Central Colorado News

Summit County issued the following announcement on Sept. 18.

The Summit County Public Health Department, in coordination with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 at BHH Partners in Breckenridge. The architecture firm has six cases among its employees.

"This is unfortunately yet another outbreak in our community – we are seeing our case numbers surge this week,” Summit Public Health Director Amy Wineland said. "The increase in cases is a direct result of social gatherings and community members letting their guard down. We need to continue to exercise caution, keep gathering sizes small, wear face masks, and maintain six feet of physical distance if we want our community to have the ability to move forward into additional stages of reopening."

Summit County reported 13 cases on September 15, which was the highest number reported in a single day since May.

"Surges in case numbers represent a setback for our businesses, and they have the potential to jeopardize our ski season. It is up to all of us to keep Summit County headed in a positive direction," Wineland added.

BHH Partners provides planning and architectural services for local residential and commercial development projects. The firm and its employees had been following proper PPE and physical distancing measures per CDPHE guidelines for interactions with clients in the office. Public Health officials learned that employees had not been diligent with wearing masks when clients were not in the office, and the firm did not have procedures in place to screen employees for symptoms. In addition, employees held an after-work gathering at a local restaurant on September 10 where masks were not worn.

The first employee to develop symptoms attended a social gathering during Labor Day weekend and was tested on Sept. 15. Public Health received a positive test result on Sept. 18. Two other employees were tested on Sept. 11 and 12. Public Health officials were notified of the positive test results on September 16. Three more employees have since tested positive, and all but one staff member have been quarantined. The firm has voluntarily closed the office until all employees complete isolation and quarantine requirements. No clients have so far tested positive.

The Summit County Public Health Contact Tracing Team is conducting a thorough investigation of the positive cases’ close contacts. All known positive cases have been placed in isolation, and all close contacts identified thus far have been placed under quarantine.

This outbreak demonstrates how easily COVID-19 can spread in indoor environments and underscores the need for physical distancing, use of face coverings, frequent hand washing, staying home when sick and getting tested at the first sign of symptoms. Workers and the public can protect themselves and others by following the Six Commitments of Containment outlined in the Public Health Order.

The outbreak investigation at BHH Partners, including contact tracing, remains in progress. In collaboration with BHH Partners, Summit County Public Health has been reaching out to all close contacts of the six positive cases. As with any communicable disease investigation, this COVID-19 investigation will take time to complete. Public Health officials are working with the company owner to ensure the firm is supportive of all isolation and quarantine protocols for all probable and positive cases, and discussed sanitation procedures ahead of reopening the workplace.

Original source can be found here.