Colorado Ski Resort Says 109 Employees Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

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More than 100 workers at a popular Colorado ski resort have tested positive for COVID-19 after contracting the disease while holding social gatherings outside the workplace – although the actual number of infections is believed to be high higher.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported 109 cases of the coronavirus at Winter Park Resort in Grand County.

The outbreak was first declared on January 23 and accounts for more than 6% of the ski resort’s 1,700 employees.

Grand County Health only reported the positive cases to the state this week, the Post reported.

Grand County Health and the Winter Park Resort issued a joint statement that the cases were not attributed to interactions with visitors.

It is believed that the number of infections is much higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest that people can get infected with the virus without feeling bad.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported 109 cases of the coronavirus at Winter Park Resort in Grand County. A skier and snowboarder head to Upper Hughes for a run at Winter Park Resort in this March 2017 file photo

A spokesperson for Winter Park Resort told DailyMail.com that the resort had taken the necessary precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus before it reopened to the public on December 3.

Jen Miller said the station has implemented rules requiring masks and social distancing throughout the resort.

Additionally, the station has implemented “ enhanced sanitation procedures ” and added staff to remind visitors of the masking requirements, she said.

There is no indoor restaurant available at the resort, as visitors are only allowed to shop for take-out food, Miller said.

“ WPR has worked closely and been transparent with state and local public health authorities since the start of the pandemic and in recent weeks to navigate these dynamic circumstances, ” Miller told DailyMail.com

“WPR has an on-site test site that they have been managing since December and which has consistently used the GCPH test sites as deemed necessary.

“ Over the past few months, WPR has implemented a strong contact tracing among employees, which has helped [Grand County Public Health], and a CDPHE contact tracing support team was recruited as needed during this outbreak.

“WPR also brought in an epidemiology / hygiene consultant from CDPHE to further investigate what changes could be made that could suppress COVID activity among employees.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, which go away within two to three weeks.

For some – especially the elderly and people with existing health problems – it can lead to more serious illnesses, including pneumonia and death.

Other popular Colorado ski destinations have reported outbreaks, albeit of much smaller scope.

Breckenridge has reported 12 active coronavirus outbreaks totaling 26 cases, while Keystone has four outbreaks with 10 positive cases.

State public health officials define an outbreak as two or more cases of COVID-19 that were contracted at the same site.

An outbreak is only considered resolved after 28 days without a new infection.

According to the latest data, 430 patients were currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Colorado on Friday.

State public health officials said the mobile average positivity rate fell to 3.95%.

The World Health Organization recommends keeping the positivity rate at 5% or less in order to contain the virus.

As of Friday, nearly 609,000 Colorado residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, 271,104 were inoculated with two doses.

The state is also announcing good news with lower hospitalization rates. The latest figures show that 430 people are currently hospitalized due to confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Forty other patients are suspected of carrying the virus.

The state reported 24 new hospital admissions on Friday, up from 61 the day before.

The seven-day moving average for new hospitalizations fell to 59 last week, from 64 on Thursday.

Of all the available hospital beds in the state, only 5% are occupied by confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.

State officials also report that only 2% of medical facilities report facing a shortage of intensive care beds next week.

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