Boulder County's New Public Health Order: What Will Change?

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Another public health order has been issued in Boulder County as new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to climb.

The order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and end Dec. 14, unless extended, health officials said.

The county has moved to 'Level Orange' of Colorado's COVID-19 Dial; however, the following requirements have been added:

Household Mixing Limited

• Personal gatherings (private or public) are limited to 2 households with no more than 10 people

Indoor Event Size Limited

• Limited to 25 percent capacity with up to 25 people (reduction from 50 people limit)
• Limited to one indoor event per venue, even if there are separate rooms
• Requirements for outdoor events and sponsored gatherings remain the same as outlined in Safer at Home Level Orange

No Spectators at Adult, High-School Level, and Professional Sporting Events

• No spectators allowed at any adult sporting events, high school sport/game, including those sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association, or professional league game, including CU football

Limited Households at Restaurants

• Indoor dining is limited to one household per table
• Outdoor dining is limited to 10 people per table

Strong Recommendation to Work from Home

• All businesses, including critical businesses, are strongly recommended to have all employees start or continue working from home, to the extent possible.

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Most of our businesses, communities, and schools are doing exactly what we need to do to reduce the spread of this disease," said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director.

"But when we don’t all take this seriously it impacts everyone — from those who have lost loved ones, to the ability to keep kids in school, to our businesses being able to continue to operate, and certainly our emotional, physical, and mental health.”

The county is at a "critical point," Zayach said.

"If new cases do not decline, the state may move us to the Stay at Home level. It comes down to all of us taking personal responsibility to stay home when we’re sick; following the quarantine and isolation instructions for the required length, even if we feel well; spending time with only our own household members; and always wearing a mask and keeping social distance when we’re around others.”

New cases of COVID-19 among Boulder County residents in the past two weeks is 556.9 out of 100,000 people, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The state's Stay at Home level begins at 350 cases per 100,000.

“In the last month alone, we have lost 14 of our Boulder County neighbors, friends, and loved ones to this virus," Zayach said.

"Our hospitalizations are rising significantly, along with the very concerning rapid increase in new cases. Some of our schools have had to close and I continue to hear stories of business owners in tears because they cannot make ends meet, even now, without being at the Stay at Home level."

The five-day rolling average of daily cases among county residents is 182.2 cases per day. As of Thursday, 85 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Boulder County.

"We can prevent the spread of this disease, but it takes everyone – not just most people - to be diligent, especially when there are such high levels of infection across our entire community," Zayach said.

"Please take this seriously; we are in this together and we can succeed together, but it takes all of us.”

While personal gatherings will continue to be allowed for up to 10 people from no more than two households, public health officials are urging residents to avoid all gatherings for the time being.