Rose Laudicina/ The Aspen Times
“Targeted and universal testing” helped to identify and contain a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the Sundeck and Aspen Mountain Club last week, according to a report from Josh Vance, an epidemiologist who works with Pitkin County’s COVID-19 response team.
As of Sunday morning, 17 positive cases were confirmed among 72 employees who were tested for COVID-19.
Pitkin County Public Health initiated widespread testing at the two eateries managed by The Little Nell, which is part of Aspen Skiing Co., as a proactive measure last week after two employees independently sought testing and confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the two weeks prior, according to a news release from The Little Nell on Sunday evening.
Of the 276 cases identified in Wednesdayâs 14-day COVID-19 case report, two patients are employees at the Sundeck and Aspen Mountain Club, an Aspen Skiing Co. statement confirmed Sunday.
Pitkin County Public Health, in its contact tracing, reached out to SkiCo and The Little Nell Wednesday to inform the larger employer entities of the status.
âThey recommended testing all staff at the Sundeck/[Aspen Mountain Club], as a proactive measure, to which we complied, over the last three days,â the statement confirms.
As of Sunday morning, 72 SkiCo employees were tested and, including the initial two cases, the endeavor netted 17 positive results. Those additional 15 employees were Âasymptomatic and are now in quarantine.
This is that time of the year when the media reflects on the past 51 or 52 weeks through various presentations top 10 stories of the year, top news makers of the year, the biggest surprises of the year, the biggest disappointments, and so on.
Yet in 2020, there’s little disputing presidential election and social-justice causes not withstanding that the pandemic had the greatest impact on our daily lives than anything else.
People lost jobs. People struggled financially, socially and personally. People got sick. Businesses shuttered and failed. Schools closed. Ski areas closed. Events and festivals were canceled.
But life forged on and people came together.
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Aspen Police Officer Chip Seamans receives the COVID-19 vaccine from Laurie Cohen, the immunization coordinator at Aspen Community Health, on Wednesday. First rounds of vaccines were given to the valleyâs first responders and Cohen said with a chuckle, âThis has certainly been a project, a good project though.â
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Now that indoor private parties and gatherings have been prohibited through the holiday season, area businesses that service said soirees should take note.
Pitkin County public health officials signaled a willingness this week to punish party rental outfits, caterers, parking valets and others who make their living off the Aspen area’s traditionally numerous private holiday parties and events.
“It’s something we will be looking at,” Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock told county board members Tuesday. “(But) private gatherings, frankly, are hard to catch.”
Markey Butler, chair of the Pitkin County’s health board, said Monday that catering companies that serve private parties this holiday season in violation of public health orders need to be told “we will yank their (business) licenses.”