The Montezuma County Public Health Department announced Thursday morning that the county has confirmed two new positive cases of COVID-19, one of which has resulted in a death.
The two new cases join the initial positive case the health department announced Saturday afternoon. The county said that no more information or details about the infected individuals would be released, citing privacy laws, but said that the Montezuma County Public Health Department is conducting “contact tracing” in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols.
“All Montezuma County residents should assume that the COVID-19 virus is present in the community, and will continue to spread if people do not adhere to the stay at home executive order,” the county said in a news release. “Carefully consider what essential travel means and limit time away from your home.”
Dr. Kent Aikin and the county’s Public Health Director Bobbi Lock planned to join the Southwest Health System’s Facebook Live session at 4:30 p.m. Thursday to answer questions.
The death is the first in Southwest Colorado linked to the coronavirus, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. La Plata County has reported 23 cases of COVID-19.
The hospital has operated a drive-thru clinic since March 18 to screen for flu and take samples for potential coronavirus cases. But it currently does not have the equipment for a COVID-19 test.
ealvero@the-journal.com
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
