COVID-19 Resources & Updates
As COVID-19 swept the through our country it changed the course of our daily business and our daily lives. We want to provide our community, both businesses and those that find themselves out of work, with a hub where you can find resources to help you get through this very difficult and confusing time.
If there is anything that you feel should be added to this page or updated, please email welcome@buenavistacolorado.org.
For the most up-to-date announcements, visit our COVID-19 Announcements page.
Restriction Status: Level Yellow
Effective Saturday, February 6 at 9a.
To review the state’s capacity restrictions by color level, go here.
Chaffee County Public Health Resources
Download this week’s situational awareness report – 3/3/2021
The Chaffee County Public Health website is a great resource for the most accurate updates on mandates and actions taken by the county. You can also find the daily situational reports and vaccine information posted there as well!
COVID-19 Dashboard: The most up-to-date information on current cases in our county.
Vaccination Scheduler: Please do not register if it is not your group’s time. To view all phases and to see if you fall within the criteria, visit CDPHE’s Vaccines for Coloradans.
Other Vaccination Options: Please check out information at Buena Vista Drug and Valley-Wide Health for more information on their vaccination schedules. You may also call Valley-Wide Health’s Vaccine Hotline at (719) 587-9610.
Where to Get Tested in Chaffee County: Find that information here.
Other Resources: Updated information is also posted on their Facebook page Monday through Friday.
Mental Health Resources
Before the pandemic began, coping with isolation and loneliness during the holidays was an issue for some. This holiday season, many people will be more isolated than usual, and many families will be experiencing their first holiday season since losing a loved one.
Go here for tips on how to maintain good mental health in the days to come.
The Crisis Line is Open 24/7
Call 719.539.6502 to talk to someone
Chaffee’s Got HEART Campaign
CCPH encourages all residents in the “Heart of the Rockies” to continue to take HEART:
H – Hang at Home if Sick.
E – Excel at Handwashing.
A – Always Wear a Mask Properly in Public.
R – Respect Social Distancing.
T – Test If You Have Symptoms.
Visit our HEART YouTube channel!

CDC Quarantine Recommendations
Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) has updated its COVID-19 quarantine guidance to reflect the new recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is now approving and promoting two alternatives to its previously recommended 14-day quarantine period. Regardless of this development, the CDC still supports a 14-day quarantine as the “gold standard” for those who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
The two new alternatives are not 100% risk free.
Click HERE to read more on the CDC’s two new quarantine alternatives.
COVID-19 Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- New loss of taste or smell.
- Fever or chills.
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- Muscle or body aches.
- Sore throat.
- Congestion or runny nose.
- Nausea or vomiting.
How can I best protect myself and others when I come to visit?
- Self-screen before going out into public spaces. Self-screening includes checking for symptoms such as: cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, loss of taste, feverish or muscle pain. We ask that you refrain visiting us in Salida if these symptoms are present.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Wash and disinfect your hands before interacting with an employee or another visitor
- Maintain at least six feet of separation from other individuals not within the same household.
- Wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth, especially when interacting with an individual within six feet or indoors.
FAQs for Visitors
Is Chaffee County open for Tourism? (i.e. Buena Vista, Salida, Poncha Springs and Nathrop)
- Chaffee County is open for tourism at this time
What are the Chamber’s Business hours?
- We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday by appointment
What is the current state of events and public gatherings?
- The State of Colorado advises that gatherings be avoided
What is social distancing?
Social distancing methods are ways to increase physical distance between people in schools and workplaces, at community events, and at other places people gather. Examples include:
- No hugs, no handshakes
- Increasing the physical distance between people to at least 6 feet to help reduce spread
- Reducing the number of large group gatherings or activities. The smallest group in the largest space is the safest
- Staying home
What is open in Chaffee County? What can we do when we get there?
- Lodging, Retail, Restaurants, Hot Springs, Outfitters/Guided Activities, and Recreation are open…some restrictions and parameters may be put into place such as party sizes and reservations. It’s best to contact those outfitters and places of business before arriving in Chaffee County to get a better idea of each industry’s practices.
How will I know which establishments are open and what the rules of occupancy is for restaurants?
- Chaffee County Public Health has certified businesses to reopen and each business has posted this certificate in their storefronts. Following the guidelines, each business was required by Public Health to post additional signage in their windows with messaging with regard to occupancy, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and to refrain from entering their establishment if experiencing symptoms. Here you can find a list of our small businesses and restaurants.
FAQs for Businesses
FAQS relating to various types of businesses regarding the following topics:
- MASKS
- Customers
- Employees
- Responding to a case
- Stopping the Spread
Click HERE to read the finalized business FAQS document.
Chaffee Cty Community Foundation GRANT
Other Business Resources for Winter
HEPA air purifiers or Ionization units offer benefits inside your location to assist with the risk of COVID exposure (facemasks, social distancing and washing of hands often must be used as well to combat the risk of infection).
Learn more here. Chris Martin can assist you with ionization units & more, phone him at 719.239.0023 or email cmartin@netzero-usa.com.


The Chaffee County Small Business Coalition was formed with the goal to focus on COVID-19 recovery efforts for small businesses in Chaffee County. The Coalition includes representatives from the Central Mountain Small Business Development Center (SBDC), The Salida Chamber of Commerce, The Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce, and the Salida Business Alliance (SBA).
The goal of the Coalition is to be a single resource that can support our small business community through recovery and renewal. These resources include programs to support small business development via countywide trainings and webinars, collecting and dispersing information through streamlined communications, and offering free consulting and mentoring programs.
The Chamber Team
Executive Director, Melissa Traynham
director@BuenaVistaColorado.org
Membership & Sales, Jon Cobb
membership@BuenaVistaColorado.org
Board of Directors
President: Jay Smith
Treasurer: Kit Salway
Secretary: Tom Rollings
Ashley Basta
Keith Barbeau
Nelson Fleming
Ryan Martin
Tim Stange