Another senior assisted living facility in Cortez has reported a COVID-19 outbreak, and one resident has died from the disease, according to the weekly report from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.
Five new outbreaks were reported Wednesday. Outbreaks also were reported at a Dolores grocery store, the city of Cortez, a home care agency and at the Cortez Police Department.
Montezuma County now has 19 active outbreaks, according to the CDPHE.
CDPHE defines an “outbreak” of COVID-19 as two or more positive tests at a single location within 14 days.
On Dec. 11, it was reported that 10 residents of the BeeHive Homes at the Cortez Homestead had tested positive for the disease, according to outbreak data. Four staff also tested positive, and one resident has died from the disease.
BeeHive is an assisted living facility for Alzheimer and dementia patients. They also offer respite care services for temporary residents.
Owner and Administrator Jan Gardner said Wednesday the COVID-19 patients were showing signs of recovery. She said the facility is coordinating closely with the Montezuma County Health Department on a response to the outbreak.
“We are following their guidelines and reviewing our processes,” Gardner said.
The four staff are quarantining at home. The facility has 16 full-time residents.
Staff and patient testing continues, Gardner said, and follows the public health orders for long-term care facilities set by CDPHE. The facility is regularly sanitized.
Visitation has been limited at the BeeHive, Gardner said. Only window visits are allowed, in which a resident and a friend or family member, separated by a window, talk by cellphone.
Gardner said CDPHE has assisted with additional staffing for the facility to help cover for the four staff sidelined by quarantine.
Also, two members of the Colorado National Guard were recently on hand to help out with non-care tasks at BeeHive. The facility is in the Phase 1B category for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and access is expected soon.
This is the second long-term care facility with an outbreak in Cortez. On Nov. 25, the CDPHE reported that Vista Mesa Assisted Living in Cortez had 12 residents and four staff who had tested positive.
The new outbreaks and dates are:
Dec. 2: Angelic Hands home care agency in Cortez. Two staff have tested positive.Dec. 11: Bee Hive Homes at the Cortez Homestead. Ten residents have tested positive, and four staff have tested positive. One resident died of COVID-19.Dec. 12: Cortez City Police Department. Four staff have tested positive.Dec. 18: Cortez Public Works Department. Four staff have tested positive.Dec. 18: Dolores Food Market in Dolores. Two staff have tested positive.jmimiaga@the-journal.com