{"id":2456628,"date":"2020-04-01T18:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T00:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/pitkin-county-lengthens-stay-at-home-order-to-april-30-limits-group-down-to-5-people\/"},"modified":"2020-04-01T18:16:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T00:16:00","slug":"pitkin-county-lengthens-stay-at-home-order-to-april-30-limits-gatherings-to-5-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/pitkin-county-lengthens-stay-at-home-order-to-april-30-limits-gatherings-to-5-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitkin County lengthens stay-at-home order to April 30, limits gatherings to 5 people"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7929465301479\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-323640-936\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled gallery-container\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Volunteer Arabella Beavers carries a tray of cupcakes to a waiting car during the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The line of cars wrapped around to the high school to receive food. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Volunteer Arabella Beavers carries a tray of cupcakes to a waiting car during the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The line of cars wrapped around to the high school to receive food. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1024x682.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Volunteer Arabella Beavers carries a tray of cupcakes to a waiting car during the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The line of cars wrapped around to the high school to receive food. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Volunteers prepare for the next car at the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The volunteers asked how many people in a family and provided enough bags of nonperishables for each member, as well as ham, cheese and bread. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Volunteers prepare for the next car at the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The volunteers asked how many people in a family and provided enough bags of nonperishables for each member, as well as ham, cheese and bread. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1-1024x682.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Volunteers prepare for the next car at the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The volunteers asked how many people in a family and provided enough bags of nonperishables for each member, as well as ham, cheese and bread. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-2-1024x684.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A community member picks up items left on the table for her by Aspen Family Connections volunteers at the community food drive on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>A community member picks up items left on the table for her by Aspen Family Connections volunteers at the community food drive on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-2-1024x684.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/virusmain-atd-040220-1-2-1024x684.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A community member picks up items left on the table for her by Aspen Family Connections volunteers at the community food drive on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/pitkin-county-lengthens-stay-at-home-order-to-april-30-limits-group-down-to-5-people\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/pitkin-county-lengthens-stay-at-home-order-to-april-30-limits-group-down-to-5-people\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pitkin County public health authorities increased social-distancing restrictions for residents Wednesday because of the coronavirus and lengthened the amount of time they will be in place until the end of April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis public health order is changing people\u2019s lives,\u201d Pitkin County Public Health Director Karen Koenemann said. \u201cIt\u2019s changing the economy. We know this is impacting people long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen Mayor Torre put it more succinctly during a Wednesday meeting of the Pitkin County Board of Health: \u201cBoy this sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The most meaningful change made Wednesday afternoon by the Board of Health was reducing the number of people allowed to gather in any one place from 10 to five. The change does not include households of more than five people and comes with repeated pleas for residents who do gather to practice safe social distancing of at least six feet when outside of the home.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation p-0\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/at-banner-paypal.jpg)\" class=\"col-xl-8 p-3 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/donate\/?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=news%20article&amp;utm_campaign=donation\">Donate<\/a><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201c(A group of) 10 just seems like too much,\u201d said Pitkin County Commissioner Greg Poschman, who suggested limiting groups to just two to three people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The board also voted to extend the length of the county\u2019s public health order requiring people to stay home, except for essential tasks and jobs, from April 17 to April 30. That puts it in line with similar state public health orders and an announcement Wednesday from the Aspen School District extending its closure until then.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">However, it was clear Wednesday that the stay-home order will almost certainly be extended beyond April 30.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">State models indicate that the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in Colorado may not come until June, Koenemann said, citing what the county\u2019s been told by state officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe\u2019ve only just begun,\u201d she said. \u201cI believe we\u2019ll need to go longer than April 30.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Board of health officials debated waiting until next week and perhaps extending the deadline even further out than April 30 at that time, but decided to keep it in line with state orders for now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen City Councilwoman Ann Mullins said she believes it will be \u201cdevastating\u201d for some in the community to learn that restrictive public health orders might be extended into May or June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI don\u2019t think people in town quite realize what\u2019s been happening,\u201d Mullins said. \u201cIt would really help people prepare for this mental challenge \u2026 if we present (the orders) in increments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Finally, the board voted to require that any \u201cnon-resident homeowners,\u201d otherwise known as second homeowners, who arrive here after Wednesday self-quarantine for 14 days at their Pitkin County residence before moving around the community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAny necessary travel must be coordinated and approved by Pitkin County Public Health in advance,\u201d according to the order passed Wednesday by the Board of Health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The order applies to second homeowners\u2019 family members and guests as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI want to let you know that (the issue of non-residents coming here) is happening,\u201d Dr. Kimberly Levin, an emergency room doctor at Aspen Valley Hospital, said at Wednesday\u2019s meeting. \u201cWe are one of those communities people are fleeing to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She told board members a story about a man from Chicago who recently drove to Aspen and developed COVID-19 symptoms the day he arrived. He was examined at the hospital, admitted and used a bed meant for a local resident, Levin said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAspen will not have the capacity to take care of these people,\u201d she said. \u201cQuarantine is the best way to take care of these people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Levin also painted a stark picture of what the<a id=\"N0x1924300N0x1946dd0:N0x1924300N0x1b3f190\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/coronavirus\/\"> COVID-19 outbreak<\/a> might eventually look like in Pitkin County, which has a population of about 17,000 people, based on general models of how the virus has behaved elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That would assume an infection rate of about 40% of county residents, which translates into about 6,800 people, Levin said. She called that \u201ca really, really high and frightening number.\u201d Of those 6,800, around 80% \u2014 or about 5,500 people \u2014 will experience mild symptoms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">About 1% of those infected have generally required hospitalization, Levin said. That puts around 680 Pitkin County residents in the hospital. Between 1% and 2% of those hospitalized will likely need intensive care, and 1% \u2014 or about 68 people \u2014 will need ventilators, she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Thirty-four county residents will die based on those numbers, Levin said. <a id=\"N0x1924300N0x1946e30:N0x1924300N0x1b3f3d0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/55-year-old-man-second-reported-death-in-pitkin-county-related-to-covid-19\/\">Two Pitkin County residents<\/a> already have died from COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen Valley Hospital has been able to handle the patients it\u2019s seen so far, though it\u2019s seeing sicker patients lately, she said. The real unknown is how effective social distancing measures have been against the spread of the disease and when the hospital might get hit with an influx of patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe don\u2019t know what\u2019s coming,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Besides sicker coronavirus patients, AVH\u2019s emergency room is seeing younger patients, which she characterized as people in their 40s and 50s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Levin also agreed with her colleagues and said the outbreak, which she said the hospital is projecting could peak in mid-April, is going to get worse and last longer than the public health orders currently stipulate. In addition, she said the virus is unique and that doctors are learning more about it every day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt is a different beast,\u201d Levin said. \u201cIt\u2019s different from anything we\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"><a href=\"mailto:jauslander@aspentimes.com\">jauslander@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/pitkin-county-lengthens-stay-at-home-order-to-april-30-limits-group-down-to-5-people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Volunteer Arabella Beavers carries a tray of cupcakes to a waiting car during the Aspen Family Connections food drive at the middle school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The line of cars wrapped around to the high school to receive food. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Volunteers prepare for the next car at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2456628","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-08 11:10:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2456628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456628\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2456628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2456628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2456628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}