Alert Center

San Miguel County to Move to Level Green

(May 6, 2021) Effective at 1 am MST on Friday, May 7, San Miguel County will move into Level Green on the locally adopted COVID Dial.

San Miguel County Updates Public Health Order

(April 30, 2021) San Miguel County has updated the county’s Public Health Order to maintain the CDPHE’s dial framework, basing capacity restrictions on familiar COVID-19 metrics including hospitalizations, incidence rate and positivity rate.

The updated Public Health Order will go into effect tomorrow, May 1 at 1 am MST at which time the county will remain in Level Blue.

CDC Releases New Mask Guidelines for Activities Outdoors

(April 27, 2021) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced new guidance for face coverings in the outdoors.

Specifically, if running, walking, hiking or biking alone, with members of their household or in small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated family and friends, fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people do not have to wear face coverings.

Colorado Reinstates Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Administration

(April 24, 2021) Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced their findings surrounding review of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, confirming that the vaccine is safe to return to distribution.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Joint Vaccine Task Force have aligned with the findings and authorized the vaccine to return to clinics effective immediately.

Public Health Announces Pfizer Vaccine Clinics for Ages 16 and Over

(April 23, 2021) San Miguel County will be hosting Pfizer vaccine clinics for ages 16 and older in Norwood on Thursday, April 29, and in Telluride on Friday, April 30.

At this time, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine authorized for use for people ages 16 and older to prevent COVID-19. The vaccine is administered in two doses, three weeks apart, injected into the arm muscle. Public Health highly recommends this...

The Importance of Testing as Spring Break Travel Concludes, Off-Season Continues

(April 20, 2021) Since March 2020, travel has resulted in 59 residents contracting COVID-19 in San Miguel County.

As off-season and spring break travel continue, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released guidelines for testing and quarantine for those fully vaccinated and those who are unvaccinated.

Dial 3.0 Passed to Local Governance

(April 16, 2021) Late last night, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a revised state public health order that determined the regulation of Dial 3.0 will be transitioned to county oversight, effective immediately.

Colorado Temporarily Pauses Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine

(April 13, 2021) A joint statement from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends pausing the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine out of an abundance of caution.

San Miguel County Public Health is actively responding by shifting existing Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine clinics to offer the Moderna vaccine at this time.

Herd Immunity: What is it? What will it take?

(April 9, 2021) According to a recent NPR/Marist poll, one in four Americans said they would refuse a COVID-19 vaccine outright if offered. Another 5% are "undecided" about whether they would get a vaccine.

As cases begin to rise again and the prevalence of variants increases across the United States, vaccine rollout has become increasingly critical to avoid another wave of outbreaks. This week, President Joe Biden ordered all states to expand eligibility to...

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics: What to Expect

(April 6, 2021) The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment expanded vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 years of age and older on Friday, April 2.

With adequate supply to proceed with this phase of vaccination, San Miguel County Public Health encourages all residents interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine to pre-register on the county COVID website: bit.ly/smcvaccine.

San Miguel County to Reduce Restrictions for Personal Gatherings, Bars, Lodging

(April 2, 2021) Effective at 1:00 am, on Monday, April 5, San Miguel County Public Health will amend the Level Blue order to align with the state’s capacity restrictions as it pertains to personal gatherings and bars.

Testing for COVID-19 Remains Critical to Continued Downward Trend

(March 30, 2021) San Miguel County residents have seen success containing the spread of COVID-19 by testing frequently and isolating when sick. However, the prevalence of COVID-19 is anything but gone.

Phase 2 of Vaccine Eligibility to Commence Friday, April 2

(March 29, 2021) Governor Jared Polis announced this morning that, as a result of supply increases and successful distribution, the state will commence Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility this Friday, April 2.

CDPHE Releases Vaccine Survey Findings

(March 24, 2021) The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has released an updated vaccine survey.

Compared to previous data from a similar survey in September, the CDPHE identified a significant shift in Coloradans’ views of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Public Health Order Deescalated to Level Blue - Caution

(March 24, 2021) San Miguel County will move to Level Blue effective immediately as today, the Colorado Department of Public Health implemented the latest update to the COVID-19 dial framework: Dial 3.0.

San Miguel County Residents Test Positive for UK Variant

(March 23, 2021) San Miguel County Public Health has confirmed two county residents have been infected with the B.1.1.7 variant. The two residents are currently in isolation and all known close contacts have been informed at this time.

UK Variant Detected in Wastewater Analysis

(March 23, 2021) San Miguel County Public Health has detected a variant of concern, known as B.1.1.7, from a wastewater treatment sample taken on March 16.

San Miguel County Approved for CDPHE 5-Star Program

(March 19, 2021) San Miguel County has been approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to move forward with the 5 Star State Certification program.

This program will allow eligible businesses with increased pandemic protections and precautions beyond what is required by Public Health to reopen more quickly. Depending on where San Miguel County falls in the state’s COVID-19 dial, certified businesses...

One Year in a Pandemic

(March 16, 2021) One year ago, the world shifted. Our lives shifted. In reflection, we have all grown and learned so much. The most important realization confirmed one thing in particular: we love our community.

The journey we all undertook during the first few weeks was filled with fear, loss, abnormality and a general slowing down. Through all of this, we have emerged one whole year later stronger and more resolute.

Phase 1B.4 to Commence Friday, March 19

(March 12, 2021) Governor Jared Polis announced this afternoon that, as a result of supply increases and successful distribution, the state will commence phase 1B.4 two days ahead of schedule, on Friday, March 19.

According to Governor Polis, the addition of phase 1B.4 will make about half of the state’s population eligible for the vaccine.

May 1 National Target for General Public Vaccine Eligibility

(March 12, 2021) With vaccine supply projected to increase in the coming months, eligibility is expected to expand by May 1. Face coverings, hand washing and limiting group size continue to be an important avenue to a less restrictive summer.

Centers for Disease Control Release Protocol for Vaccinated Population

(March 9, 2021) The Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For those receiving the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, full vaccination occurs 14 days after receiving the second dose.

For Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, full vaccination occurs 28 days after receiving the single dose.

Colorado Phase 1B.3 Commences

(March 5, 2021) San Miguel County Public Health has received an allocation of 500 of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ single-dose vaccines, from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

This single allocation will augment vaccine distribution for the remainder of the month until supply increases which is expected in April.

Today marks another expansion of vaccine eligibility in Colorado with the commencement of Phase 1B.3. Eligible...

Colorado to Receive Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation

(March 2, 2021) Janssen Pharmaceuticals, owned by parent company Johnson and Johnson, has developed a single-dose vaccine for COVID-19 approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Saturday for use in those 18 years of age and older.

Last night, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) confirmed that Colorado should receive its first allotments of Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine this week. The state expects 45,500 doses in the first order in time for Phase 1B.3 of...