Health care services across the United States are expected to continue triagingtesting even as additional test kits for COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, are distributed this week.
In Montezuma County, the exact number of tests has not been made publicly available by county officials and Southwest Health System.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no cases have been confirmed in Montezuma County. Navajo Nation confirmed its first case Tuesday from a 46-year-old tribal member in the Kayenta area, President Jonathan Nez announced.
Two off-the-record sources shared conflicting test kit numbers with KSJD News, neither of which could be verified with certainty for publishing.
County administrator Shak Powers said he did not know the number of available COVID-19 tests.
“I do know we have tests and I know we have more ordered,” Powers said Tuesday, adding that he doesn’t know when the additional tests will arrive.
Lindsay Yeager, community relations manager at Southwest Health System, said Southwest currently has an adequate supply. Yeager would not specify the number of COVID-19 tests available at the hospital, adding there is “no community benefit” to releasing the number, and that Montezuma County should have a separate supply.
Note: Southwest Health System is an underwriter of KSJD.
Karen Dickson, emergency preparedness and response coordinator at the Montezuma County Public Health Department, said the exact numbers of test kits nor the number of negative cases can be confirmed until Wednesday. She said the county is waiting for the state’s department of health to update a reporting system tonight.
An additional call to Dickson to verify the county’s own supply was not returned as of publication.
The county continues to recommend and share guidelines for avoiding large gatherings, such as those announced by President Donald Trump on Monday. Meanwhile, Gov. Jared Polis ordered a 30-day closure of all Colorado bars, restaurants and other large gathering places.
When a positive COVID-19 case in Montezuma County is confirmed in testing, Powers said the state’s health department has 15 minutes to notify local agencies. The county health department also set up a public information line at 970-564-4799 that will later track cases as they’re confirmed. The department says calls will be returned within 48 hours.
KSJD’s full interview with Powers on the latest county responses to the coronavirus is available below.
