COVID-19 News Archive May 1, 2020

Current News: 

Mesa County Cases:  Mesa County Public Health Department updates daily the current counts for cases in our area. As of May 4, 2020, there are 47 confirmed cases (3.4% of total tested), 13 of which have unknown sources , which means there is sustained community spread in Mesa County. Fortunately, 37 cases have fully recovered. There are 6 hospitalizations (threshold is staying under 30). For the full update, the Community Impact dashboard, and the COVID-19 symptom dashboard, please visit this page.​​​​​​

Mesa County Public Health Issues Public Health Order 2020-02

• ​​On Thursday, Mesa County Public Health issued Public Health Order 2020-02 outlining the guidelines for Mesa County's Safer at Home Phase.  This order has slight variances from the state, allowing more businesses to reopen sooner.  More information and the full order can be found at this link.  Highlights from the order include: 
  • Restaurants, if they choose to, may partially open but are limited to 30% capacity of fire code if maintaining specific measures.  Restaurants are still encouraged to continue to do business through take-out, delivery, and curbside pickup.
  • Gyms, health clubs, and other similar fitness facilities, if they choose to, can open for limited use.  These facilities are required to limit the number of customers to 30% of building capacity per fire code.  Group classes, sports courts, locker rooms, saunas, pools, and childcare facilities shall remain closed. 
  • Places of worship are encouraged to continue online or drive-up services as much as possible.  For activities within a facility, the place of worship must limit the number of guests no more than 50 and provide at least six feet of distance between individuals or groups.   
  • Recreation facilities can also open to the public, however, group gatherings shall contain no more than ten people, park facilities (such as shelters, picnic areas, and playgrounds) remain closed, and league or pick up sports remain prohibited at this time.   

Mesa County Public Health Priorities

• ​Safer at Home - We are no longer ordered to stay home, but MCPH is strongly advising people to stay home.  Some businesses are operating with restrictions.  The virus is still present in Colorado and can re-surge at any time.  
• Stay the Course - Continue to follow Public Health guidance so we can keep making incremental steps toward a lifestyle that is familiar and rewarding to all of us.  If you are not personally concerned, please be courteous to others who are.  Social distancing and face coverings should be the norm, not the exception.  Everyone needs to do their part for themselves, their loved ones, and our community.  
• Community Goals 
  • ​Stay below the threshold of less than 30 COVID-19 hospitalization (from any county) 
  • Keep the proportion of positives tests to less than 10% of overall tests conducted.  ​

COVID-19 Additional Symptoms

• ​​On April 26, 2020, it was announced that there are additional symptoms for COVID-19.  These symptoms may appear within 2-14 days of exposure to the virus.  More information can be found here.  These symptoms are: 
• ​​New Symptoms
  • ​​Chills 
  • Repeated shaking with chills 
  • Muscle Pain 
  • Sore throat 
  • New loss of taste or smell 
• Other Symptoms 
  • Fever
  • Cough 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 

Fruita Small Business Emergency Assistance Fund Now Accepting Applications

• ​​​At a special remote meeting on April 23, 2020, the Fruita City Council approved up to $60,000 in designated funds for economic development to create a loan fund for Fruita businesses that are facing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This loan fund has been as established as the “Fruita Small Business Emergency Assistance Fund”.  More information can be found here.  Applications can be found here! 

Outdoor Recreation Guidelines for all Coloradans and Local Communities

• ​​​Now that the Stay at Home Order has been lifted for most of Colorado, the Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) recommends the following guidelines for outdoor recreation:  
• Make the health of others your number one priority. The COVID-19 Pandemic is life and death for many Coloradans. Please consider the health of others as you choose how and where to recreate. 
• Recreate outside cautiously and wear a face covering. Don’t go out if you’re sick or have been in contact with those who are also sick. Recreate in groups no larger than 10 and practice social distancing by maintaining 6 feet between participants. Avoiding busy areas and high use times between 10 AM - 2 PM. Wash your hands and wear a face covering. Follow CDC guidelines carefully. 
• Limit recreational travel to no further than ten (10) miles from your residence. The further you travel, the greater potential for unplanned emergencies that may burden healthcare systems. Do not travel to communities or areas with closures in place. 
• Avoid high-risk or remote activities. Many local healthcare systems are already overwhelmed or stretched thin. Please do not add to the burden or stretch further local search and rescue teams and emergency services.
• Respect closures and be a good steward. If parks or communities are closed, don’t go. If parks are open, be mindful that areas might have limited maintenance or rolling closures depending on visitation or crowding. Pack out your trash, use the restroom before you leave the house. Check for local closures. 

Colorado Department of Public Safety Issues Guidance on Pets  

• ​The Department of Public Safety (“CDPS”) has updated its guidance on pets and that information and common FAQs can be found here.  While it is rare that some animals have gotten COVID-19 from their owners or caregivers, CDPS is stating that it is very important to protect pets by limiting contact if people who may be sick or that exhibit symptoms. CDPS recommends the following regarding pets:  
  • Do not let pets interact with people or animals outside the household.  If a person inside the household becomes sick, isolate that person from everyone else, including pets.  
  • Keep cats indoors as much as possible to keep them from interacting with other animals or people.   
  • Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.   
  • Avoid dog parks or public places where large numbers of people and dogs gather.   

PPP Forgivable Loans and EIDL Applications Reopen

• ​​​Last week, the United States Congress approved a second round of funding for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The Small Business Administration is working on reopening the applications, and it is encouraged that interested businesses start preparing applications in anticipation of the reopening date. Applicants are encouraged to apply promptly, as the PPP Loans are awarded on a first-come, first served basis.

Stay at Home Order Lifted:  This week, the Stay at Home Order is being lifted and the state of Colorado is moving to a "Safer at Home" model.  Here are key characteristics of the first phase of the Safer at Home model.  

• Beginning April 27, 2020, the general public is: 
  • Encouraged to stay at home unless necessary.  
  • Strongly advised to wear face coverings when out in public.  
  • Encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel.  
  • No gatherings of more than 10 people.  
  • People who are sick should not go to work.   
  • Maintain 60-65% social distancing (60-65% fewer social interactions than pre-quarantine normal).
• Regarding reopening businesses and other activities (dates may vary, more guidance to follow).  
  • Non-critical offices may open at 50% staffing levels with strict precautions, telecommuting maximized. 
  • Restaurants can remain open for takeout/delivery only.  Bars remain closed.  The State is exploring phased-in reduced capacity openings for restaurants/bars/events venues. 
  • Personal Services (I.e. Salons, tattoo parlors, dog grooming, nail salons, etc) may open with strict precautions (staff wearing masks, six feet of social distancing, limited capacity, and no waiting areas).  
  • Childcare facilities can open with strict precautions.  
  • Real Estate can continue showings with precautions, open houses are still not allowed.  
  • Elective medical procedures can continue with strict precautions including PPE.  

More guidance is to come, and these recommendations could change due to the number of cases of COVID-19 and/or the number of people hospitalized.

Mesa County Reopening Plan – General Guidelines for Businesses  

• ​​​Mesa County has received approval from the state to move forward with its own 3-phrase plan to reopen.    Here are the general guidelines for all business sectors in Phase 1:  
  • Perform frequent environmental cleaning and disinfection (concentrate on high touch surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.)  
  • Employees and contracted workers whose duties include close contact with members of the public shall wear a non-medical cloth face covering over the nose and mouth  
  • Employees are encouraged to wear a non-medical cloth face covering over their nose and mouth while working, except where doing so would inhibit the individual's health  
  • Maintain at least six feet distance from each other  
  • Monitor workforce for compatible symptoms  
  • Implement or maintain return to work policies 
• Specific guidelines for each business sector, along with the full draft plan, can be found at this link.   ​

State Releases Public Health Order Requiring Critical Business Employees to Wear Masks 

• ​​​On Thursday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released a new public health order ordering works in critical businesses and critical government functions to wear non-medical masks and gloves while at work to protect the health and welfare of the public.  The critical businesses impacted by this order include banks, child care facilities, pharmacies, and grocery stores.  The Public Health order can be found at this link.  This order will remain in place until May 17 unless it’s extended, amended, or rescinded.​ ​ ​​​

Current Key Messaging

• Continue to stay at home, and limit travel for essential activities as much as possible 
• Populations that have been identified as vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, such as those with a preexisting medical condition or Seniors, should continue to stay at home as much as possible.  
• Wear a non-medical cloth mask that covers your nose and mouth without harming your breathing when in public. 
• Visitors, stay home! Do not travel more than ten miles to recreate.  
• Social distancing is very important to limit spread and to avoid overloading healthcare systems for those in need of critical healthcare. 
• Do your part to keep public lands open. Spread out, take out trash, obey rules of public lands, don't congregate, and don't test your skills - be safe. 
• Safely check on neighbors. ​​

Mesa County Public Health COVID-19 Hotline ​

If you have any questions or concerns related to the Governor's Stay-at-Home Order or other public health related matters, please call Mesa County Public Health at 970-683-2300.