there is a change in the State Directive restricting in-state travel

In addition to these sector plans, we received 4 more plans this weekend. We will work to respond to those early this week.

Screening Site

We are now testing six days per week. Testing is still scheduled via the Call Center and is required to be tested.

The screening sites in Gunnison on Monday (10 a.m.-noon) and Crested Butte on Wednesday (10 a.m.-noon) will continue to operate. We have added testing by appointment in the GVH parking lot on Tuesday (9-10 a.m.), Thursday (9-10 a.m.), Friday (9-10 a.m.) and Saturday (9-10 a.m.). 

Patients who contact the Call Center and are instructed to be swabbed will either be sent to a screening site or receive an appointment, depending on the day of the call. There will be 6-8 appointments available per scheduled day, with at least 2 appointments reserved for essential workers.

A primary goal of the new screening-site schedule is to provide NP-swab testing for COVID-19 to individuals within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

The Center for Mental Health

We have consolidated the Center for Mental Health’s resources to this page on our website.

Call Center Hours

The call center will be operating 8am-12pm Monday-Friday. For those needing assistance outside of those hours, there will be someone monitoring the callcenter@gunnisoncounty.org email. The Delivery Assistance Hotline will keep its same hours, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Grocery and prescription delivery 5 days per week

If you are at risk and self-isolating at home, ill with Covid-19 symptoms, or quarantined and need groceries or prescriptions delivered to your home, call (970) 641-7959. Deliveries are by drivers trained to safely handle your order and are available throughout the valley, 5 days a week, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

By the Numbers

Our Google data studio is live on the website. The main page is a breakdown. There is more detail in a link in the bottom right corner for those that want to dig in further.