New local Public Health Order hopes to stem rising tide of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
New protective requirements are in addition to state Dial Level Orange requirements
Boulder County, CO – Like most of the state, new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 are continuing to climb in Boulder County. To help protect more residents, businesses, and health care workers, Boulder County Public Health announced today that the Board of Health approved Public Health Order 2020-10 which will go into effect Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12:01 a.m. and end on Dec. 14, unless extended.
The goal of the order is to protect individuals when they’re in the community by reducing opportunities for gathering, which increases the likelihood of transmission. The focus is specifically on areas where there has been spread of the virus while trying to minimize further impact on local businesses.
“Most of our businesses, communities, and schools are doing exactly what we need to do to reduce the spread of this disease. But when we don’t all take this seriously it impacts everyone — from those who have lost loved ones, to the ability to keep kids in school, to our businesses being able to continue to operate, and certainly our emotional, physical, and mental health,” said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director. “We are at a critical point. If new cases do not decline, the state may move us to the Stay at Home level. It comes down to all of us taking personal responsibility to stay home when we’re sick; following the quarantine and isolation instructions for the required length, even if we feel well; spending time with only our own household members; and always wearing a mask and keeping social distance when we’re around others.”
Beginning Saturday, the following requirements will apply to every person while within Boulder County, in addition to the Safer at Home Level Orange: High Risk requirements:
Household Mixing Limited
- Personal gatherings (private or public) are limited to 2 households with no more than 10 people
Indoor Event Size Limited
- Limited to 25% capacity with up to 25 people (reduction from 50 people limit)
- Limited to one indoor event per venue, even if there are separate rooms
- Requirements for outdoor events and sponsored gatherings remain the same as outlined in Safer at Home Level Orange
No Spectators at Adult, High-School Level, and Professional Sporting Events
- No spectators allowed at any adult sporting events, high school sport/game, including those sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), or professional league game, including CU football
Limited Households at Restaurants
- Indoor dining is limited to one household per table
- Outdoor dining is limited to 10 people per table
Strong Recommendation to Work from Home
- All businesses, including critical businesses, are strongly recommended to have all employees start or continue working from home, to the extent possible.
“In the last month alone, we have lost 14 of our Boulder County neighbors, friends, and loved ones to this virus. Our hospitalizations are rising significantly, along with the very concerning rapid increase in new cases. Some of our schools have had to close and I continue to hear stories of business owners in tears because they cannot make ends meet, even now, without being at the Stay at Home level. We can prevent the spread of this disease, but it takes everyone – not just most people - to be diligent, especially when there are such high levels of infection across our entire community. Please take this seriously; we are in this together and we can succeed together, but it takes all of us.”
According to CDPHE’s dashboard, new cases of COVID-19 among Boulder County residents in the past two weeks is 556.9 per 100,000; Stay at Home begins at 350 cases per 100,000 population. The five-day rolling average of daily cases among county residents is 182.2 cases per day. As of today, 85 people with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized in Boulder County.
While personal gatherings will continue to be allowed for up to 10 people from no more than two households public health officials urge residents to avoid all gatherings for the time being.
Capacity allowances are summarized in the CDPHE dial level chart. Full guidance for each sector is available on the CDPHE Safer at Home website.
Boulder County Public Health COVID-19 updates are shared by press release and/or on the Boulder County Public Health Facebook and Twitter social media pages and the COVID-19 website at www.boco.org/covid-19.
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