Take Gunnison County’s Community Survey
Gunnison County has created a community survey to better understand the general public’s perception of, and impacts from, the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes considerations of basic needs and what makes them feel safe when visiting local business and their spending habits. Community members are encouraged to take the survey.
Mask-Use Study Starts This Week
A local observational study began Wednesday to evaluate the implementation of public health prevention measures with mask use as the proxy. A collection of staff and volunteers from throughout the Gunnison Valley will be calculating mask compliance at specific sites and times on Wednesdays and Saturdays (e.g., high-traffic businesses, post office). The data will be generalized and won’t break out detail of any specific business or location; instead, it will be defined by region (e.g., Gunnison mask compliance, Crested Butte mask compliance).
The mask-use study is for data collection and not intended for enforcement purposes, but rather for an understanding of general compliance. The goal is to conduct the study for at least six weeks to collect enough data for meaningful analysis.
Gunnison County is not alone in conducting a mask survey in Colorado. For more information, read this report from The Colorado Sun, which published today.
Virtual Town Hall Skips a Week
We did not conduct our virtual town hall Monday, Aug. 3. We will pick it back up on Monday, Aug. 10. You can preregister on Zoom for the meeting on Aug. 10 here.
Positives and Indicator Updates
In the seven-day period from July 27-Aug. 2, we had four days with at least three positive tests. And in the 14-day period from July 20-Aug. 2, we had 50 positive test results come in. That 14-day average positivity is at 22.2%. We continue to meet two indicators for a move to yellow (three of seven criteria must be met). No other indicators have been met at this time.
The 14-day average positivity does not include 39 pending test results, all of which are from July. Gunnison County public health director Joni Reynolds has been working diligently to learn why those tests have yet to come in from the state health department.
“We still have pending results from July,” Reynolds said today. “We shouldn’t have pending results from July.
The Gunnison County COVID-19 team has followed up repeatedly with the state to get the pending test results sent more timely. The state has acknowledged there are delays and has indicated it is looking to identify better solutions, especially for the Western Slope.
While our healthcare system is busy locally and across the Western Slope (with no COVID-19 health issues), we do still have capacity. We currently don’t have any patients at the hospital with COVID-19. The other indicators that would move us to yellow are around our ability to give care. Thus far, we are in strong standing.
Overall, we have seen 204 positive tests so far with 1,331 negative tests. Seventy-one tests are pending.
A recent analysis for the Investigative Science Team suggests that, similar to national trends, positive infections are more common in younger people in July, compared to the March outbreak. We are waiting for pending results from July to complete the analysis, as well as exploring ways we can provide the public real-time access to such trends without violating privacy concerns.
For more information about test data, visit Gunnison County’s Test Data webpage and Dashboard webpage.
Call Center: 970-641-7660
Here is an infographic of the Call Center call tree.
The Call Center will be operating 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday-Friday. For those needing assistance outside of those hours, please leave a message. There will also be someone monitoring the callcenter@gunnisoncounty.org email.
Screening Site
The Screening Site is located at Gunnison Valley Health on Monday through Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Testing requires an appointment ahead of time. The Call Center is only open Monday-Friday. If you are seeking a test on Saturday, you will have to have a prior appointment.
The Screening Site is located in the large north entrance parking lot and operates out of a shed. We ask that you please contact the Call Center in advance to schedule an appointment at 970-641-7660.
Delivery Assistance Update
We can help you arrange deliveries of groceries from City Market’s Pickup program, food bundles from the Gunnison Food Pantry and prescriptions from City Market or Walmart pharmacies. We ask that you only use this service if you are at risk and isolating at home, ill with COVID-19 symptoms or quarantined because of exposure. Deliveries are made by drivers trained to handle your order safely.
To arrange for a delivery, please call Senior Transportation Dispatch at 970-641-7959 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grocery deliveries can be scheduled Monday through Friday.
Prescription deliveries can be called in throughout the week but will only be delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays for the Gunnison area and on Tuesdays for the Crested Butte area. Special arrangements may be made in the case of an emergency.
Food Pantry bundles can be requested throughout the week but are only delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays in Gunnison, and on Tuesdays for the Crested Butte area.
Importance of Self-Reporting
One of the best tools to provide early warnings of spread in the community is to self-report as symptomatic. If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, even if they are mild, please self-report and isolate yourself.