CDPHE, Garfield County Public Health investigate possible case of COVID variant

PRESS RELEASE
Jan. 30, 2021

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County Public Health and Roaring Fork Schools have been made aware that a Sopris Elementary student and/or staff member may have been exposed to a COVID variant earlier this month. The health department is working with a dedicated team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to determine potential exposure and contain any further spread.

Public Health can confirm that no students or staff members in this cohort have reported symptoms to the health department, and the normal quarantine window has already ended. Families of students in the impacted cohort have been contacted and school staff and the health department are continuing to monitor for any signs of COVID symptoms. However, public health and the schools are not aware of any students having symptoms during the past 14 days. While there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the different COVID variants, the greatest concern is the possibility of increased contagiousness.

Out of an abundance of caution, the CDC and CDPHE have requested additional contact tracing, testing for impacted individuals and Public Health is working directly with those families. In addition, the staff of Sopris Elementary received their COVID-19 vaccinations on Friday, Jan. 29.

We know this news may raise additional questions and more information will be shared as soon as it is available. Parents who have concerns may call: 970-625-5200, extension 8135.

Governor Polis announced today that beginning the week of February 8, all in-person school staff and licensed child care providers are eligible to be vaccinated. All three school districts in Garfield County have submitted a list of those staff members.