Sales team reports 16 cases; all positive cases have been isolated and all known close contacts have been quarantined
Contact: Nicole Valentine, Summit County Public Health
SUMMIT COUNTY – The Summit County Public Health Department, in coordination with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 at Breckenridge Grand Vacations. The sales team has 16 confirmed cases among employees and contracted workers.
Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) is the parent company of Gold Point Resort, Grand Timber Lodge, the Grand Lodge on Peak 7, the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 and Breck Inn. BGV offices and sales team are located in downtown Breckenridge and host in-person visits with prospective clients.
The sixteen individuals were tested for COVID-19 between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1, after developing symptoms. Public Health began investigating the outbreak on Nov. 25 after receiving several positive test results.
According to BGV management, the company had implemented strict rules for all the sales offices regarding mask wearing, symptom checking and disinfecting. It was reported that some sales personnel, however, were not compliant with the COVID-19 workplace policies and it was reported that mask wearing among sales workers was sporadic, buffet lunches were served, staff were congregating in the break room, and in-person meetings of more than 20 people were held.
Public Health officials received four separate complaints from employees/sales personnel, regarding the lack of enforcement of a mask policy in the office and other concerns over employee safety. Public health officials are investigating the complaints.
Public health officials are urging individuals who believe they may have been exposed to get tested. Testing is available to the public at no cost at multiple testing locations across Summit County and a doctor’s note is not necessary. Individuals can go to https://www.summitcountyco.gov/Testing for additional information on locations and hours.
“It’s critical that symptomatic individuals – no matter how mild their symptoms may be – immediately get tested and go into isolation to reduce the risk of transmission to clients, coworkers and family,” Summit County Public Health Director Amy Wineland said. “While these individuals may not become terribly ill, increased transmission of the virus puts vulnerable members of the community at grave risk. Additionally, we will all suffer the consequences of our rising case numbers if the state steps in and closes businesses in Summit County in order to mitigate the spread.”
The outbreak investigation at BGV is ongoing. All known positive cases have been placed in isolation, and all close contacts identified have been placed under quarantine.
“Immediately upon learning of the expanded outbreak I ordered a closure of our sales office for 12 days and instructed our Compliance Officer to continue to take steps to strengthen enforcement of our behavioral workplace COVID-19 mitigation policies,” said Mike Dudick, CEO of BGV. “Going forward BGV will learn from this experience and use it to improve upon our BGVShines.com policies already in place which are designed to provide the safest possible environment for our guests and staff in our resorts and offices.”
Information on Summit County positive cases can be found on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard. Outbreak information can be located on the Summit County COVID-19 Outbreaks table.
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