PITKIN COUNTY - At today’s Board of Health meeting members voted unanimously to change the current Traveler Affidavit program to a Traveler Awareness Program as recommended by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association board in a letter that was sent to the BoH. Effective Friday, Mar. 5, 2021 visitors will still be required to fill out an agreement on the Pitkin County website and are encouraged, although not required, per CDC travel guidance to get tested before visiting Pitkin County.
“We recognize the Traveler Affidavit program is an important communications and education tool supported by our lodging partners in the best practices around how to travel safely either here in Pitkin County or anywhere. With over 69,964 people having filled out the form to date it’s provided us a vehicle to engage with visitors that we may not have had the opportunity to engage with in any other way,” said Jordana Sabella, Interim Public Health Director.
Below is a snapshot of the CDC guidelines: Travel During COVID-19 | CDC
If you must travel, take these steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
- If you are eligible, get fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Wait 2 weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel—it takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
- Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before you travel. Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel in case you are asked for them. Do NOT travel if you test positive.
- Check travel restrictions before you go.
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when in public settings. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
- Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who did not travel with you. It’s important to do this everywhere — both indoors and outdoors.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
- Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer.
- Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Several changes have occurred around the COVID response since the Traveler Affidavit program was first launched in mid-December leading the Public Health team to make the recommendation today. Those include:
- Short-term lodging occupancy limit dictated by informal gathering limit (currently up to 10 people from no more than 2 households).
- Vaccination of 3,825 Pitkin County Residents, although hospitality workers have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated yet.
- All international air passengers coming to the United States are now required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States.
- One month of declining incidence rate
- Confirmed variants in neighboring counties
The county’s COVID communication and community liaison teams will begin tomorrow updating the information on the website and crafting materials to share with stakeholder partners to inform their guests.
Pitkin County Traveler Affidavit Requirement | Pitkin County COVID-19 Response & Recovery