Prairie Pine Assisted Living Center, a long-term care facility in Eads, has been placed under quarantine due to an outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

According to Kiowa County Public Health, three residents have tested positive for the virus. The Colorado Department of Public Health defines an outbreak as two or more people who are confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a facility, with onset within 14 days.

Family members have been notified, and an investigation is underway.

As of Friday at 5:00 p.m., Kiowa County will be in Level Red for severe risk of COVID-19 spread. The county has had 33 cases of the virus, with three people requiring hospitalization, and one death of a county resident.

In Level Red, people are encouraged to stay at home, and significant limitations are placed on many businesses including operating between 10 and 50 percent of capacity. Restaurants are prohibited from offering indoor dining, but can offer curbside service, delivery and to-go orders. Outdoor dining is also permitted, however weather conditions may make that impractical.

Most counties in southeast Colorado are currently in Level Red, with the remaining counties in Level Orange.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when in public, wash hands frequently, maintain at least six feet between people, and avoid gatherings with people who are not part of the same household.

In Colorado, nearly 250,000 cases of COVID-19 have been identified, and more than 2,700 people have died from the disease. More thatn 1,700 people are currently hospitalized.

Nationally, there have been 14.2 million cases, with more than 276,000 people dying.