Coronavirus - Roaring Fork Valley

Local resident Anabel Meza gets her second vaccine dose at an after-work clinic inside the Carbondale Fire House on May 11. Pitkin County Public Health epidemiologist Josh Vance said early research indicates that a third dose -- a booster -- works against the more transmissible omicron variant.

COVID-19 cases rise in the valley as omicron moves in for the holidays

Eleanor Bennett

The first cases of the omicron variant were detected in Pitkin and Garfield counties over the past week, and COVID-19 cases are on the rise as the Roaring Fork Valley heads into peak holiday season.

Aspen Valley Hospital, whose emergency department entrance is pictured here, may have a difficult time transferring patients in need of critical care now that Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs and other hospitals across the state are at capacity.

Health and Wellness

Local and regional hospitals at capacity with influx of mostly unvaccinated COVID-19 patients

Eleanor Bennett

The fifth wave of the pandemic continues to sweep across the state, and local hospitals are once again being stretched thin. As regional hospitals in places such as Grand Junction and Denver fill up, Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs has seen an influx of patients in recent weeks.

As of Wednesday, half of the four ICU beds at Aspen Valley Hospital were filled, one with a patient who has COVID-19. Another patient with the virus was transferred to Denver over the weekend. “We are a small hospital, so an extra patient makes a big difference,” said Dave Ressler, the hospital’s CEO.

Health and Wellness

Pitkin County Masks Up As COVID-19 Continues To Take Its Toll

Eleanor Bennett

The new mask mandate comes on the heels of the fifth recorded death from COVID-19 in Pitkin County since the pandemic began. Eagle County has recorded 30 deaths since the pandemic began, and Garfield County has recorded 57 deaths.

A vaccine is administered at Aspen Valley Hospital earlier this year. Some local vaccine providers are seeing an increase in demand for first doses as people take the Delta variant more seriously.

Health and Wellness

Delta Variant And Summer Travel Likely Behind ‘A Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated’ In Roaring Fork Valley

Eleanor Bennett

With summer tourism peaking and the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, Aspen and the Valley are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and local health officials are concerned.

A pile of open house signs sits discarded on the east side of Aspen. In 2020, homes in Pitkin County sold for a combined $4 billion. That marks a 129% jump from the previous year, the sharpest increase of any county included in the "Mountain Migration" survey.

Economics

The Pandemic Made Living In Pitkin County More Expensive, And Part-Timers Stayed Longer

Alex Hager

Aspen locals know that it's gotten harder to afford a place to live. Now, a new study of resort towns in Colorado confirms that trend with data.

After an uncertain winter, local businesses owners are hopeful for the summer, but careful to meter their expectations. Wendy Mitchell, owner of Meat & Cheese in Aspen, said "all last year was kind of a wash" for profit-making.

Economics

'We Need To Make Some Money': Aspen Businesses Cautiously Optimistic Heading Into Summer

Alex Hager

After a strange and uncertain winter for tourism in Aspen, business owners have their sights set on summer.This coming season could bring some much needed traffic to hotels and restaurants, but the shifting economic landscape will present some new challenges.

Carbondale-based Sylvia Johnson shared the stories of people such as Jose. The project was made possible by National Geographic Society’s Emergency Fund for Journalists and created in collaboration with Garfield County Public Health.

Arts & Culture

Local Artist Captures Garfield County Pandemic Vignettes With Spanish-Language Storytelling Project

Alex Hager

Carbondale-based artist Sylvia Johnson spent part of the pandemic working as a contact tracer in Garfield County. Her conversations with people who had COVID-19 became a source of inspiration, which she has now turned into a storytelling project.

Health and Wellness

Pitkin County Has The Highest Virus Rate In The State, Again. Here Are The Three Most Likely Causes

Alex Hager

Pitkin County’s COVID-19 incidence rate is the highest in Colorado by a wide margin. As a result, businesses are operating under “orange” level…

Health and Wellness

Voces Unidas hace un llamado para que aumenten las clínicas de vacunación en el valle Roaring Fork

Alex Hager

You can find an English-language version of this story here.Los latinos de los condados de Pitkin, Eagle y Garfield se vieron particularmente afectados…

Health and Wellness

Local Nonprofit Voces Unidas Calls On Roaring Fork Valley To Ramp Up Vaccine Equity Clinics

Alex Hager

Latinos in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties have been especially hard hit by the pandemic. While they’ve made up a disproportionate number of COVID-19…