15 Colorado Counties Will Shift To 'Level Red' On Statewide Dial

Fifteen Colorado counties are set to shift to 'Level Red' on the state's coronavirus dial as cases continue to climb, Gov. Jared Polis announced in a news conference alongside Denver Mayor Michael Hancock Tuesday.

The following counties will move to Level Red on Friday:

• Adams
• Arapahoe
• Boulder
• Broomfield
• Clear Creek
• Denver
• Douglas
• Jefferson
• La Plata
• Logan
• Mesa
• Morgan
• Routt
• Summit
• Washington

New Level Red restrictions:

• Indoor dining is closed; take out, curbside and delivery are encouraged.
• Outdoor dining in open air only (not covered structures), and only with groups from one’s own household.
• Indoor events are closed or canceled.
• All alcohol sales end at 8 p.m.
• Office-based businesses are now subject to building capacity instead of a limit on the percent of staff for in-person work.
• A requirement that critical and non-critical retail offer increased options for curbside pickup, delivery, and dedicated service hours for seniors and at-risk individuals.
• The removal of “extra large” from the social distancing calculator requirements — now facilities larger than 7,200 square feet can use the calculator.

A new 'Level Purple - Extreme Risk' will be added to the state's dial Friday for "counties where hospital capacity is at extreme risk of being overrun," public health officials said.

"At this level, all businesses must significantly curtail in person functions and people must stay at home except for necessary activities."

As of Tuesday, 1,378 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in Colorado, Polis said. Over the past 24 hours, more than 4,300 new cases were reported in our state.

“This trend cannot continue,” Polis said. “This growth keeps skyrocketing — we now have more Coloradans hospitalized than in March and April.”

The virus is on an "exponential growth curve," and the state's hospital system is under "significant stress," the governor said.

"There’s only so many beds in the system — ICU and non ICU,” Polis said.

Since the outbreak began in Colorado, the state has reported 2,299 deaths due to COVID-19, Polis said.

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"The blunt-force impact of another stay-at-home order must be avoided," Hancock said during the news conference.

"Our average daily case rates remain extremely high," he said. "Hospitalizations in the region are the highest they've ever been."