It has become not uncommon to arrive at a favorite Park County restaurant or shop and discover it is closed for a few days due to a positive case or cases of COVID-19.

Those closures are not required by the state or county health officials, but are instead instigated by the business owners, usually to ensure the safety of their clients and other staff members.

Park County Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin said the correct response to a positive COVID-19 test is determined by contact tracing. The tracing helps locate residents who may have come in contact with anyone who has a positive COVID test.

“Every business that has closed in Park County has done so on their own decision,” Billin wrote. The only exception was early in the pandemic, when a public health order required a child care facility to temporarily close.

In addition to trying to keep employees, staff and clients safe and avoiding the spread of the virus, many of the businesses, when impacted by the virus, find themselves without adequate staff to keep the doors open. 

El Tapatio, a longtime favorite of Powell residents, shut its doors briefly because of positive COVID test or tests last month, but is now on its annual holiday hiatus and should be open for business again in the new year.