After the dial: Which Colorado counties have eliminated all COVID-19 restrictions?
Going forward, whether you have to wear a mask or are able to get into a crowded restaurant will depend on what Colorado county you live in.
The state’s COVID-19 dial framework — which looked at cases, hospitalizations and positive test percentages to determine capacity levels for businesses — became optional Friday. Now, each county decides its own rules, though the state could intervene if hospitals start to run out of room.
Most of the Denver area elected to go to Level Blue, which moves last call to 2 a.m., doesn’t set a maximum number of people in restaurants or gyms (though parties must be kept six feet apart) and limits bars to 25% capacity. Counties staying in Level Blue, or moving to it, are:
- Adams
- Arapahoe
- Archuleta
- Boulder
- Broomfield (with modifications)
- Clear Creek
- Denver
- Gunnison (with modifications)
- Jefferson
- La Plata
- Larimer
Six counties said they would remain in Level Green, where the only restrictions are 50% capacity for bars, indoor events and group sports played indoors. Those counties are:
- Bent
- Cheyenne
- Costilla
- Gilpin
- Kit Carson
- Park
- San Juan
Pueblo County said it will remain in Level Yellow, where most businesses are limited to 50% of capacity.
For the 28 counties that haven’t set their own public health orders, the only requirements most people will encounter are the statewide mask order and large events needing permission from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Those counties are:
- Alamosa
- Baca
- Crowley
- Custer
- Dolores
- Douglas
- El Paso
- Elbert
- Fremont
- Huerfano
- Kiowa
- Las Animas
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Mesa
- Moffat
- Montezuma
- Montrose
- Morgan
- Otero
- Phillips
- Prowers
- Rio Grande
- Sedgwick
- Teller
- Washington
- Weld
- Yuma
Some counties have issued their own public health orders, with rules that don’t correspond to a dial level.
Chaffee County (through Aug. 31)
- Masks are required in indoor public places.
- Capacity at indoor events will be set based on the size of the venue and ability to distance by six feet.
- Outdoor events will be capped using a three-foot social distancing requirement in the most densely populated areas.
- If 70% of the county’s eligible population is vaccinated, it will consider further lifting restrictions.
Eagle County (through May 27)
- Most level yellow restrictions remain in place.
- Indoor —both seated and unseated — events are capped at 50%, or 150 people, with six feet of distancing and approval from public health officials. If the event has 5-Star Certification, attendance will be limited to 50% capacity or up to 500 people with physical distancing.
- Outdoor events are capped at 50%, or 175 people, with six feet of distancing and masks. Organizers must also get approval for the event. If the event has 5-Star certification, the cap will be 50% or up to 1,000 people, but masks are still required.
- If 60% of the county’s eligible population is vaccinated against COVID-19 and case and hospitalizations decline by late May, it will reduce restrictions.
Grand County
- Masks are required in indoor public places.
- All events and industries, including restaurants and places of worship, can operate at 100% capacity, with six feet between people or parties.
- All indoor and outdoor events have to submit a plan to the local health department for approval.
Ouray County
- Masks are required in all indoor public places.
Pitkin County (through May 13)
- Level Yellow restrictions remain in place.
- Masks are required in indoor public settings, on public transportation (including ride shares) and outside when there is a risk of being within six feet of a person from another household.
- No more than two households, including 10 or fewer people, can share a hotel room, camping site or short-term rental house if the county moves back to Level Orange.
- No one can visit the county if they’ve had COVID-19 symptoms in the previous 10 days. Anyone who had close contact with an infected person while in the county must quarantine.
San Miguel County (through April 30)
- Level Blue restrictions remain in place.
- Short-term lodging, including hotels and Airbnbs, is limited to 85% of capacity.
- Masks are required in businesses, public buildings and transportation.
Summit County
- Most Level Yellow restrictions remain in place.
- Public transit can operate at 75% of capacity.
- Masks are required in indoor public places (except when seated at a restaurant) and outdoors if people from different households will be within six feet of each other for more than 15 minutes.
- To further reduce restrictions, at least 60% of eligible residents must be vaccinated, and the county must have no one more than 250 cases for every 100,00 people.
This list will be updated with additional counties as information becomes available.
Denver Post reporter Jessica Seaman contributed to this report.
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