The Montezuma County Public Health Department announced Saturday one new positive case of COVID-19.

According to the county, the total number of positive cases in Montezuma County now stands at 11, with two fatalities.

The website for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment currently states that there have been 12 positive cases in the county – however, that number is incorrect, said Bobbi Lock, director of the Montezuma County Public Health Department.

“There was an issue in the database at the state level,” Lock told The Journal on Saturday afternoon. “It has been corrected as of this morning.”

She said the state website should be accurate by Saturday evening.

“We currently have 11 positives with 2 of them being fatalities for COVID-19 in Montezuma County,” Lock said.

The county is not releasing details about the infected individuals because of privacy laws, but said that the Montezuma County Public Health Department is conducting “contact tracing” according to CDC protocols.

Health officials continue to urge residents to wash their hands and practice social distancing, particularly those who are high-risk.

Southwest Memorial Hospital has operated a drive-thru clinic since March 18 to screen for flu and take samples for potential coronavirus cases. Suspected samples are sent to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment for processing. Results can take up to a week.

Concerned community members can call Southwest Health’s COVID-19 information line at 564-2201.

According to the CDPHE, Colorado currently has over 6,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 250 deaths. La Plata County has a reported 44 positive cases, Archuleta has six reported cases, while none have yet been reported in Dolores County, as of the latest report.

ealvero@the-journal.com