Pitkin County s virus rate is the worst in the state, nearly double that of the next highest county. Other counties with destination ski resorts – Eagle, Routt and San Miguel – are among the worst 15, but still pale in comparison to Pitkin County’s rates. Alex Hager / Aspen Public Radio
Pitkin County has the highest incidence rate of COVID-19 in all of Colorado, nearly double that of the next highest county. Those alarmingly high numbers have sparked strict public health measures and strained contact tracers – but experts cannot pin down what’s driving the spike.
“We ran hundreds of calculations trying to determine what is really the difference here in Pitkin County, what is leading to this increase–and we didn’t really find anything,” said Josh Vance, an epidemiologist for the county.
A week after standing behind the widely used Curative COVID-19 tests, Pitkin County and Aspen Valley Hospital are discontinuing the use of them as of Friday.
Aspen School District stopped using Curative for asymptomatic testing on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., according to David Baugh, superintendent of schools.
The announcement comes after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Thursday morning released new guidance on the administration of Curative tests for community-based testing.
Based on direction from the Food and Drug Administration, CDPHE is concerned about Curative sample collection methods leading to possible false negative results.
Last week, the CDPHE was supporting the use of Curative in the state’s communities, while closely monitoring and evaluating the test’s effectiveness.
IF YOU WATCH…
What: ‘Just Over the Ridge’ EP Release Party
Where: Streamin’ Steves, grassrootstv.org
More info: stevesguitars.net
Inspired by our mountains and the creatures we share it with, the half-dozen songs on Lizzy Plotkin and Natalie Spears’ “Just Over the Ridge” are steeped in American musical traditions and powered by angelic vocal harmonies.
The album opener, “Seasons Change,” is an original they’ve been playing at shows since they began performing together four years ago. Spears wrote this poetic chronicle of a sleepless night spent contemplating the natural life of a mountain valley about six years ago during one such night in an old farmhouse off Highway 133 in Carbondale.
Steve Mundinger
The high cost of living in the Roaring Fork Valley is one of the factors that makes our population perpetually restless and transient.
Prices are often prohibitive for things like rent to gasoline in the Aspen-to-Parachute region, but one of the biggest costs is health care and health insurance. Fortunately, there is some good news to report on this front. Two new health insurance companies are offering policies to valley residents in the small group category (small businesses and nonprofits) and the individual market.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has been the only choice for individuals and small employers for several years, but United Healthcare, the small group insurer, and Rocky Mountain Health Plans, the individual provider, are now offering policies at 5% to 15% cheaper rates.
The burn scar of the Grizzly Creek Fire is seen on the hillside above Interstate 70 and the Colorado River near the Grizzly Creek exit in Glenwood Canyon in 2020. Chelsea Self / Post Independent
With the 20 worst wildfires in Colorado’s history all occurring since 2002 including 2020’s Grizzly Creek Fire officials and experts have begun addressing what the Roaring Fork Valley should anticipate in relation to long-term impacts of wildland fires.
Flooding and water quality remain the highest concerns.
The Glenwood Springs River Commission hosted an online meeting Wednesday, detailing a one-year plan that includes protection, conservation, use and development of the Colorado River Basin.