Whether you should wear a mask or end up in a crowded restaurant depends on the province of Colorado in which you live.
The state’s COVID-19 framework – which looked at cases, hospitalizations and positive test rates to determine business capacity levels – became optional on Friday. Now each province decides its own rules, although the state can intervene if hospitals’ space starts to run out.
Most of the Denver area selected to go to Level Blue, which moves the last call to 2 hours, does not accommodate a maximum number of people in restaurants or gyms (although parties must be kept six feet apart) and limits bars to 25% capacity. . Provinces living in or moving to Level Blue are:
- Adams
- Arapahoe
- Archuleta
- Boulder
- Broomfield (with edits)
- Clear creek
- Denver
- Gunnison (with edits)
- Jefferson
- La plata
- Larimer
Six provinces have said they will stay in Level Green, where the only restrictions are 50% for pubs, indoor venues and group sports played indoors. These provinces are:
- Bent
- Cheyenne
- Costilla
- Gilpin
- Kit Carson
- Park
- San juan
Pueblo County said it would remain in Level Yellow, where most businesses are limited to 50% of capacity.
For the 28 counties that have not drawn up their own health care orders, the only requirements most people will meet are the order of the entire mask and major events that require permission from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. These provinces are:
- Alamosa
- Baca
- Crowley
- Custer
- Dolores
- Douglas
- El paso
- Elbert
- Fremont
- Huerfano
- Kiowa
- Las Animas
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Mesa
- Moffat
- Montezuma
- Montrose
- Morgan
- Otero
- Phillips
- Prowers
- Rio grande
- Sedgwick
- Narrator
- Washington
- Weld
- Yuma
Some provinces have issued their own public health orders, with rules not complying with the link level.
Chaffee County (until August 31)
- Masks are needed in indoor public places.
- The capacity of indoor events will be determined based on the size of the venue and the ability to distance by six feet.
- Outdoor opportunities will be limited by a three-foot social foot requirement in the most densely populated areas.
- If 70% of the province’s eligible population is vaccinated, it will consider lifting restrictions.
Eagle County (until May 27)
- Most shallow yellow restrictions remain in effect.
- Indoor – both sitting and unoccupied – opportunities are limited to 50%, or 150 people, with six feet of distance and approval from public health officials. If the 5-star certification is attended, attendance will be limited to 50% or up to 500 people with physical distance.
- Outdoor events are limited to 50%, or 175 people, with six-foot distance and masks. Organizers must also approve the event. If the 5-star certification is at the event, the cap will be 50% or up to 1000 people, but masks are still needed.
- If 60% of the province’s eligible population is vaccinated against COVID-19 and cases and hospitalizations decrease by the end of May, this will reduce restrictions.
Grand county
- Masks are needed in indoor public places.
- All events and industries, including restaurants and places of worship, can operate at 100% capacity, with six feet between people or parties.
- All indoor and outdoor events must submit a plan to the local health department for approval.
Ouray County
- Masks are required in all indoor public places.
Pitkin County (until May 13)
- Shallow yellow restrictions remain in effect.
- Masks are required in indoor public settings, on public transportation (including ride shares) and outdoors if there is a risk of being within six feet of a person from another household.
- No more than two households, including ten or fewer people, can share a hotel room, campsite or short-term rental home if the province moves back to Level Orange.
- No one can visit the country if they have had COVID-19 symptoms for the past ten days. Anyone who has had close contact with an infected person while in the country should be quarantined.
San Miguel County (until April 30)
- Level Blue restrictions remain in effect.
- Short-term stays, including hotels and Airbnbs, are limited to 85% of capacity.
- Masks are needed in businesses, public buildings and transportation.
Summit County
- Most shallow yellow restrictions remain in effect.
- Public transport can operate 75% of the capacity.
- Masks are required in public indoor places (except when sitting in a restaurant) and outdoors as people from different households will be more than 15 meters apart.
- To further reduce restrictions, at least 60% of the enrolled residents must be vaccinated, and the province may not have more than 250 cases per 100.00 people.
This list will be updated with additional provinces as information becomes available.
Denver Post reporter Jessica Seaman contributed to this report.