THANKSGIVING COVID-19 UPDATE

During the seven-day period between 11/13-11/20/21 COVID-19 cases doubled in Gunnison County. In that time frame, 66 local residents tested positive while 69 total cases were identified in Gunnison County.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and many anticipate gathering with family and friends, we would like to remind everyone that identifying and containing infections is crucial to minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 we encourage you to seek testing and isolate until you have a result. If you have been exposed to a known positive COVID-19 case, please seek testing and monitor for symptoms. Those who are unvaccinated should quarantine after exposure. More information is available on our Community Resources page.

It is advised that if you are feeling ill, you should not to participate in Thanksgiving activities with family and friends.

If you are gathering with others for Thanksgiving, please be mindful of vaccination and ventilation in your plans. Small gatherings among vaccinated family are the safest option. When gathering indoors, be mindful of ventilation – even something as simple as opening a window or two can help improve the ventilation of an indoor gathering.

Testing before the holidays also offers a snap-shot of infection before travelling or gathering. One of the easiest ways to schedule a test is to use the online platform to self-register. You can complete the process at https://my.primary.health/l/gvh. For those who anticipate using a home-based rapid test, it’s best to test on or as near the date of the gathering as possible.

In the long-term, vaccination is still our best defense against COVID-19. In response to a high-volume of local residents seeking COVID-19 boosters, Gunnison County has expanded the hours of the 12/2/21 vaccination clinic. Vaccine will now be available from 3:00-6:00pm at the Fred Field Center. This will be the last community booster clinic of December.

A reminder that booster doses are now available to any individual 18 and older who received a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna at least 6 months ago OR one dose of Johnson & Johnson at least two months ago.

Local data highlights that since booster doses became available in September, more than 3,800 Gunnison County residents have received a booster dose. This is approximately 33% of the fully vaccinated individuals in Gunnison County.

Gunnison County and the Gunnison Watershed School District continue to partner to provide efficient and effective pediatric COVID-19 vaccination clinics. In the first two weeks that COVID-19 vaccine became available to those between the ages of 5-11, more than 22% of Gunnison County children in that age group have received a first-dose. Additionally, 59% of 12-17-year-old children in Gunnison County have also received a first-dose.

A reminder that Gunnison County will be offering COVID-19 vaccination clinics on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday 11/30 @ Gunnison Community School from 3:30-5:30pm (Pediatric)
  • Thursday 12/2 @ Fred Field from 3:00-6:00pm (Boosters)
  • Thursday 12/9 @ Crested Butte Community School from 3:30-5:30pm (Pediatric)

COVID-19 vaccine is also available at local pharmacies and the CDPHE vaccine bus will make return trips in December.

For up-to-date vaccine clinic schedules and other information please visit Gunnison County’s Vaccine Resources page. Please visit: https://covid19.gunnisoncounty.org for information on local case counts, where to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination, or where to find testing.