As ski season rapidly approaches, local ski areas have gradually released some details on how operations will work this year. Public health is working on systems for managing outbreaks and imposing quarantine and isolation protocols in Summit County with winter approaching and several local ski areas planning to offer employee housing this season.
Brian Bovaird, Summit County director of emergency management, explained that he is currently working to identify how quarantine and isolation needs might be different once the ski season starts compared to what needs have been since the pandemic began. He added that while he is covering the topic broadly, employee housing is a huge piece of the puzzle.
“There’s so many different factors or circumstances that could lead to public health having to do a quarantine and isolation order,” Bovaird said.
When working with the local population, Bovaird said it is ideal if people can quarantine and isolate in their normal environment. However, if living situations do not permit this, public health can provide temporary housing for the person or people who need to isolate.
For visitors, Bovaird said public health has been lucky this summer. Positive cases or cases under investigation have had access to a vehicle so the person can drive home and Summit County public health can coordinate with the local office of the case.
This ski season might bring different situations, as people may not be able to drive home due to distance, especially in the case of international visitors. Bovaird said public health would provide temporary housing for these visitors. As the ski areas hire seasonal employees and ramp up for opening, Bovaird said public health has been working with the areas on their ski season plans, including consideration for employees.
“We know that if the ski season runs for the duration of the ski season and COVID is still here, it’s not a question of if any employees will get COVID — statistically we know that some will — and so we’re working with the resorts to have them help us out and share some of the burden as well and anticipate that need and leave some employee housing available for that specific purpose,” Bovaird said.
As far as number of employees per unit go, Bovaird said this is mostly up to the ski areas. He noted that public health is meeting with the ski areas weekly to hash out details. While a plan hasn’t been finalized, public health is requesting that ski areas have a few extra units set aside in housing complexes so that employees can isolate as needed. So far, Bovaird said public health doesn’t seem to have received any pushback on this idea.
