BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder County will move into the more restrictive Safer at Home Level Orange starting Friday due to what health officials called a "rapid increase" in COVID-19 cases.
These restrictions will be in place until a decrease in COVID-19 cases allows the county to downgrade the order. If conditions worsen, the next level on the state's dial is a stay at home order, according to a news release from Boulder County Public Health.
"This is devastating, especially because we know that we can prevent the transmission of this virus and this change will impact our businesses severely, as well as our social and emotional health," said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director, in a news release. "This comes down to all of us taking personal responsibility to avoid social gatherings, wear a mask, maintain at least feet of physical distance and to be diligent about washing hands."
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) reported among residents in Boulder County; COVID-19 cases reached 312.1 per 100,000 in the last two weeks.
The Safer at Home Level Orange begins at 175 cases per 100,000 people. Stay at Home begins at 350 cases per 100,000.
"This is not the time for social gatherings," Zayach said. "We need to be diligent to prevent further restrictions from being applied to Boulder County."
Personal gatherings continue to be limited to 10 people from no more than two households, with face coverings and social distancing required indoors and when within 6 feet of others, public health officials urge residents to avoid all gatherings, for now.
The city of Boulder followed the announcement of the increased restrictions by announcing new capacity restrictions.
In a release, the city listed the following restrictions to start on Friday and to be in place until further notice:
- Main Library
- Capacity reduced to 50 people or less
- Parking Permits for In-Person Service
- Please visit BoulderParking.com for the most up to date information
- Parks & Recreation
- Indoor sports leagues will be discontinued or relocated
- Currently operating services will be modified in schedule, format or capacity including:
- Outdoor sports leagues
- Gymnasium and pool reservations by user groups
- Fitness, Mind/Body, EXPAND, YSI, and Gymnastics courses
- Permitted or contracted facility use
- OSMP, Parks & Recreation and other city volunteer initiatives
- If not already, groups will be limited to 10 people or less
- Special event permits
- Currently permitted events and permit applications will be held to the Level Orange guidance
Multiple Colorado counties -- including Denver- have had to enact stricter COVID-19 restrictions due to a statewide surge in cases, positivity and hospitalizations.
Safer at Home Level Orange limits business capacity to:
- 25% or 50 people at restaurants, places of worship and non-critical manufacturing
- 25% at offices and retail
- 25% or 25 people at gyms/fitness centers (groups of up to 10 outdoors), personal services, and limited health care settings
- 25% or 50 people, whichever is fewer, with space calculator at indoor events
- 25% or 75 people, whichever is fewer with space calculator at outdoor events
- 25% or ten people at outdoor guided services
- Virtual or outdoors in groups of less than ten at group sports and camps
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