Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Two more COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Chaffee County, bringing the total deaths from the coronavirus known as COVID-19 to 11, including two listed as ‘probable’ by Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom.

CArlstrom stated at a Thursday April 23 briefing there are still 58 confirmed cases of the virus locally, and as of Thursday afternoon, there have been 47 positive cases (including four probable), at the Columbine Manor facility.  These cases consist of 28 (including two probable) living residents at the facility; one resident who has discharged home; 11 resident deaths; two probable; and nine staff members affected, two of whom live outside Chaffee County.

Coroner Jeff Graf said the tenth Columbine Manor victim Wednesday night was an 80-year-old man. Carlstrom explained an eleventh Columbine Manor resident who had passed away was found to have had the virus, after testing during the post mortem.

Chaffee County Public Health

The overall Colorado totals: As of yesterday afternoon, there were 10,878 cases, 2,123 hospitalizations, 50,645 people tested, and 508 deaths related to COVID-19 in Colorado. There are 123 outbreaks in Colorado at residential, non-hospital health care facilities, and large employers, such as meatpacking plants, and this number continues to grow.

Carlstrom reported that Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) is currently operating at  56 percent of its 25-bed capacity with 14 inpatients.

There is one COVID-19 suspected patient with pending test results who is in isolation. One other COVID-19 positive patient is also in isolation. This person is a resident of Park County and is not included in the total count for Chaffee County.

HRRMC tests for COVid-19 now total 284 tests: from the Emergency Department, inpatient, medical clinics, triage tent, employees and providers. While 19 of those were positive, 257were negative and eight tests are still pending.

As reported earlier, there has not been a positive test for a Chaffee County resident by the hospital since April 11. Carlstrom repeated that efforts are being made to build capacity for additional testing.