National Guard testing finds COVID-19 outbreak at Pikes Peak Center nursing home

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Health Department confirms four residents and three staff members of the Pikes Peak Center tested positive for COVID-19.

The test results come after the Colorado National Guard came to help provide testing at the nursing home on April 19. On Tuesday, KRDO obtained the test results through April 27, which shows seven people positive for coronavirus. More than two residents or staff testing positive is considered an outbreak by the state of Colorado.

The county long-term care facility outbreak response team has been working with Pikes Peak Center on infection control recommendations and outbreak management.

These test results are related to Gov. Polis's announcement that he would be deploying the National Guard to three long term care facilities in the state.

Nearly 900 tests were administered at three different Colorado long-term care facilities for the elderly. Out of those 900 tests, 20 resulted in positive or presumed positive results.

Nearly 40% of Colorado's COVID-19 fatalities are associated with long-term care facilities, according to state health officials.

KRDO reached out to the Pikes Peak Center about the outbreak but we haven't received a response yet.