According to the Colorado Ski Resort, 109 employees tested positive for COVID-19

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More than 100 employees of a popular Colorado ski resort tested positive for COVID-19 after contracting the disease by holding social gatherings outside the workplace – although the actual number of infections is thought to be much higher.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment has reported 109 cases of coronavirus at the Winter Park Resort in Grand County.

The outbreak was first declared on January 23 and accounts for more than 6 percent of the 1,700 employees at the ski resort.

Grand County Health only reported the positive cases to the state this week, reports the Post.

Grand County Health and the Winter Park Resort have issued a joint statement saying the cases were not diverted to interactions with visitors.

The number of infections is thought to be much higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest that people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment has reported 109 cases of coronavirus at the Winter Park Resort in Grand County. A skier and snowboarder take off in Upper Hughes at the Winter Park Resort in this March 2017 file photo

A spokesman for Winter Park Resort told DailyMail.com that the complex had taken the necessary precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus before reopening to the public on December 3.

Jen Miller said the resort has implemented rules that require masks and social distance throughout the complex.

In addition, the resort has instituted ‘increased sanitation procedures’ and added staff to remind visitors of masking requirements, she said.

There are no indoor eateries available at the resort because visitors are only allowed to do ‘grab-n-go’ food shopping, Miller said.

“WPR has worked closely and has been transparent with state and local public health authorities since the onset of the pandemic and in recent weeks to navigate these dynamic circumstances,” Miller told DailyMail.com.

‘WPR has a home site that they have been running since December and has consistently used GCPH test sites as deemed necessary.

‘Over the past few months, WPR has implemented robust contact tracing among employees that has helped [Grand County Public Health], and a CDPHE contact tracing support team was called in during this outbreak, if necessary.

“WPR has also conducted a CDPHE epidemiology / hygiene consultation to further investigate the changes that could be made to suppress COVID activity among employees.”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up within two to three weeks.

For some – especially older adults and people with pre-existing health problems – it can cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia and death.

Other popular ski destinations in Colorado reported outbreaks, although they were much smaller.

Breckenridge reported 12 active coronavirus outbreaks in a total of 26 cases, while Keystone had four outbreaks with 10 positive cases.

Public health officials define an outbreak as two or more cases of COVID-19 occurring at the same site.

An outbreak is considered to be resolved only after 28 days have passed without any new infections.

According to the latest data, as of Friday, 430 patients with COVID-19 have been hospitalized in Colorado.

Public health officials said the moving average positivity rate had dropped to 3.95 percent.

The World Health Organization recommends that the positivity rate be kept at or below 5 percent to contain the virus.

As of Friday, nearly 609,000 Colorado residents had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, 271 104 were inoculated with two doses.

The state also reports good news as hospitalization rates decline. The latest figures indicate that 430 people are currently in hospitals due to confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Another 40 patients are suspected of carrying the virus.

On Friday, the state reported 24 new hospital admissions – lower than 61 the previous day.

The seven-day moving average of new hospitalizations has dropped to 59 in the past week – from 64 on Thursday.

Of all hospital beds available in the state, only 5 percent are occupied by either confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.

Government officials also report only 2 percent of medical facilities say they have an ICU bed shortage next week.

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