The Health District Family Dental Clinic will close Monday, Aug. 10, for a minimum of one week after a second clinic staff member tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

The dental clinic will be closed through Friday, August 14. During that time, the facility will undergo deep cleaning and disinfection. All clinic staff will remain off-site and have been advised to be tested for COVID-19.

The clinic employee who tested positive will isolate for at least 10 days per Centers for Disease Control guidance. Three additional dental clinic staff determined to have had close personal contact with the employee will quarantine for 14 days.

After thorough contact tracing, patients who may have had close contact with the employee also are being notified and advised to quarantine.

Out of an abundance of caution, the entire building at 202 Bristlecone Drive in which the clinic is located, also will remain closed through the week, except in cases where emergency access may be needed to support critical Health District services. The second floor of the building houses the agency’s Finance and Information Technology departments, among other staff. Staff from those departments will be encouraged to get tested for COVID-19.

A decision will be made later this week whether to reopen the clinic or extend the closure for a second week.

The Health District is working with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE) to investigate the source of the exposure, according to Health District Medical Director Dr. James Stewart.

“The Health District is committed to providing a safe environment for our staff and patients,” Stewart said.

Another dental clinic employee tested positive for COVID-19 in the end of July. As a result, the employee isolated at home, affected staff and patients were notified and directed to quarantine, and the clinic was promptly cleaned and disinfected as advised by LCDHE. 

The Health District Family Dental Clinic has remained open throughout much of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing essential dental services to community members who lack dental insurance or are covered by Colorado First Colorado (Medicaid) or Child Health Plan Plus. After a brief period during which it was open only for emergency services, the clinic resumed regular hours and services in June. 

The dental clinic leadership continues to do extensive and ongoing research on latest evidence and expert recommendations, maintaining strict infection prevention protocols and ensuring that all dental clinic staff have been trained in COVID-19 infection control procedures and are provided with personal protective equipment, including face shields, gowns, and N-95 masks.  Like all Health District staff, they also have regularly been encouraged to follow Safer at Home guidelines to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the community, including avoiding large crowds, practicing physical distancing, washing hands regularly, and wearing masks in public places.

“This is a reminder that COVID-19 still exists in our community, and it’s up to all of us to remain vigilant and take proper precautions to prevent spread both inside the workplace and outside in the community,” said Stewart.