City And County Of Broomfield: Broomfield Back To Business Certification Program Details

Press release from the City and County of Broomfield:

January 4, 2021

Jan 4 Update:

In the interest of the continued health and safety of our community, Back to Business Certified business will be able to operate in “Level Yellow: Concern” starting at 12 a.m. on Jan. 11, once Broomfield has sustained two weeks in the Level Orange metrics, assuming there are no significant surges. The first approved businesses will be notified as early as Jan. 8, with a continuous application, inspection, and approval process in place to expedite the reopening of businesses as long as the COVID-19 conditions continue trending in the right direction. Learn more about the Broomfield Back to Business program at Broomfield.org/BacktoBusiness

Dec 30 Update:

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced the approval of the Broomfield Back to Business Certification Program, effective Wednesday, December 30, 2020.

The City and County of Broomfield meets the incidence rate and percent positivity metric criteria required to qualify for the program, including 10 days of declining or stable hospitalizations in the past two weeks. CDPHE will review Broomfield’s metrics within the next two weeks to determine if the program can continue. The program’s approval is subject to changes from CDPHE.

The Back to Business Administrative Committee, which was created as part of the state’s requirements for this program, is reviewing 32 business applications that were filed since noon Monday. Once the committee reviews the online applications, any submitted supplemental plans, and a successful on-site inspection are complete, approved businesses will be given a certification kit to continue enforcing and promoting the required public health protections.

The Back to Business certification program must include operational details determined by the state including:

• Weekly reports from an administrative committee to Broomfield Public Health and CDPHE that include the following:
  • New certifications granted to businesses,
  • Any warnings issued to certified businesses, and
  • If any certifications have been revoked.
• Strict compliance requirements, allowing businesses one warning for non-compliance with certification requirements. The committee must remove certification for a business that demonstrates non-compliance a second time.
• Ensuring patrons of certified businesses have easy access to both local and state concern forms at both brick-and-mortar locations and online.

If Broomfield sees a significant rise in cases, percent positivity, or hospitalizations, the state could suspend the program. It will be automatically suspended if ICU hospital capacity reaches 90% in either the county or the Regional Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Services Advisory Committee area in which Broomfield participates. Broomfield is part of Mile-High RETAC, which includes Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Elbert counties.

Broomfield businesses can apply for the program at Broomfield.org/BacktoBusiness and residents will be able to view a searchable map of certified businesses at Broomfield.org/BacktoBusiness starting Jan. 8. First inspections will be scheduled starting Jan. 6, with an estimated first round of approvals expected Jan. 8.

Do your part to further get Broomfield back to business, and slow the spread of the virus by following the 4 Ws:

• Wash your hands
• Watch your distance
• Wear your face covering
• Wait on gatherings

This press release was produced by the City and County of Broomfield. The views expressed are the author's own.