Denver will allow restaurants and gyms to operate at full capacity – though the social distance will make it difficult for many people – beginning Friday when the state hands over control of COVID-19 social measures to local authorities.
The city will move down a notch to Level Blue and remain able to track the state’s color-coded slide for the next 30 days in partnership with most other metro counties, including Adams, Jefferson, Boulder and Broomfield. Arapahoe County was on Level Blue and will stay there.
With the change to Level Blue, pubs that do not also serve food can reopen at limited capacity for the first time since June, and will move the last call for alcohol back to 2 p.m.
Douglas County is the vantage point of the metro area, with its elected leaders choosing to eliminate all COVID-19 restrictions dictated by the state wheel.
“We think we need to slow down a bit by finishing the slide completely,” Bob McDonald, executive director of the Department of Public Health and the Environment in Denver, said during a news conference on Wednesday. “We’re going to the blue phase, look at how the virus responds, look at what the data looks like there.”
Denver will also no longer need to wear masks outdoors, although it will still have to be worn in indoor public settings and when people use public transportation. The changes to the mask order went into effect on Wednesday and will expire within 30 days.
The move by Denver and most other metro counties to lower restrictions will take place when the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment transfers control of most COVID-19 safety measures to local officials Friday through state-imposed restrictions is, to change into recommendations. , not mandates.
The changes come despite the fact that coronavirus infections and hospitalizations are on the rise in Colorado, which according to government officials is now experiencing a “fourth wave” of the virus. And that would create a jumble of COVID-19 restrictions, as some provinces prefer to continue to follow the state’s dialkader and stop others.
“The state’s decision means a number of counties in Colorado and local jurisdictions will not maintain restrictions,” Mayor Michael Hancock said Wednesday during the Denver briefing. “Nothing can be done about it, but we will take a different approach in Denver.”
Douglas County chooses out of bounds
In Douglas County, elected commissioners this week voted to lift all restrictions on Friday and not follow the new health orders issued by the Tri-County Department of Health, which serves Douglas, Adams and Arapahoe counties and the subway plan first announced.
Nevertheless, public health orders in Douglas County will remain in effect. It includes the nationwide indoor mask mandate, which runs until May, and a possible order for major unsuccessful events – the latter could be issued soon by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, provincial attorney Lance Ingalls said Tuesday during the meeting of the land commissioners.
“We will continue to monitor the seriousness on a daily basis,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon during the meeting, adding, “I want … Douglas County to be the first province in the state to say, ‘This “Pandemic is over.”
Despite the easing of restrictions, the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus is still classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization because it has spread to several countries and affects a large number of people.
The turning point was often a point of contention between local and state leaders during the pandemic, as public health officials in the metro area often pushed the state Department of Public Health and Environment to move provinces together in changing COVID-19 restrictions so that it does not can not depend on Denver.
While the state allows counties to lift restrictions, health officials encourage Coloradans to continue wearing masks, physically removing them and avoiding large gatherings until more people are vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The changes for the provinces moving to Level Blue on Friday include:
- Restaurants can function 100% with parties separated by at least 6 feet and groups limited to a maximum of 10 people
- Gymnasiums have a capacity of 100% and members of non-households are separated by at least 6 feet
- Bars that do not serve food can be reopened with a capacity of 25% and can not be more than 75 people
- Last call for alcohol moves from 01:00 to 02:00
- Non-critical manufacturing and offices can open 75%
- Retail Places Can Work 75%
- Indoor unsuccessful events can take place with a capacity of 50% and can not be more than 75 people
Denver will deviate from the state’s turntable when it comes to outdoor events.
The province will require a mitigation plan to be submitted before an outdoor event with less than 5,000 people can take place. If organizers want to host an event with more than 5,000 people, they should consult the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.
The distribution rule is forbidden in many restaurants
Denver’s move to Level Blue is a “step forward” for restaurants, but the required 6-foot distance between each party will still prevent small and medium-sized restaurants from opening 100%.
Instead, “many restaurants will have a capacity of less than 50%,” Sonia Riggs, president and CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association, said in a statement.
Chris Fuselier, the owner of the Blake Street Tavern in Denver, for example, told The Denver Post earlier that with a 6-foot social distance requirement, he can only seat about 350 people out of the full capacity of 800 people on his 18,000 – square foot space.
“Unfortunately, a competitive advantage for restaurants in provinces with fewer restrictions and the potential loss of business for restaurants in surrounding provinces with stricter safety guidelines would be an unintended consequence of each province’s own guidelines,” Riggs said.
The provinces of the metro area moving to Level Blue will stay there for 30 days. From 16 May to 15 August, the provinces will then move on to a new phase called Level Clear.
Level Clear will lift all restrictions, although masks must still be worn if there is a local or state mandate. If a province experiences an increase in its admissions to the coronavirus hospital, it will move under stricter restrictions under Tri-County’s health order.