COLORADO, USA — Five-star certified businesses in many counties that are currently in Level Yellow on the state's COVID-19 dial can operate at Level Blue capacity limits starting immediately, the Colorado State Joint Information Center (JIC).
The easing of capacity restrictions is because Colorado has met a goal of vaccinating 70% of all residents older than 70 statewide, JIC said.
The city and county of Broomfield is the latest to move to Level Yellow, with its five-start certified businesses allowed to operate at Level Blue. Broomfield was in Level Blue but an increase in cases has forced it back to Yellow, according to the county.
Under the five-star program, businesses that have earned certification are eligible for less-restrictive capacity caps in counties currently in Level Yellow. To earn certification, a business needs to meet certain requirements, such as mask enforcement, social distancing and sanitation.
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Counties participating in the program can choose whether they want their certified businesses to operate in the Blue level.
Under Level Blue restrictions, restaurants can operate at 50% capacity with last call at 2 a.m. Gyms, personal services and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues can also operate at 50%.
These are the counties that have chosen to allow certified businesses to operate at Level Blue restrictions:
- Adams
- Arapahoe
- Broomfield
- Boulder
- Denver
- Douglas
- Elbert
- El Paso
- Pitkin
- Summit
- Weld
You can see each county's current dial level and 5 Star business status on the interactive map available here.
Under the COVID-19 dial, the state uses a seven-day metric for disease incidence, level of testing and hospitalizations. To move to a less restrictive level, counties must meet all metrics for that level for one week. Once the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has confirmed the requirement was met, counties can move levels.
The only county in the Denver metro area that is at Level Blue is Jefferson, according to CDPHE. All other counties in the metro area are at Level Yellow.
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