An outbreak of COVID-19 cases has been identified at a Bayfield assisted living facility, according to San Juan Basin Public Health.
As of Monday, two residents and two employees at Evening’s Porch Assisted Living had tested positive for COVID-19, the health department said.
According to state guidelines, an outbreak is identified as two or more cases in a 14-day time period.
SJBPH spokeswoman Claire Ninde said the first case was an employee who tested positive Nov. 19 but the person did not work while infectious.
According to a news release issued Monday by SJBPH, once cases were known, Evening’s Porch placed residents in isolation in their rooms and excluded the employees who tested positive from the facility.
All residents were tested Nov. 24, the health department said.
“The outbreak investigation is ongoing, and additional cases or contacts may be identified,” SJBPH’s release said. “As with any communicable disease, this investigation will take some time to complete.”
Ninde said one person is symptomatic and is isolating.
Requests for comment to Evening’s Porch were not returned.
Evening’s Porch administrator Melissa Swanson said in a prepared statement, “We appreciate the dedication and hard work of both Evening’s Porch staff and SJBPH staff during this trying time.”
“Evening’s Porch Assisted Living is doing their best to follow the guidance of SJBPH to minimize the spread of this terrible virus,” Swanson said in the prepared statement.
Liane Jollon, executive director of SJBPH, said in a prepared statement that assisted living facilities have been identified as priority areas for health officials because residents there are among the most vulnerable populations.
“We knew that this was a place to devote testing, education and close coordination with our partners,” Jollon said. “We hope that with quick action on the part of SJBPH and Evening’s Porch management, this outbreak will be quickly contained and resolved.”
La Plata County is reporting several outbreaks as the virus continues to spread in the community. On Nov. 1, for instance, the county reported just 433 positive cases. But as of Sunday, that number stood at 1,470 positive cases.
Last week, an outbreak was found at Four Corners Health Care Center after three residents and two staff members tested positive.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
