Local COVID-19 numbers stable as focus is on schools

Some WCU students quarantined, some Re1J students staying home

By Mark Reaman

As the summer season begins to slow down, so are the numbers of coronavirus cases in the valley. The focus is currently on monitoring students at both Western Colorado University and the Gunnison Watershed School District. County officials say things are unfolding about as expected.

Gunnison County public information officer Andrew Sandstrom said seven Western students are quarantined in isolation as of Tuesday, while about 30 students from Gunnison or Crested Butte are staying home because of symptoms or contact with those with symptoms. He said fewer than three WCU students have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last week and no K-12 students have had a positive test result.

“We are being very conservative with the schools, both at Western and with the Gunnison schools,” Sandstrom explained. “The students, staff and community in general are all doing a good job and staying vigilant. As a result there are seven Western students isolating right now and 30 or so students are staying at home and not coming to school because they are showing even a single mild symptom or have had contact with someone who is symptomatic.”

Sandstrom said children with even minor COVID-related symptoms are being tested. “If they have minor symptoms that aren’t typically associated with COVID, we are asking them to stay home and monitor symptoms for 24 hours before being tested,” he said.

The Western students are quarantined in local hotel rooms and having meals delivered until their test results are returned.

“I can’t stress enough that we are being very conservative, given the school situation,” he said. “Even if there is only one symptom exhibited, the student will stay home and get tested. If a student has a sibling who is showing mild symptoms, he or she will also be asked to not attend school as well.

“This is about what we expected,” concluded Sandstrom. “I think it’s great the system is working. The tracking by parents and the school district is really working.”