Pitkin County

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Colorado. And, Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties are working together to stem the tide. At a Pitkin County community meeting Thursday, health officials talked about the best strategy they have to fight the spread of the virus. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has this report.

Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties Thursday announced a coordinated regional testing strategy for COVID-19. For links to testing information by county, click the headline.

Pitkin County's stay at home order has been extended through May 8. Visitors and residents must continue to follow the guidance outline in the last amended Pitkin County Public Health Order.  Public Health Officials say it will allow the community to develop strategies and guidelines for preventing a surge of COVID-19 cases when it moves to the "safer-at-home" phase.

Small businesses in Aspen can now apply for rent relief of up to $14,000. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

Pitkin County officials are eyeing strategies for combatting COVID-19 once stay at home restrictions are lifted. Public Health Director Karen Koenneman Thursday described current restrictions as "the hammer” and upcoming mitigation strategies as "the dance.” 

Pitkin County’s board of health Thursday laid out new changes to the Public Health Order, including timelines for construction to resume. Board members emphasized when that does happen, construction companies won’t be able to have more than 10 employees on a site, and will still need to practice social distancing, they'll also have to submit safety plans before starting up.

Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center has been selected as the 2020 Colorado Communication Center of the Year.

The Pitkin County Board of Health Monday endorsed an advisory urging the public to wear non-medical cloth masks in public places where social distancing is not possible. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

  Aspen City Council Thursday, upon first reading, approved earmarking 6 million dollars for an emergency relief and economic stimulus package to benefit residents, workers and businesses from Aspen to Parachute.

Pitkin County’s March 23rd public health order bans short-term lodging. The Aspen Daily News reports that the county Incident Management Team is cracking down after finding out that people recently booked vacation rentals in the area and then sought medical treatment for COVID-19-like symptoms.

Regional health officials in Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin counties are asking residents to self-report their symptoms as a way of measuring and responding to the spread of COVID-19. KDNK’s Lucas Turner spoke with Becky Larson, Epidemiologist for Eagle County Public Health and Environment to learn more about how these tools work.

According to the Pitkin County Incident Management Team, as of 4:00 this afternoon, there are 17 negative and 14 positive COVID-19 test results in the county, with four new negative and one new positive result added today. 

Local public health officials say the response to COVID-19 is now shifting gears. One of the key strategies is called social distancing. KDNK’s Lucas Turner explains why this strategy is important to understand, and how it reduces the spread of the virus.

UPDATED MARCH 14 - 1pm MST:

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) has advised the Pitkin County Public Health Department that one test for COVID-19 is presumptively positive for the virus. Pitkin County now has 11 presumptive positive cases with results from 23 tests still pending. Officials say a contact tracing investigation is underway to determine whether community transmission is taking place in Pitkin County.

Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin County issued a public health order Thursday to minimize the impacts and spread of COVID-19 in the region. The order is effective immediately and will be revisited on April 8th, 2020.

  Governor Jared Polis is ramping up the state’s response to the coronavirus as the number of cases continues to grow, especially in mountain communities. Officials have now reported over 40 cases of COVID-19 in Colorado after testing more than 300 people. Our state Capitol Reporter Scott Franz has been following the developments, and he joined us from Denver to provide the latest information.

A woman in Pitkin County tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend but not until she returned home to Australia. Pitkin County officials held a press call Monday to talk about precautions. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh has this report. Click on the headline to find numbers and links for Coronavirus and COVID-19 information and local updates.

After extensive collaboration between community groups, and two public comment periods, Pitkin County officials Tuesday voted to adopt the new Penny Hot Springs Management Plan. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

The public drop-off recycling center in Willits will close for good at the end of January. Now Basalt staff and Trustees are considering alternative options. KDNK's Lucas Turner has the story.

The public comment period for the Penny Hot Springs management plan closes this Friday. KDNK’s Lucas Turner spoke to Planning and Outreach Manager for Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Lindsey Utter about some of the items currently listed in the plan, and how you can submit comments before the deadline.

Cathy Hall is the manager of the Pitkin County Landfill. Last Friday she was appointed to the State Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission by Governor Jared Polis. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

On Thursday October 10th Pitkin County officially elevated the status of 911 Dispatchers to the title of First Reponder.  KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more on what that means.

Internet service in Redstone and Old Snowmass went live on July 1st. It’s Phase 1 of Pitkin County’s effort to provide broadband to underserved areas throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.  KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh spoke with Kara Silbernagel, County Policy and Projects Manager, to find out more.

Alpine Legal Services is a non-profit civil legal assistance agency dedicated to providing legal services and upholding fundamental legal rights in Garfield, Pitkin and western Eagle Counties. Here, Executive Director Jennifer Wherry talks about the organization and their participation in the AmeriCorps VISTA program. 

Long-time resident Dorothea Farris was a Pitkin County Commissioner for 12 years and brings much needed wisdom to current land use issues.

On the November ballot, Pitkin County will decide whether or not to renew the Healthy Community Fund at an increased rate for nine years. KDNK's Raleigh Burleigh reports. Full audio of the public hearing on Wednesday, August 22, is available here.