STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Much of the news surrounding the outbreak of a novel coronavirus has focused on people’s physical health, but maintaining one’s mental health is just as important during times of crisis.

While the global outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted almost every facet of life, resources are still available for people experiencing mental health issues or who are worried about their friends and family. 

That was the focus of a virtual town hall on Wednesday, March 18, hosted by politician Andrew Romanoff, the former chief executive officer of Mental Health Colorado. About 300 people participated in the video conference, which featured a panel of mental experts from across the state. 

Spike in calls for service

As Dr. Tom Barrett, professor emeritus at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver, explained, mental health needs increase during times of crisis. People feel anxious over fears of the unknown. The disconnectedness that comes with social isolation can bring feelings of depression. People dealing with substance abuse issues, he said, are particularly vulnerable in these instances. 

Locally, mental health organizations and crisis support groups have fielded a spike in calls for service, according to Mindy Marriott, executive director of Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide, or REPS. She was not a part of the conference call but spoke with Steamboat Pilot & Today separately. 

This time of year, the Steamboat-based nonprofit usually records an uptick in calls, she said, but in the last two weeks, callers have specifically mentioned mental health concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of them voice concerns about their friends or loved ones who are distressed amid the unfolding, rapidly changing, crisis.

“The fear of the unknown is the biggest issue people are faced with,” Marriott said. 

That is why the organization has tried to spread messages of hope to the community, boosting its public outreach and social media presence. Marriott wants people to know that help is available and the nonprofit is prepared to meet the needs of individuals. 

“We aren’t going anywhere during this time,” she said.

People can contact REPS 24/7 by calling 970-846-8182. Callers will then be connected with mental health services in the community. The statewide Colorado Crisis Services also is available by calling 1-844-493-8255 or texting “talk” to 38255.

For those trying to maintain their mental health during these uncertain times, the panel of mental health experts offered some advice. Approaches centered around three areas: mind, body and spirit. 

The mind 

In the wake of this pandemic, it can be easy to become overly immersed in the bad or scary news from around the world, said Dr. Hunter Kennedy, executive director of Footprints to Recovery, an addiction center. While it is helpful to stay informed, it is important to take time away from the news and to focus on the people and activities that can ease stress. A simple phone call to a friend or family member can help immensely, Kennedy said.

Most therapists are not meeting clients face-to-face, but there are ways to meet with mental health professionals through text messages, email and video, Kennedy explained. 

To further ease mental anxiety, the panel also recommended people keep a daily schedule of activities. Not only will it bring some predictability amid otherwise unpredictable circumstances, it can help people set aside time for self-care, such as yoga or reading a novel. 

The body

Physical health can contribute to mental health, the panel emphasized. Toward that end, keeping active can help calm feelings of anxiety and release endorphins that boost one’s sense of well-being. 

In Steamboat Springs, recreation opportunities abound, with plenty of remote areas to allow people to exercise while maintaining a healthy distance from others. Those who are feeling sick or who may have been exposed to COVID-19 are urged to refrain from putting themselves in risky situations, as they could pose threats to first responders in the event of an emergency.

As always, eating healthy and getting plenty of sleep also contribute to one’s overall sense of well-being.

The spirit

Though a less tangible form of wellness, spirituality can help one’s mental health immensely, Kennedy said. To this end, he recommends taking time to practice mindfulness exercises, such as meditation, or attending online church services, which many local congregations are offering.  

Some religious groups encourage members to hold at-home gatherings while churches remain closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These outlets, Kennedy said, help people feel more connected with themselves and one another, which have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.

Resources for those in recovery

For people suffering from substance abuse issues, isolation can exacerbate their struggles, Kennedy explained. It does not help that groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous cannot meet face-to-face as usual. But resources are still available, and meetings continue to take place online. 

For online Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, visit aaspeaker.com. For online Narcotics Anonymous meetings, visit neveraloneclub.org.

An online recovery community called In the Rooms also offers virtual meetings. To set up a free account, visit intherooms.com. 

The Phoenix, a local workout group, is offering virtual classes at thephoenix.org/virtual.

Perhaps most important of all is remembering that while these are difficult times, things will not stay this way forever. The light at the end of the tunnel still shines, even if it has not yet come into view. 

“It is important to remember that this is a temporary situation,” Kennedy said. “It is not a permanent situation.”

To reach Derek Maiolo, call 970-871-4247, email dmaiolo@SteamboatPilot.com or follow him on Twitter @derek_maiolo.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

12:06 a.m. Steamboat Springs Police Department officers received a report of a picnic table on fire outside an apartment complex in the 700 block of Walton Pond Circle. It appeared people tossed the table into a bonfire. Officers are continuing to investigate. 

12:18 a.m. Police received a noise complaint regarding a semitrailer idling in a parking lot in the 1100 block of 13th Street. 

11:01 a.m. Police were called about a homeless man who has been showering inside a medical center in the 1400 block of Curve Plaza. 

1:33 p.m. Routt County Search and Rescue volunteers and Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue firefighters were called to assist a woman who injured her leg after falling on the Fish Creek Falls Trail. Rescuers found her and took her to the hospital. 

3:58 p.m. Routt County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a report of harassment from Cougar Trail and Routt County Road 32.

4:28 p.m. Deputies were called about a suspicious incident on a trail near Stagecoach Reservoir. 

11:01 p.m. The owner of a trucking company called police about a recently terminated employee who allegedly stole a truck from the business. The former employee eventually agreed to return the vehicle. 

11:33 p.m. Police received a noise complaint regarding a loud party at a condominium complex in the 3400 block of Creekbank Court. 

11:44 p.m. A man was found sleeping inside a business in the 1400 block of Pine Grove Road. Officers issued him a citation for trespassing.

Total incidents: 38

• Steamboat officers had 23 cases that included calls for service and officer-initiated incidents such as traffic stops.
• Sheriff’s deputies had 10 cases that included calls for service and officer-initiated incidents such as traffic stops.
• Steamboat firefighters responded to four calls for service.
• Search and Rescue volunteers responded to one call for service.

The Record offers a glimpse of police activity and is not a comprehensive report of all police activity. Calls such as domestic violence, sexual assaults and juvenile situations typically do not appear in The Record.

DENVER (AP) — Colorado is suspending in-person classes at all schools across the state, ordering longer ski resort closures and prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday.

Polis’ executive order said the new restrictions on schools would take effect Monday and last until at least April 17. The state had allowed individual districts to decide whether to stay open, but distance learning was encouraged. Denver and some other districts have already suspended in-person classes.

Polis ordered the state’s ski resorts to remain closed through April 6.

“The science and data tells us this will get worse before it gets better,” he said. “We are in this together, and the state is taking the necessary actions to slow the spread of this disease.”

Earlier Wednesday, a relief fund and child care program was created for Colorado residents facing challenges from the coronavirus.

The state human services department and Office of Early Childhood are coordinating efforts to create an emergency childcare system to help an estimated 80,000 first responders, healthcare workers and others whose jobs are essential during the pandemic and who have young children. 

Dubbed the Colorado Emergency Childcare Collaborative, the public-private effort is seeking applicants who can help.

An effort called Help Colorado Now is designed to assist people who lost work because of business closures and economic disruptions or face other virus-caused hardships.

The site has raised nearly $3 million to date for medical and cleaning supplies, shelter services and aid for children and the elderly, Polis said. It’s seeking volunteers to help in everything from food delivery to child care. Volunteers are subject to state background checks.

Meanwhile, the state is being inundated with unemployment insurance applications from people forced out of work by the outbreak. Polis urged people to keep trying to submit those applications, and officials urged people to save their work on the applications.

More than 3,900 claims were filed Monday compared to the 400 filed the previous Monday, The Denver Post reported.

“We’re seeing one-day, or likely one-week and two-week, spikes like we never saw in the Great Recession,” unemployment insurance director Jeff Fitzgerald said Tuesday, adding that the increasing number of online claims led to technical problems, The Post reported.

The full effect of the pandemic on employment in the state remains unclear. In January, the unemployment rate was 2.5%.

At least 216 people in Colorado have tested positive for the virus, and two have died. Those numbers are expected to increase.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, and the vast majority recover. The elderly and people with existing health problems can get pneumonia or other serious illnesses.

The state Capitol was closed indefinitely to the public after lawmakers suspended their session until March 30.

Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow have self-isolated after reporting hey met in Washington on March 11 with at least one constituent who later tested positive. It wasn’t known if their cases involved the same person.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced during a press briefing on Wednesday, March 18, that the state would extend the closure of ski resorts to Monday, April 6.

Polis issued an executive order last week that required ski resorts in the state to suspend operations until Sunday, March 22. The order was made in response to the spread of COVID-19, particularly at mountain resorts.

Vail Resorts announced Tuesday, March 17, that it would end its season early. Alterra Mountain Co., the parent company of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp., has made no official announcement. Steamboat Resort remains closed “until further notice,” according to its website.

Steamboat Resort was originally set to close for the 2019-20 season Sunday, April 12.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — When it comes to curbing a pandemic, testing is the cornerstone. Without testing, experts say you are flying blind.

“We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, on Monday, March 16.

Now that the virus is here in Colorado and Routt County, the best hope is to identify and isolate cases and slow the spread.

“There is certainly a need to have more testing done, and we are working with our health care partners to make sure they are more widely available,” said Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, during a news conference Wednesday, March 18.

Fighting pandemics requires a comprehensive approach, Tedros said, which includes social distancing.

The restrictions aimed at social distancing placed on the Yampa Valley in recent days are painful and dramatic. Restaurants and bars are facing mass layoffs. Schools are closed for at least two weeks. Government facilities are shuttered to the public.

Steamboat Resort — the community’s winter economic engine — is shut down. People are being asked to stay at home as much as possible.

In a time of great stress, the places many go to relieve that pressure, depression and anxiety are closed: skiing, places of worship, support groups, gyms and yoga classes, restaurants and bars. And people are advised not to gather in groups larger than 10 people.

And no one knows how long this will last.

“If we could do more testing, we would,” said Routt County Pubic Health Officer Dr. Brian Harrington. “Local providers are very frustrated by the testing limitations and criteria restrictions.”

On the state level, Herlihy continues to say in daily press briefings that the state health department is working with commercial labs and the federal government to increase testing capacity.

Currently, people are required to have a referral from a doctor to get a test.

The state lab can only handle so much, Herlihy said, and they are relying on private companies to start bearing more of the load.

“There have been limitations on resources, and that has been challenging to implement the surveillance testing they need to be doing,” she said. “We are working to identify more resources.”

In an ideal world, Harrington said, “We could do full contact testing of any confirmed case, as well as community surveillance testing to determine its prevalence in our community. Aggressive early testing could identify cases early and isolate them. Lacking this more refined public health tool, we have to resort to more of a hammer approach and metaphorically whack it with widespread activity and facility closures.”

But numbers do indicate testing capacity at the federal, state and local levels is ramping up.

On March 16, 25 people in Routt County had been tested. As of Wednesday, March 18, that number had more than doubled to 68.

On March 11, about 300 people had been tested through the state lab, and by Wednesday, the total had risen to 2,328.

There are still only two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Routt County. Those individuals, both out-of-state-visitors, remain in quarantine. However, on Tuesday, the county was alerted to a group of international visitors to Steamboat testing positive after they returned home to Australia. So far, seven out of the group of 30 have tested positive for the virus.

Because of that, Routt County is now considered an area of community spread, because officials don’t know where the Australians contracted the virus.

“We are prioritizing testing in certain areas in order to better understand where and how much transmission is occurring,” Herlihy said. “It’s critical that we are gathering data in all areas of the state, especially areas where there hasn’t been a lot of testing.”

Where can I get tested?

First, talk to your primary care provider.

On Saturday, March 21, the state health department, in cooperation with Routt County Public Health and the Colorado National Guard, will bring a mobile test collection site to Steamboat, according to county officials. The site will tentatively be open from noon to 5 p.m. at The Meadows parking lot. 

People who come to be tested at the state laboratory testing site must bring: 

1. An order from their health care provider confirming they meet the testing criteria and need to be tested; and photo identification that matches the name on the provider’s order. 

2. Undocumented individuals can use any photo ID; it does not have to be government-issued. 

3. Testing is free, and proof of insurance is not required. If the person does not meet the criteria to be tested, they will not be tested. If there are multiple people in one vehicle, each person must have their own doctor’s order. 

On Monday, March 16, the state department of health, in partnership with UCHealth, opened a COVID-19 Specimen Collection Center at the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and Walton Creek Road.

Hours of operation at the UCHealth center will be expanding on Thursday, March 19, to 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The only patients who will be screened are those with a provider referral after the patient has met screening criteria and has a doctor’s order.

This is not a screening center for the public at large. No medical care is available at this location.

Why aren’t we testing more?

So why has the U.S. only tested about 60,000 people, when South Korea is testing about 10,000 people every day? To date, South Korea has tested over 290,000 people, even though the first case in South Korea was discovered about the same time as in the U.S.

Criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control for who can be tested started out very tight — patients had to meet strict criteria scenarios that involved travel to certain countries and direct contact with another person with COVID-19. Those standards were gradually loosened, and now, testing largely relies on patients getting approval from their personal doctors. But even if they wanted to, doctors can’t test everyone who wants a test.

“In a nutshell, there is very little capacity at the state or federal level to run tests,” Harrington said. “A primary reason the testing criteria are so restrictive is because the capacity to run tests is so limited. The criteria thus prioritizes the most important groups to get tested.”

Herlihy said those prioritized groups include people who are very sick, people with chronic medical conditions, people 60 and older, health care workers and others on the frontline of the response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Social media has been flooded with personal stories about sick people trying to get tests only to be denied, often by multiple doctors and locations.

The issue most certainly isn’t one of demand.

On March 12, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a U.S. House of Representatives committee that the U.S. health system just isn’t designed for universal testing.

“The system is not geared to what we need right now — what you’re asking for,” Fauci said. “That is a failing. It’s a failing. Let’s admit it. … The idea of anybody getting (a test) easily the way people in other countries are doing it, we’re not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes. We’re not.”

There are ongoing investigations as to why the Centers for Disease Control took so long to mass-produce tests. A week after the CDC said they were going to ship out test kits to public labs, they announced there was a problem with the kits. The agency also placed the severe restrictions on who could get tested. There also has been much scrutiny on the Trump Administration’s 2018 decision to disband and not replace the executive branch team responsible for coordinating a response to a pandemic.

There’s another critical side to the need for more testing, Harrington noted.

“Not only does disease testing help us with medical and outbreak management, but it can help society to function,” Harrington said. “In our current state of limited information and high concern, knowing a person is negative for the disease could help employees, employers and the general public have better confidence in returning to work and public interaction.”

Asked how long it will take to see whether these drastic social distancing measures are working, Fauci estimated several weeks or maybe longer at a White House press briefing on Tuesday, March 17.

“We have also seen a rapid escalation in social distancing measures, like closing schools and cancelling sporting events and other gatherings, but we have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response,” Tedros said of global health efforts. “Social distancing measures can help to reduce transmission and enable health systems to cope. … But the most effective way to prevent infections and save lives is breaking the chains of transmission. And to do that, you must test and isolate.

“You cannot fight a fire blindfolded,” he added. “And we cannot stop this pandemic if we don’t know who is infected.”

However at this time, because of the limited resources, local and state officials are advising people experiencing flu-like symptoms to stay home and contact their primary care provider if they are concerned they have been exposed. And there is no guarantee you will be able to get tested.

Harrington said there is a point when it simply becomes accepted that a virus exists through the community, and there isn’t a need to confirm that.

Testing is finally starting to increase, which most likely means cases will increase simply as a function of more testing.

To reach Kari Dequine Harden, call 970-871-4205, email kharden@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @kariharden.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — A major storm is expected to sweep through Steamboat Springs, with snow accumulations as high as 30 inches predicted to fall in the surrounding mountains by Friday, March 20. 

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction issued a hazardous weather outlook ahead of the storm, warning that the inclement weather could pose dangerous travel conditions.

A small amount of snow is expected Wednesday night, with little to no accumulation by the morning, according to local meteorologist Mike Weissbluth, who runs the forecasting website snowlarm.com. Snowfall is expected to ramp up Thursday and continue throughout the day.

By noon Thursday, Weissbluth predicts rates of about 1 inch of snow per hour. Later in the afternoon, that could increase to as much as 3 inches of snow per hour. Driving is going to be very difficult or impossible at times if those accumulations occur, Weissbluth said.

By the end of the day Thursday, he predicts 8 to 16 inches of snow at the summit of Steamboat Resort, with 3 to 6 inches in the city of Steamboat. Another 4 to 8 inches of snow is expected to fall Thursday night.

The storm should be calmer on Friday, but snow showers should continue throughout the day. By Friday night, Weissbluth predicts another 3 to 6 inches in the mountains. 

A cold front should accompany the storm, Weissbluth added, making for powdery snow in the evenings and early mornings. Thursday’s expected high is 39 degrees with a low of 19 degrees in the evening, according to the Weather Service. Friday should see similar temperatures with a high of 39 degrees and a low of 18 degrees. 

However, the snow showers that occur during the warmer temperatures could make the roads slushy and increase the risk of avalanche danger. 

Experts predict heightened avalanche danger starting Thursday, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Avalanche danger goes from low to considerable at and above treeline, with slopes steeper than 35 degrees posing more risk. 

“Steep slopes at lower elevations, that we may not often consider as avalanche terrain, could be the most problematic,” according to the center’s latest forecast. 

The most likely avalanches to occur in these conditions are loose, wet avalanches. These happen when water runs through the snowpack and causes slides. In addition to avoiding steep slopes, experts urge people to stay away from terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies or tree wells. 

“Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface or during rain-on-snow events,” the Avalanche Information Center advises in its latest forecast. 

Last March proved to be one of the most dangerous months on record for avalanches in Colorado. During a two-week period of heavy moisture, experts recorded 87 major avalanches in the state, according to a report from Colorado Public Radio.

Those who are skinning and hiking up the ski area while it is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak should keep in mind that Steamboat Ski Patrol will not be available to respond to emergencies. Routt County Search and Rescue volunteers will answer calls for service, but response times could be longer than usual.

Saturday should see a break in the storm, Weissbluth said, with scattered showers throughout the day. Inclement weather could continue through Wednesday or Thursday of next week. 

To reach Derek Maiolo, call 970-871-4247, email dmaiolo@SteamboatPilot.com or follow him on Twitter @derek_maiolo.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — While Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has ordered a halt to dine-in eating at restaurants and bars across the state in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many local establishments are still offering take-out dining, curbside service and delivery.

Below is an interactive map and comprehensive list of those restaurants.

If your restaurant is not on this list or something needs to be updated, email Bryce Martin at bmartin@SteamboatPilot.com.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Five Routt County athletes were named to all-state teams following the 2019-20 winter sports season.

Steamboat Springs High School juniors Wyatt Mortenson and Sumner Cotton earned all-state honors after competing in the Colorado High School State Skiing Championships. Cotton was in the top five overall in both skate and classic, while Mortenson finished in the top five in classic.

Sailors senior Alex Blair and teammate Emily Schneider were named to the girls all-state slalom team.

Hayden senior Hunter Planansky was named to the all-state first team as he won the state wrestling championship at 182 pounds.

The Steamboat Springs boys basketball team, which ended its season 13-11, had four players earn all-conference or honorable mention honors. Senior Dawson Lindquist and junior Eric Pollert were named all-conference, while junior Jackson Metzler and freshman Cade Gedeon were honorable mentions.

The Hayden girls basketball team also had four players named to both teams, with senior Alex Camilletti and sophomore Alison Rajzer named all-conference. Teammates Joey Deckler and Emma Seagraves were honorable mentions.

Junior Hunter Slowik was the sole all-conference player from the Hayden boys team, while junior Liam Frentress was an honorable mention

Sophomore Sam Campbell was the only Sailors girl to earn an all-conference nod, and seniors Shelbee Weiss and Jaycee May were honorable mentions.

Griffin Maltby, Tanner Ripley and David Thiel, three Sailors hockey seniors, were named all-conference honorable mentions.

The process of deciding all-state basketball has begun. Players who made first-team all-conference will be put on the ballot, which will be sent out to all head coaches for a vote.

Soroco chose to withhold the names of its all-conference athletes until the school is able to hold an athletic banquet.

Hayden

Boys basketball
All-conference: Hunter Slowik, junior
Honorable mention: Liam Frentress, junior

Girls basketball
All-conference: Alex Camilletti, senior; Alison Rajzer, sophomore
Honorable mention: Joey Deckler, senior; Emma Seagraves, freshman

Wrestling
All-state: Hunter Planansky, senior

Steamboat Springs

Boys basketball
All-conference: Dawson Lindquist, senior; Eric Pollert, junior
Honorable mention: Jackson Metzler, junior; Cade Gedeon, freshman

Girls basketball
All-conference: Sam Campbell, sophomore
Honorable mention: Shelbee Weiss, senior; Jaycee May, senior

Hockey
Honorable mention: David Thiel, senior; Griffin Maltby, senior; Tanner Ripley, senior

Skiing
All-state
Boys Classic: Sumner Cotton, junior; Wyatt Mortenson, junior
Boys Skate: Sumner Cotton, junior
Girls slalom: Alex Blair, senior; Emily Schneider

To reach Shelby Reardon, call 970-871-4253, email sreardon@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @ByShelbyReardon.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — To remember Hayden’s former wrestling coach Chad Jones, who passed away in September 2018, the Hayden Booster Club created a scholarship in his name, which will be granted to a Hayden student who meets the requirements.

Not long after Jones died, the Hayden Booster Club started fundraising with the intent of starting a scholarship. Through the last two Hayden Galas and a few other means, the club collected funds, which the Yampa Valley Community Foundation now manages.

Traci Hiatt, donor engagement manager at the foundation, said not only does it hold the funds for the scholarship but also put together the application and manages all submissions.

“We can take donations to the scholarship fund here, and they will go directly into the fund,” Hiatt said. “People can donate through our website or by writing a check, and it will all go into that fund for the purpose of funding scholarships in Chad’s name.”

Seniors from Hayden have until April 6 to submit their applications. Requirements include being nominated by a coach and exemplifying self-improvement, a positive attitude, leadership, resilience and mental toughness.

Jones’ daughter, Piper Jo, a sophomore at Hayden High School, had a say in what some of the requirements for the scholarship would be. She said it originally was planned to be available to students in neighboring counties, but Piper Jo pushed for it to be available exclusively for Hayden students, or at least Routt County.

The original requirements also stated the applicant should be a leader in the community, but Piper Jo said high school students aren’t typically leaders in the community but can be within their school. She wanted the recipient to show characteristics that her father valued, like mental toughness.

Chad Jones is remembered on a daily basis by Hayden High School students. 

Near the anniversary of his death, the Tigers volleyball team invited their opponents and fans to the floor for a Tiger pound out ahead of their match. Senior Hunter Planansky brought a picture of his late coach to every wrestling competition, and upon winning the state championship, knelt in front of a framed photo of Jones.

“Even my principal (Gina) Zabel, has a picture of my dad in her office. So any time there’s a kid in her office, they see a picture of my dad,” said Piper Jo. “There’s tons of kids with my dad as their (phone) wallpaper. All the Planansky boys have a picture of my dad in their wallet.”

When Piper Jo graduates, and all of Chad’s former wrestlers graduate, the scholarship bearing his name will stand as a way to remember him and the values he exhibited and instilled in others.

“I’m just hoping it goes to someone who really deserves it,” Piper Jo said.

To reach Shelby Reardon, call 970-871-4253, email sreardon@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @ByShelbyReardon.

Steamboat Springs and Routt County truly are a community that takes care of its own. My family has been on the receiving end of this care, and it is truly a force of love and generosity that people who live in different places are astounded by time and time again.

Caring for each other is simply who we are and what we do. However, care in the face of coronavirus does not look like a GoFundMe page or a meal train for a friend facing a health crisis. The care we can offer, in this moment in time, is stepping up and making the individual sacrifices necessary to slow the spread of this virus.

We cannot wait until next week to realize that this is important. Our community has the opportunity to take this on. Yes, we may all feel a bit crazy as we take these measures that feel a bit extreme, but if we all do this together, every bit of evidence has shown that it truly will make a difference.

Everyone has a role to play and the time is now. The schools, the resort, multiple businesses and restaurants are now closed. The sacrifices these organizations are making for the greater good of our community are enormous, and my heart goes out to them and their employees. 

As important as these closings are, they cannot stand alone. Now, we as individuals need to step up and do our part. We need to make the hard choices and individual sacrifices that will truly save lives. 

Social distancing is not just a word. Social distancing means staying home with your family and only your family. Yes, you can go outside but if you do go, go with your family or with one or two other people and make every effort to stay 6 feet apart.

Do not go out to recreate in large groups. You are no less likely to have the droplet from a sneeze or cough land on you outside than you are inside. No play dates or social gatherings, no matter the age of your child. The schools have closed in order to limit the spread of coronavirus among our children and subsequently, their families and our community. Having play dates or teen social gatherings flies in face of the gains we have made by closing the schools. 

Young kids and teens will protest. It is our job to explain to them, in an age-appropriate way, why they are being asked to make these sacrifices. If they are not able to make the right decisions for themselves, it is our job to make those decisions for them. We, as adults, must hold ourselves to these same standards.

We know the virus can be spread prior to any inkling of feeling ill. In this moment, social distancing is not something to be done only when we feel ill or have a fever. If we have a chance in our community to slow this virus down, we need to be vigilant now.

None of this is convenient or easy, but it is not forever and peoples’ lives hang in the balance. Think about all your high-risk friends and family, grandparents, friends and children with asthma, respiratory issues, immune disorders, diabetes, hypertension, lung and heart disease.

Remember this virus is 10 times deadlier than the regular flu. Unlike the flu, none of us have immunity to it, and it is going to hit our community in a matter of weeks vs. being spread out over months like typical influenza. This combination is what makes this not just an illness to be dealt with but a pandemic and a true medical crisis.

The answer in the face of this crisis is not fear and panic or denial. The answer lies in making the individual decisions, no matter how remote they may feel, that will take care of and save lives in our community.  

If we do not do our part to help slow the trajectory of this pandemic down, our healthcare system will crumble in face of the exponential spread of this virus. We have watched other countries’ physicians faced with the excruciating choice about who will live and who will die because there simply aren’t enough ventilators. 

If the trajectory of this virus continues, we know for a fact that we simply do not have enough ventilators in our country or in our community to save the lives of all of the severely affected individuals. We would be foolish not to learn from the profoundly negative impact delayed true social distancing has had on these countries that are only weeks ahead of us with the spread of this virus.

Yes, the virus is still going to come, but if we can slow the spread of the virus and allow our health care system to care for individuals and not be overwhelmed, it will be an entirely different outcome. The time is now for everyone to step up like only our community can. 

The coming days and weeks will decide how this virus affects our community and the lives of the people we care about and love. We have an opportunity to change the face of the pandemic in our beautiful corner of the world, and there is not any other community in the world that I would want on my side as we face this challenge.  

Millie Flanigan is a physician assistant practicing at Steamboat Springs Family Medicine. She has called Steamboat Springs home since 1990. She is married to Gardner Flanigan and is mom to Bode and Merritt Flanigan.