DENVER (KKTV) – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) must make changes to the state’s COVID-19 dial, easing restrictions.
The state agency is also asking for feedback on changes to the project. The dial has functioned as a tool that allows the state and counties to make more flexible and smaller restrictions for counties that meet certain requirements when it comes to COVID-19 data. It was implemented on September 15, 2020.
As of Friday, El Paso County was at the yellow level and Pueblo County was at the blue level. Blue has fewer restrictions than yellow and green has the least number of restrictions at all levels.
In the proposed update, it would be easier for counties to move to the “Green Level”. Click here to learn more about what each level represents. If approved as they are, the changes would also remove many of the restrictions that currently apply at that level. In addition, restrictions on bars, retail outlets, offices and non-critical manufacturing facilities would be relaxed for counties on the Blue Level: Watch out. If enacted, the new dial structure would be considered “Dial 3.0” and could take effect on Wednesday.
“Due to the commitment of all the inhabitants of Coloração, we are where we are now, able to be less restrictive and provide local communities and their public health agencies with more control, while protecting public health,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, director executive board of CDPHE. “It is all about balance. We enact the restrictions we need to slow the disease while trying to limit the ramifications of closing parts of the state and the impacts that come with it. “
People have until Monday at noon to give feedback.
Click here to see all the proposed changes.
Click here to give feedback.
The main changes in the Dial 3.0 draft are:
- Green Level metrics: Protect Our Neighbors have changed, making it easier for counties to achieve Protect Our Neighbors status. Counties can now apply for Protect Our Neighbors if they have up to 35 COVID-19 boxes per 100,000 people – out of 15 cases.
- The metrics range for the Blue Level is now 36 to 100 cases per 100,000 people.
- Most of the restrictions on the Green Level: Protect Our Neighbors have been removed. Bars, gyms and internal events must still adhere to a capacity limit of 50% or 500 people, whichever is less.
- The bars can now be opened at the Blue Level. The capacity limit is 25% of the capacity or 75 people, whichever is less.
- Outdoor events at the Green and Blue levels no longer have capacity restrictions on the dial. Counties can choose to implement capacity restrictions on outdoor events at the local level.
- Retail, offices and non-critical manufacturing at Level Blue can now open up to 75% of capacity, 50%.
- There is no longer a state limit on the size of personal meetings. The state will follow the CDC’s guidelines on face-to-face meetings. The CDC also recommends avoiding large agglomerations and crowds to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Blue Star 5 Star Businesses can operate up to 60% of capacity, not exceeding 50 people above the limit for restaurants and indoor events and 25 people above the limit for gyms.
Continue to stay updated by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.
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