Industry News
The Board of Health in Pitkin County, CO, home to Aspen Snowmass ski area, will meet today to discuss the options available to them as the county struggles to contain the rise in covid-19 cases. One of the three options available would be a ‘full shutdown’, similar to the measures taken in March when the ski areas closed.
- Related: Pitkin County, CO (Aspen) Requires Visitors to Sign an Affidavit Confirming Negative Covid-19 Test
Colorado Governor Jared Polis moved all ‘red level’ counties to ‘level orange’ a week ago. Pitkin County, however, continued to enforce stricter public health requirements. It’s estimated that one in 38 residents can transmit COVID-19, reports Out There Colorado.
The Board of Health met (virtually) on Thursday 7th, to discuss the county’s status. Pitkin County has the second-highest COVID-19 incidence rate in Colorado. Of course, the ski resort was part of the discussions and should be included in any future restrictions. The three options to be discussed are, according to the Aspen Times:
- Fully adopt the state’s ‘level red’ restrictions, closing indoor dining, and canceling all indoor events
- Moving to ‘purple level’ restrictions, essentially a stay-at-home order. All dining would close, as would gyms, personal services, and offices.
- The most extreme option would be similar to action taken in March, a ‘full shutdown’.
A decision will be made today, Monday 11th, during a 1 pm meeting.
In early December, Pitkin County required visitors to declare that they have had a negative covid-19 test 72-hours before arriving. Travelers unable to provide proof of a negative test are required to quarantine for 14-days or obtain a test at their own cost, reported the Aspen Daily News.
The affidavit, enforced from December 14th, also asks visitors to confirm that they and their party have been symptom-free for ten days before their visit.
A visitor is anyone who is traveling from outside of Pitkin, Eagle, or Garfield counties. If anybody arrives at their lodging without proof of a recent negative test, the quarantine measures go into effect. The county is not in a position to turn people away.
