State health officials mistakenly reported that San Juan County had its first positive case of the coronavirus over the weekend, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
On its Saturday update, the CDPHE listed one positive case in the small mountain community of about 600 residents, north of Durango.
San Juan County, which took immediate and strict measures during the pandemic, including closing the town to nonresidents, had remained one of eight Colorado counties without a positive case.
But, Ian Dickson, a spokesman for CDPHE, said Monday morning a data entry error led to the case being reported in San Juan County.
“It should disappear from the list when we do the 4 p.m. update today (Monday),” Dickson said.
Despite Gov. Jared Polis relaxing restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus, San Juan County’s own public health order remains in effect until Thursday.
Health officials in San Juan County said last week it’s likely they will extend some form of a public health order beyond Thursday, which will likely hold to the locals-only policy in Silverton.
Although there have been no reported positive cases, health officials in Silverton believe the virus is likely within the community.
The seven other counties that have still not reported a positive case include Bent, Cheyenne, Conejos, Dolores, Jackson, Kiowa and Sedgwick.
jromeo@durangoherald.com