The Colorado Department of Health moved 26 counties to the lowest level in the state’s color-coded COVID-19 on Wednesday, removing most public health restrictions in the less populated areas now at the Green Level – including all health limits. ability to dine in restaurants.
The changes to “Dial 3.0” that went into effect on Wednesday also removed all state limits on the size of personal meetings. And they allow bars to reopen, with limited capacity, for the first time since last summer in Level Blue counties, which in the metropolitan area include Jefferson and Arapahoe. The last call for alcoholic beverages in these counties also returns at 2 am.
In addition, restaurants and gyms in Blue Level counties can operate at 100% capacity, as long as they maintain 6 feet of distance between parties, although state officials admit that the distance requirement “will be a limiting factor for most spaces internal ”.
5-star state-certified restaurants and gyms in Yellow Tier counties – such as Denver, Douglas, Boulder and Adams – can also resume operation at 100% capacity, as long as they meet the 6-foot distance requirement.
Changes have not yet been made to the state-wide mask mandate, which expires on April 3, because officials are still reviewing public opinion on the plan launched last week to lift nearly all requirements for facial coverage in counties. Green Level, according to the health department.
The easing of restrictions was expected, as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced late on Friday that it would make it easier for counties to move to the Green Level on the dial, which has been used by the agency to set restrictions COVID-19 in communities based on local coronavirus transmission.
The revised dial is expected to remain in effect until mid-April, after which the state will withdraw it and issue a new public health order, transferring most of the control over COVID-related restrictions to local public health agencies. .
“Colorado residents made great sacrifices to protect ourselves and our communities from COVID-19 last year,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the health department in a statement. “Although it is still a moment of caution, these changes in the dial better reflect where we are in the pandemic today and the balance we are trying to achieve between suppressing the disease and economic difficulties.”
Going green
The counties that have moved to the Green Level are: Moffat, Rio Blanco, Jackson, Delta, Gunnison, Ouray, Dolores, San Juan, Hinsdale, Saguache, Rio Grande, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Custer, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Lincoln , Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, Baca, Phillips and Sedgwick.
Two counties – Crowley and Otero – were already at Level Green, which now does not impose state restrictions on restaurant, office, gym, retail, personal services or capacity for outdoor events.
For counties on the Green Level, the only remaining restrictions are on bars, indoor group sports and camps and indoor events with or without a seat, all limited to 50% capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
According to the proposal presented by the state last week, the dial changes should be followed by a modified order of masks from the governor on April 4 that, in Green Level counties, would only require masks in schools by children of 11 to 18 years old because they still do not have access to vaccines.
For counties at the Blue, Yellow, Orange and Red levels, the proposal said that masks would be necessary for the same group of students and in any closed public places with 10 or more people present. The statewide masking mandate would remain in effect in all counties that reached Purple Level, the highest stage.
State officials, in announcing the changes on Wednesday, said that the feedback received on the proposed changes to the mask will be considered before the current order expires and any decision is made on a subsequent modified order.
“COVID-19 still poses risks for healthy coloradans, so everyone should continue to take precautions until the vaccine becomes widely available and used,” the health agency said in a press release.
Greater vaccination
The Department of Public Health and Environment previously said it was making changes to the dial because of the state’s progress in vaccinating coloradans against the coronavirus. To date, 894,526 people are fully immunized in the state.
But Colorado has also seen its months-long decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations stagnant and an increase in the number of cases involving the most contagious variants of the coronavirus.
On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci encouraged Americans to keep public health measures in place or risk seeing another increase in infections, as is happening in Europe, according to PBS NewsHour. These measures include wearing masks, moving away physically and avoiding large crowds.
According to the changes on Wednesday’s dial, there are no more state limits on the size of personal meetings, although the Department of Public Health and Environment said it will follow the guidelines of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency still recommends avoiding larger crowds and agglomerations.
There are currently 22 counties on the Blue Level on the dial. In these counties, bars can now open at 25% capacity or 75 people, whichever is less. Retail and commercial offices can also open at 75% capacity in Level Blue counties.
Indoor seating and non-seating events in 5-star certified locations in Blue Level counties can now operate at 50% capacity with a limit of 500 people, while similar events in 5-star certified locations in Yellow Level counties can operate at 50% capacity with a Limit of 175 people.
There are no state restrictions on capacity for outdoor events in Green or Blue Level counties.
Thirteen counties, including Denver, are at the Yellow Level. And only Pitkin County is at Orange Level, having just been moved to the third highest level on the dial.