Larimer County implements emergency public health aimed at restaurants and gyms to counter rising COVID-19 cases

Larimer County public health officials Friday night implemented emergency restrictions on bars, restaurants, gyms and other activities as it seeks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that is surging throughout the state.

The county currently sits in the yellow phase of the state’s color-coded dial, with Friday’s move intended to stave off a switch to orange, which would trigger further restrictions, county officials said on its website.

The order, which went into effect at 11 p.m. Friday, include the following changes:

Bars and restaurants

• Indoor dining will be limited to a maximum of eight people per table, and parties are encouraged to have no more than two households per table
• No food or beverage service can be ordered at the bar

Sports and gyms

• Organized recreational and league sports are limited to two spectators per player, with no more than 50% of capacity. Spectators will be capped at 50 spectators in indoor facilities and 175 in outdoor facilities
• Gyms are required to provide attendance for any classes — including any class with five or more people

The changes comes as Larimer County — like much of the state — has seen a dramatic rise in cases over the past two months. The county’s 10.3% COVID-19 positivity rate is more than four times higher than it was in September, county public health officials said.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations have reached levels not seen since early in the pandemic, officials said.

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