San Miguel County Answers FAQs & How to Help!

20 Mar San Miguel County Answers FAQs & How to Help!

To offer items of assistance: email: volunteer@tchnetwork.org. To offer financial assistance: https://telluridefoundation.org/responsefund/ These guidelines may change, more info maybe added to the FAQ’s. For the latest visit the San Miguel County public health site here.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Public Health Order:

How long is the shelter in place order for? The new Public Health orders described today go into effect at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, March 19, 2020 until Friday, April 3 at 11:59 p.m. The order will be revisited by the San Miguel County Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

Are the roads and public transit being shut down? No, at this time there are no plans to close roads or barricade any community. Though the gondola is closed, public transit will remain open, with decreased ridership available –intended for trips to medical/grocery and essential service visits only.

If a resident leaves San Miguel County, will they be able to come back in? There will not be any barricades into or out of San Miguel County, but we ask that you limit out of county travel for essential purposes only and comply with all social distancing requirements (6 foot distance, frequent hand-washing for 20 seconds etc.). These include, but are not limited to: essential activities; government functions; businesses; travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents and persons with disabilities; travel to return to your home; travel required by law enforcement or court order.

Are restaurants open? What about liquor stores/cannabis shops? Restaurants are permitted to begin takeout and delivery of food on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 3 p.m. The same goes for alcohol and cannabis stores. No bars or restaurants will be allowed to have customers in for dining or consuming.

What about second homeowners and visitors? Second homeowners are strongly recommended to return to their primary homes unless they are prepared to shelter in place for up to a month without outside assistance. If they are able and interested in being here for an extended, unknown period of time, they may stay and be prepared to follow county guidelines. Visitors are strongly encouraged to leave or not come to San Miguel County during this timeframe.

What if I have guests booked in my properties? Property managers should not take new bookings/reservations until April 3, 2020 (and that will likely be extended) and should help their guests leave as soon as possible, only with exception to emergency response agency support or if visitors are unable to leave.

What about construction sites? Residential and commercial construction orders are in the process of being revisited on being considered “essential services” and will be shut down or severely restricted as of 12:01am on 3/21/20.

I am a plumber/electrician/provide another home service, should I still make house calls? Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, internet providers and other service providers whose work is necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences are considered “essential businesses.” All other house calls should be cancelled during this order. If you do make an emergency house calls, be sure to practice social distancing and wear gloves or a mask, if applicable, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Are the schools going to shut down? No, the local schools have set up online learning for all grades and this will continue during this time. The Telluride School District and Norwood school districts are offering basic food assistance for families in need Monday-Friday. Please call 970-369-1205 for more information.

What is considered an essential business? Essential Businesses, as outlined in the order include: healthcare operations; essential governmental functions and infrastructure, grocery and convenience stores, food banks, food cultivation (farming, livestock, fishing), businesses that provide food, shelter and social services, media services, gas stations and auto-repair facilities, banks, hardware stores, laundromats, dry-cleaners. Please see Page 7 of the order for more details and guidelines. All essential business must be performed in compliance with social distancing and practice enhanced disinfection protocols.

COVID-19 TESTING QUESTIONS:

What is the new test that some people are talking about? San Miguel County is implementing a County-wide voluntary test for COVID-19 and requesting all residents “shelter in place” beginning tonight (3/19/20) at 12:01 am. In the next few days, we will get more details about when and how testing will occur. We are requesting we adhere to strict self-isolation and only essential personnel travel away from home during this timeframe.

Is the test mandatory and when will public testing begin? No, it will be voluntary. Widespread public testing is targeted to begin the week of March 23. The testing is being charged free-of-charge and will be administered by San Miguel County Public Health Department and Telluride Medical Center.

How will the tests be administered? How will this work? County medical clinics in Telluride and Norwood will conduct a simple blood draw from individuals who agree to the test. Tests will be sent to a lab with results expected to be available within a few days. The test will ideally be repeated in 14 days so officials can gauge if infection is increasing or decreasing. The blood test will show a person’s immunity for COVID-19 and will help health officials learn who is protected against the virus and who might still be at risk.

Why offer this test to the entire community? The goal is to detect and contain community spread and provide a more accurate assessment of the disease’s prevalence. The highest concentrated population centers of the county will be tested first and then the testing will be offered to all other communities within the county.

Helpful resources:

Information:

San Miguel County info on COVID-19: https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/590/Coronavirus
State of Colorado info on COVID-19: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
Hotline to ask non-medical questions for clarification of the orders: 970-728-3844

Medical Questions:

• Telluride Regional Medical Center (Telluride): 970-728-3848
• Uncompahgre Medical Center (Norwood): 970-327-4233

Food

• Grocery stores will remain open. Clark’s has a special time for those 60+

• Food Bank: http://tellurideangelbaskets.org/

• Norwood area food help: https://freshfoodhub.net/

• Basic food/cash assistance: www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/socialservices. (Also has child and adult protection.)

Monetary Assistance

• Telluride Foundation Good Neighbor Fund

• Domestic Violence/Sex assault resources: https://smrcco.org/

• Behavioral health/mental health assistance: https://tchnetwork.org/

• Homeowner foreclosure prevention: https://www.hud.gov

Business resources: Region 10’s Small Business Resource Center provides assistance to businesses experiencing economic distress and/or disruption with SBDC business consulting, technical assistance services, and loan fund assistance. Our information sheet regarding these and additional programs is attached and can be printed to share with businesses. Businesses interested in these programs should contact Dan Scinto or 970-765-3126.

Businesses seeking technical assistance or consulting regarding how to prepare and/or recover during an economic disruption should contact Nancy Murphy, 970-765-3130, and/or register for SBDC consulting here. Further assistance can be found in The Disaster Recovery and Continuity Guide for Colorado Businesses. Download the guide here.

Colorado Office of Economic development and international trade – with business loans and recovery resources: www.choosecolroado.com/covid19.

Small Business Administration

• SBA Disaster Assistance in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19):

• The SBA Guidance for businesses and employers, including access to capital, workforce capacity, inventory and supply chain shortfalls, and export assistance.

Other Resources

• Colorado Restaurant Association Policies and Protocols for the Colorado Restaurant Industry

• Environmental cleaning and disinfecting

• U.S. Department of Labor Offers Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for Coronavirus

• Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation: Information on FECA Coverage for Coronavirus Disease