EMPAC

Second Friday of the month, 9-11

SAN LUIS VALLEY – Alamosa County Public Health continues to investigate the outbreak at the Colorado Mushroom Farm. Since the outbreak was discovered on May 6, 93 employees and family members have been tested for COVID-19. Of those, 19 tests have come back positive, 65 tests have been negative, and 9 are still pending. (Case numbers for the San Luis Valley region as a whole continue to be updated daily at http://www.slvemergency.org/slv-covid-19.) 

Management at the mushroom facility has been working well with Public Health, supporting informational meetings with employees, employee testing and other follow up as recommended by Public Health. “We are grateful for the staff and community partners who have stepped forward to help address language and outreach needs for those whose first language is not English. Bilingual communication and public information have been a priority throughout this response,” says Della Vieira, Alamosa County Public Health Director. 

Testing has been done in partnership with SLV Health and Valley Wide Health Systems, with help from the Costilla County, Conejo County and Rio Grande County Public Health Agencies. SLV Environmental Health Specialists have also played a part in confirming that the facility is meeting safety standards. Food processing facilities have been the site of multiple outbreaks around the country. As essential business operations, employees have continued to have contact with others throughout the Stay and Home and Safer at Home phases. An outbreak is a reminder to all of us that minimizing contact with others through social distancing and other measures is still important for preventing the spread of disease. 

The weather is warming and people are anxious to travel. We invite those who would be visitors from out of state to familiarize yourselves with Colorado’s current COVID-19 guidance, which can be found on Colorado’s Safer at Home website: https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home. Colorado’s Safer at Home guidance still recommends staying close to home for recreation. Visitors, when you do eventually come to visit, please protect local residents and yourself by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and washing your hands frequently. Please also note that under the current state order, gatherings should be limited to 10 persons or less. 

If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, contact one of the nurse call-lines listed below. 

• Rio Grande Hospital: 719-657-4990
• SLV Health: 719-589-2511 ext. 9
• Valley Wide Health Systems: 719-589-3658 ext. 9