While COVID-19 cases appear to be declining across Colorado's Front Range, Routt County has seen a surge in case numbers over the past few weeks. To slow the spread of the virus, Routt County commissioners implemented a new public health order effective as of Monday.
Roberta Smith, Routt County鈥檚 director of public health, sat down with Colorado Edition鈥檚 Erin O鈥橳oole to talk about the order. Smith said the county鈥檚 COVID-19 case numbers have increased since the winter holidays.
鈥淲e do have evidence that some of the cases came from close contacts that were at New Year's Eve parties or Christmas parties,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e've definitely linked, through our contact tracing, that household spread and contact with other known contacts really is what's driving our numbers up.鈥�
Statewide data shows most counties with destination resorts are seeing an increase in COVID-19 numbers. But Smith said Routt County has not found evidence that tourists are bringing the virus into the community.
鈥淯nfortunately, the numbers that are driving our increase, those are residents that have tested positive,鈥� Smith said.
However, the county does not track whether visitors test positive after leaving the county and going back home.
Routt County is currently at Level Orange 鈥� high risk 鈥� on Colorado鈥檚 dial risk level framework. Though the state plans to modify the dial soon, Smith said the county followed the current version to keep expectations simple. She said the county combined recommendations from both the red and orange levels of dial.
Under the county鈥檚 new order, restaurants are operating at 25% capacity.
The order also includes educational information for restaurants to reduce transmission. Though indoor dining patrons are required to wear masks when they are not eating or drinking, Smith said it is common for people to sit, linger and chat without their masks after finishing a meal.
鈥淲e're encouraging restaurants to educate their patrons that they should put on their masks when they're not actively eating or drinking,鈥� Smith said.
The county also bolstered restrictions on private and public gatherings by limiting them to members of only one household.
Smith said this is a response to data showing the virus spreading between households. Contract tracers know residents are getting together and having parties.
鈥淗opefully our community will understand that this isn't a good idea, Smith said. 鈥淏y putting that element in the public health order, maybe we can get our numbers to decrease in that area.鈥�
Non-critical office spaces were also targeted and must now operate at 10% capacity.
鈥淲e were starting to see some companies that could have workers work from home, start having their employees coming back into the office,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e wanted to make sure that we were limiting areas where people were congregating indoors.鈥�
The new order is set to go through March 1. However, if case numbers decline, Smith said it could be lifted sooner.
Though 鈥淐OVID fatigue鈥� has taken hold in Routt County and across Colorado, Smith hopes community members will take the order seriously.
