Aspen Skiing Co. is taking three major steps to boost its efforts to try to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and comply with stricter regulations adopted Monday by Pitkin County.
Skico is seeking ways to keep its on-mountain restaurants operational after the county decided to prohibit indoor dining, at least temporarily, starting Sunday. Visitors will only be allowed to enter restaurants to order and pick up food, use the restrooms and briefly warm up, said Skico vice president of communications Jeff Hanle. There will be no indoor seating and masks are mandatory at all times indoors.
Skico will utilize its restaurants’ patios and outdoor, open-sided tents to the greatest extent possible, depending on weather conditions, Hanle said. Tables are limited to single household use only and groups cannot be larger than eight people.
Rose Laudicina/ The Aspen Times
“Targeted and universal testing” helped to identify and contain a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the Sundeck and Aspen Mountain Club last week, according to a report from Josh Vance, an epidemiologist who works with Pitkin County’s COVID-19 response team.
As of Sunday morning, 17 positive cases were confirmed among 72 employees who were tested for COVID-19.
Pitkin County Public Health initiated widespread testing at the two eateries managed by The Little Nell, which is part of Aspen Skiing Co., as a proactive measure last week after two employees independently sought testing and confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the two weeks prior, according to a news release from The Little Nell on Sunday evening.