The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is reporting six active COVID-19 outbreaks in La Plata County, with the newest occurring at Southwest Eye Consultants.
The CDPHE defines an outbreak as five or more confirmed or positive cases, with at least one positive molecular amplification test or antigen test in a facility or group, within a 14-day period.
Six cases were reported by the staff of Southwest Eye Consultants, with no attendee cases reported.
“It has an impact, obviously, with the workings of the business; our people need to be out for that,” said Southwest Eye Consultants manager Kurt Anderson.
Southwest Eye Consultants has three locations, with 53 total employees. Anderson said employees frequently move between the offices.
He said Southwest Eye Consultants has been following protocol set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to try to minimize additional exposure.
Patients of Southwest Eye Consultants have been notified, Anderson said. However, the business has not heard from any of its customers about any potential spread.
“We call and let them know, and work with the public health department to do trace contacting,” he said.
The CDPHE lists five other active outbreaks in La Plata County, including six “attendee cases” involving Bayfield Middle School; two staff cases at Cottonwood Rehab and Extended Care; 18 “attendee cases” involving the Fort Lewis College football team; four cases involving Four Corners Health Care Center; and 36 staff cases involving Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Attendee cases tend to be a catch-all for the CDPHE, which could include students, an attendee at an event, a visitor to a facility or others. In the case of the FLC football outbreak, attendees stands for FLC students, according to San Juan Basin Public Health.
SJPBH is reporting 135 new cases in La Plata County from Oct. 6 to Wednesday.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
| Setting name | Investigation status | Date outbreak was considered closed: | COVID Setting Type | If setting type is other, specify | Is this an At Risk Population? (Healthcare, Corrections, Highly Mobile, Schools, Critical Infrastructure) | Colorado county (exposure location) | Date reported to public health | Total resident cases | Total staff cases | Total attendee cases | Total resident deaths | Total staff deaths | Total attendee deaths | Total cases | Total deaths |
| Bayfield Middle School | Active | School K-12 | Yes | La Plata | 44474 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |||||||
| Cottonwood Rehab and Extended Care (02E994): October 2021 | Active | Healthcare - Skilled Nursing | Yes | La Plata | 44481 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| Fort Lewis College- Football Team: August 2021 | Active | College/University | College Sports Team | Yes | La Plata | 44432 | 18 | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| Four Corners Health Care Center (021299): September 2021 | Active | Healthcare - Skilled Nursing | Yes | La Plata | 44460 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |||||||
| Mercy Regional Medical Center | Active | Healthcare - Acute Care Hospital | Yes | La Plata | 44425 | 36 | 36 | 0 | |||||||
| Southwest Eye Consultants: October 2021 | Active | Healthcare - Outpatient | Medical/Doctor's office | La Plata | 44481 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
