The death toll at a Durango nursing home experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 is up to five people, with nearly all residents now testing positive for the virus, according to San Juan Basin Public Health.
An outbreak of COVID-19 cases was first reported Nov. 23 at Four Corners Health Care Center after three residents and two staff members tested positive.
Last week, health officials said the virus had rapidly spread through the facility. On Thursday, it was reported 84 residents and 48 staff members tested positive, with three people reportedly dead.
On Monday, SJBPH said a total of 90 residents and 53 staff members have tested positive, and five residents have died.
Four Corners Health Care Center has about 100 residents. The center did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday afternoon.
Claire Ninde, spokeswoman for SJBPH, said the local health department is in daily communication with the nursing home to make sure it has enough staff members, support and resources to respond to the outbreak.
Four Corners Health Care Center is also working closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Residential Care Strike Team and infection prevention specialists.
“SJBPH and partners will coordinate other consequences of this outbreak, like medical surge and medical transport surge, if necessary,” Ninde said. “This coordination has not been necessary as of today.”
A request for comment to CDPHE was not returned Monday.
Nursing homes, which house one of the most at-risk populations, have been hit hard across the state of Colorado by COVID-19 outbreaks. As of Wednesday, 101 of the state’s 235 nursing homes had outbreaks, according to The Denver Post.
At Four Corners Health Care Center, health officials believe the virus was likely brought in by a staff member, and spread throughout the facility before cases started to be known.
It is by far La Plata County’s largest outbreak since the pandemic started in March.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
