DENVER – Colorado will change its COVID-19 marking system again next Wednesday to allow counties more flexibility in easing business restrictions as the state vaccinates more people.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced the changes in a statement released at 6 p.m., Friday. The department is receiving comments on the proposed changes by noon Monday before finalizing the marking changes on Tuesday, which will take effect Wednesday.
“Coloradoans have made significant sacrifices to reduce disease transmission, so it’s time to update the dial to reflect that reality, in addition to the growing number of people who are immunized,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of CDPHE. “This updated proposal is based on Colorado vaccination and disease rates, as well as contributions from local public health agencies and local governments, and we are seeking public help to refine it.”
CDPHE
The CDPHE says in mid-April, it will make changes again to “move to a more local model, allowing local public health agencies to take more control over the capacity constraints currently determined by the dial.” He last changed the dial in early February.
Among the changes in the last proposal are:
· There are no longer state limits on the size of personal meetings, but a request for people to follow CDC guidelines to avoid large meetings.
· Counties may apply for the less restrictive phase, Level Green, if they have 35 or fewer cases of COVID per 100,000 people. The metric had previously been 15 cases per 100,000 people.
· At Level Green, bars, gyms and indoor event spaces will be able to operate with a capacity of 50% for up to 500 people, whichever is less, but most other restrictions were removed.
· Blue Level counties will be able to open bars with a 25% capacity of 75 people, whichever is less.
· Blue-level and Green-level outdoor event spaces will no longer have capacity restrictions, but counties may choose to implement them locally
· Retail stores, offices, and non-critical manufacturing locations in blue-level counties can operate up to 75% capacity, from 50%.
· Blue level 5 star businesses can operate with up to 60% capacity if they do not exceed 50 people above the caps for restaurants and indoor events and 25 people above the cap for gyms.
You can learn more about capacity restrictions in the draft proposal by clicking here. Click here for more information on the updated “Dial 3.0” metrics proposal. Coloradoans can review the changes by clicking here and posting comments here.
“These proposed updates reflect the growing number of Colorado residents who have received a COVID-19 vaccine over the past four months. People 70 and older have accounted for 38% of hospitalizations during the pandemic in Colorado. Nearly 80% of “This age group is completely vaccinated, and in mid-April vaccines will be opened for all Colorado residents over the age of 16,” the CDPHE said in a press release.
“The role of the state in continuing to impose statewide restrictions is declining and the role of local communities in regulating and managing the virus is increasing.”