Through a combination of laboratory testing and epidemiological investigation, San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) has identified a COVID-19 outbreak at Hilltop House, a community corrections and rehabilitation facility in Durango. Twenty-five residents and six employees have been confirmed as COVID-19 cases. There has been one death of a resident associated with this outbreak.
SJBPH and Hilltop House management took immediate action to limit the further spread of disease and involved the Colorado Department of Public Safety, which regulates community corrections, and the state Staffing Shortage Fusion Center, which provides staff assistance to residential facilities. In addition, SJBPH and the state are providing infection control guidance to management, which has cooperated with the outbreak investigation and is taking all appropriate measures to stop spread of the virus.
The outbreak investigation is ongoing, and additional cases or contacts may be identified. As with any communicable disease, this investigation will take some time to complete. In order to protect the privacy of individuals, identifying information and medical information about the persons involved will not be released to the public.
“For almost nine months SJBPH and the congregate facilities in our region have worked hard to keep our most vulnerable populations safe from the virus. We’ve seen congregate facility outbreaks in many other counties since March, so we knew that this was a place to devote testing, education, and close coordination with our partners,” said Liane Jollon, executive director of SJBPH. “We hope that with quick action on the part of SJBPH and Hilltop House management, this outbreak will be quickly contained and resolved. With the virus so prevalent in our community, it remains critical that people take the virus seriously, stop socializing outside their households, wear face masks in public and at work, monitor their symptoms, and get tested if they are feeling any symptoms of COVID-19. We know these steps can help protect more vulnerable populations such as those living in congregate facilities,” Jollon said.
The necessary steps that must be taken now by everyone to slow the spread of COVID-19 to protect people at risk, and rebuild the economy are:
- Universal use of face masks
- Social distancing of at least 6 feet
- Avoiding nonessential indoor spaces
- Getting tested if you are symptomatic, think you’ve been exposed, or if you work in a high-contact position
- Prompt following of quarantine guidance if exposed
- Protecting people at higher risk of severe illness or death
- Postponing travel
- Improving indoor ventilation and hand hygiene
- Protecting essential workers
- Getting the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available
For the most up to date information, visit SJBPH’s website at https://sjbpublichealth.org/coronavirus/.
Claire Ninde is Communications Director for San Juan Basin Public Health. Learn more at https://sjbpublichealth.org/