Metro Denver counties to lift remaining COVID-19 restrictions with move to Level Clear this weekend
Much of metro Denver will see all remaining county-level COVID-19 public health restrictions lifted this weekend, although people still will be required to wear masks in specific indoor settings as the statewide order remains in place at least until next month.
Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and Broomfield counties confirmed Tuesday they will move from Level Blue to a new phase called Level Clear on Sunday.
Denver’s public health agency stopped short of committing to the move to Level Clear, but said the city anticipates “aligning” with neighboring counties.
Once the metro counties move to Level Clear, restaurants, bars, offices and other indoor settings can operate at 100% capacity with no additional requirements, according to the Tri-County Health Department’s public health order.
At Level Blue, restaurants and gyms can offer full capacity only if 6 feet of social distancing is possible, while bars only can operate at 25% capacity, and retail and office spaces are limited to 75% capacity.
The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment “is working with regional and state partners to evaluate the potential restrictions after the expirations of our current public health order,” spokesperson Clarissa Boggs-Blake said in an email Tuesday. “We anticipate aligning with other neighboring jurisdictions as well as adopting by reference any remaining state public health order requirements.”
Colorado handed control of most COVID-19 public health measures to local authorities last month with the expiration of the state’s color-coded restriction dial. Many counties opted not to impose further local restrictions at that point, but most in the metro area chose to remain at Level Blue for another month.
Douglas County was the exception, opting out of plans by the Tri-County Health Department — which also serves Adams and Arapahoe counties — to stay at Level Blue through Saturday.
The counties moving to Level Clear on Sunday will enter an “observation period” for 90 days. If a county experiences a rise in its rate of coronavirus hospital admissions, it will move to stricter restrictions, according to the Tri-County and Jefferson County health department orders.
The state still requires masks in schools, child care centers, indoor children’s camps, prisons and health care settings. However, masks are no longer required in indoor gatherings where at least 80% of the group is inoculated against the coronavirus.
Additionally, the state health department mandates 6 feet of distancing at indoor events with more than 100 people and requires plans to be submitted for outdoor, ticketed, seated events at locations larger than 30,000 square feet. The state also requires a review of indoor events with more than 500 people.
“The state’s order expires on May 15, so we expect updates from the state regarding what restrictions they plan to continue before the end of the week,” said Gary Sky, spokesman for the Tri-County Health Department, said in an email.
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