Colorado restaurants can reopen dining halls and readers respond to the governor’s move

In late December 30, Gov. Jared Polis announced on social media that on Monday, Jan. 4, all the counties in the state that are currently at the Red Level are on the COVID dial of the Department of Public Health and Environment. of Colorado will move to Orange Level. He credited the improvement of COVID-19 statistics to the state to make the change possible.

As a result, many companies will see regulations loosen this week. Restaurants, for example, will be able to resume indoor food, with a capacity of 25% or a maximum of fifty customers. But still, this is a big change from Level Red’s closed dining halls, mostly because it combines with the last call back at 10 p.m.

But in his Westword Facebook comments on our post about the Polis movement, some readers are not raising a glass Jeffrey says:

I see that we are now taking the option of “pretending it doesn’t exist”.

Michael answers:

Stay the shit at home if you’re so scared. We adults will go to adult shit.

Sara adds:

Definitely, restaurants should be left open. The only thing that has managed to close them is pushing people to private meetings and places like Walmart. Make a living.

Reply Emily:

No one is drinking, eating food, putting forks in COVID holes, spending hours breathing the same air and making new friends at Walmart …

Counters Doug:

Let them all open. If landlords want to impose limits, this is their prerogative. No more blockages. Facial diaper warrants are not over. Always!

Add Sarah:

We have to open up. We have already lost too many companies.

Nick answers:

I think the plan is to lose fewer people, not companies.

And the conversation takes a turn, thanks to Bill:

Have you ever noticed how many barflies cry about Polis and COVID-45? They are not the customers of the restaurant. They are barflies. They don’t own restaurants, per se. They sell delivery food. It is the liquor that has such a high margin. Barflies complaining and bar owners complaining. IF they don’t like it, leave!

Answers Constance:

Obviously, you don’t know business owners or anything about the business in general.

Ben concludes:

Bill is someone who obviously never scored at the bar.

Polis’ announcement surprised many health officials and restaurant owners; as part of the newly introduced 5-Star State Certification Program, counties had been working to scroll down. In the subway area, Arapahoe, Douglas and Broomfield counties had already been approved for the program (in fact, some restaurants in Douglas County had already reopened the restaurant canteens); Denver just unveiled its app later this year.

According to a hasty clarification from the Colorado Restaurant Association that ended in 2020, those 5-star-certified restaurants won’t be able to make a double scroll down: from the orange level to the yellow level in Douglas County, for example.

But in these moments of uncertainty, there is only one thing certain: diners can raise a glass in the hard-working restaurant industry in this state and should do so, either for lunch or in a reopened dining room. .

Check out our list of all the restaurants and bars that opened and closed in 2020 here.