One person has died after a COVID-19 outbreak at Nissan of Durango.
Nine employees and contractors had also tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday.
San Juan Basin Public Health and Nissan of Durango, located off U.S. Highway 160 west, have launched a response plan, including testing, contact tracing and isolating people. At least two cases were caused by the “delta” variant of the novel coronavirus.
“The message is clear, don’t let your guard down,” said Liane Jollon, executive director of San Juan Basin Public Health, in a news release. “The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and the impact can be seen in our own communities.”
Nissan of Durango began working with SJBPH on a response plan June 28 and completed all recommended mitigation actions, said owner Rob Celedonia. Nissan did not close because of the outbreak, and remains open for its regular hours.
Three Nissan employees and seven independent contractors contracted COVID-19, Celedonia said. One of the contractors died.
All positive cases have been put in isolation, and those identified as close contacts who were unvaccinated were also put in quarantine.
An outbreak is five or more cases associated with a single facility within a 14-day period, as defined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
SJBPH’s investigation into the outbreak is ongoing, but information so far suggests the lack of public health precautions within the workplace, especially regarding unvaccinated staff members, contributed to the elevated number of cases, the SJBPH news release said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes the final determination of cause of death for COVID-19 cases, and that determination has not yet been finalized, according to SJBPH.
“We’re very grateful for the cooperation of Nissan of Durango in response to this outbreak and to every business still working to keep our communities safe,” Jollon said.
The delta variant was first documented in India and has spread to 96 countries. Research into the variant is in its early stages, but delta is thought to be about 55% more transmissible than previous variants of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.
“Because the delta variant is substantially easier to transmit than previous variants, it is likely that all cases in this outbreak are delta variant cases,” said Brian Devine, SJBPH deputy incident commander for COVID-19 response, in an email to The Durango Herald.
The increased transmissibility was a factor in how quickly the virus spread through the workplace in the absence of other public health precautions, he said.
La Plata County has had 23 outbreaks with five or more COVID-19 cases in 2021. The largest, 50 cases at Durango High School, started in February and was resolved June 29, according to CDPHE.
In La Plata County, five people have died in connection with the 2021 COVID-19 outbreaks, according to CDPHE.
Cases of the delta variant were also identified in the outbreak at the Pagosa Springs Walmart. With 13 cases, it is one of Archuleta County’s largest outbreaks as of Thursday.
SJBPH urged residents in La Plata and Archuleta counties to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to wear masks in indoor settings.
The World Health Organization also urges mask-wearing in response to the pandemic, but the CDC says fully vaccinated people do not need masks in indoor or outdoor settings.
Vaccination, especially completion of a vaccine series, is the best means of protection against the delta variant, SJBPH said.
“There is evidence that getting a single dose of Pfizer or Moderna does not provide a high level of protection, and people should complete their vaccine series even if they are overdue for a second dose,” Devine said.
About 56% of La Plata County residents and 48% of Archuleta County residents were vaccinated as of Thursday, according to SJBPH data.
State records show more than 98% of confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred in the unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated population from January to June 2021, SJBPH said.
“Unvaccinated residents are at higher risk of falling ill with the delta variant of COVID-19 and are urged to get the vaccine as soon as possible – even if you previously had COVID-19,” said a SJBPH news release.
smullane@durangoherald.com
