The Pitkin County Health Board, in a special meeting Monday, did not move the county to a full red level on the state’s COVID dial, but implemented many of the “severe risk” level restrictions. .
“I would say‘ orange-more-more, ’” Markey Butler, who chairs the Pitkin County Health Board, said of the county’s latest iteration of restrictions.
The new restrictions, which go into effect Tuesday, allow Pitkin County restaurants to continue to operate at 25% capacity indoors, as long as they continue to make the last call at 9:30 p.m., and close at 10 p.m .: 00. home together.
If the board had chosen to move completely to the red level, restaurants would have to stop eating inside and rely on reception and delivery.
“These red-level restrictions with the ability for restaurants to continue to operate are what we need: all we can do outside of a total closure,” said Aspen Mayor Torre, who is also part of the Health Council. . “If each of us does our part, we can succeed in curbing the transmission of disease to our community.”
Starting Tuesday, Pitkin County will ban covered events, unless organizers have already submitted their safety plans for covered events on or before Sunday (December 20). Under the latest restrictions in Pitkin County, offices and gyms must reduce their operating capacity by 25% to 10% indoors. Critical and non-critical retail companies can continue to operate at 50% capacity.
Monday’s special meeting of the Board of Health was held to address Pitkin County’s two-week cumulative incidence rate, which has continued to rise although the county has implemented several mitigation measures. The county previously adopted its own “orange-plus” restrictions a few days before Thanksgiving and subsequently required visitors to complete an affidavit from the visitor beginning Dec. 14.
As of Monday, Pitkin County’s two-week cumulative incidence rate was among the 1,447 red-level metrics. The state’s “high-risk” orange level requires a two-week incidence rate of less than 350 per 100,000 people.
“That’s war, isn’t it?” said Brent Miller, a board member of Health. “[These] they are extraordinary times. If we had discussions like this for something minor, you would hear all sorts of people talking about the violation of their personal rights and so on. “
It was also announced at Monday’s BOH meeting that Aspen’s New Year’s Eve fireworks had been canceled due to COVID-19.
“The city determined that the potential for meetings, whether in the mountains, in private homes or in parks, was too great and that’s why we canceled the fireworks,” said Aspen councilor Ann Mullins. which also acts as an alternative board member, he said during Monday’s meeting.
The town of Snowmass Village, however, will still have fireworks on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
“We believe we can provide this equipment [in] a safe and socially distanced way for our residents and guests, ”Clint Kinney, city manager of Snowmass Village, said in an email.
The town of Snowmass Village does not offer an observation area designated for its fireworks.
The Board of Health will review whether additional restrictions need to be applied in early January.
Local restaurateur Ryan Chadwick hoped Pitkin County metrics would tend in the right direction to prevent another closure. He expressed his frustration at the little help that had been given to companies in a state of illness.
“It’s weird,” Chadwick said. “They just hope you can take a break indefinitely and you’ll be fine because you can only open a backup. That’s not how restaurants work. “