KEYSTONE COLORADO — Rising case numbers in Summit County are the result of “irresponsible community behavior,” Public Health Director Amy Wineland said at a Board of Health meeting on Thursday, Oct. 15.
On Monday, Oct. 12, Summit County’s novel coronavirus case numbers surpassed the threshold for the county’s current level of reopening, safer-at-home Level 2: Concern.
The state determines a county’s level of reopening — that is level of restrictions — by looking at the number of positive cases per 100,000 people. The county’s current data shows that there are 193.7 cases per 100,000 people.
If that number doesn’t drop below 175 per 100,000 in the next 11 days, the county will be moved to Level 3 of the safer-at-home phase of reopening, which is labeled as “high-risk.”
“If we aren’t able to improve our numbers in two weeks we will have a consultation with (the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) to discuss whether we need a bit more time to get our numbers under control, or whether we will be moving into that high-risk Level 3 category,” Wineland said at Thursday’s meeting.
Level 3 would mean that restaurants, offices and places of worship will move from 50% to 25% capacity, according to the state website.
Wineland said it’s imperative for people to continue following the county’s six commitments for containment, which are as follows:
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands
- Stay 6 feet apart
- Stay home if you are sick
- Get tested if you are sick
- Get a flu shot
Lately, public health has heard of more and more people going to work when they feel sick, attending gatherings of more than 10 people and not wearing masks, Wineland said.
However, if cases continue to rise as they are in Summit County, all of that planning for the ski season could be for nothing, Wineland said.
“It’s a huge concern,” she said. “We have two choices, we can come together and practice those six commitments … or we can jeopardize our ski season and our economy again.”
