Jefferson County Moves To 'Level Orange': What That Means

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Jefferson County will shift to Level Orange — formerly 'Level 3' — on Colorado's COVID-19 Dial, public health officials announced Wednesday. The new restrictions will take effect Monday at 5 p.m.

The announcement came just hours after Boulder County announced the same shift to Level Orange.

Over the past two weeks, 2,513 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the county, public health officials said. During that time, hospitalizations in the county have increased by more than 75 percent, according to Jefferson County Public Health.

The Colorado Department of Public Health notified Jefferson County of the shift Wednesday.

“We were hoping we could avoid these new restrictions, but unfortunately cases have continued to increase in Jeffco and across the state," said Margaret Huffman, director of Community Health Services at Jefferson County Public Health.

"At the same time, we recognize that this has been such a long event, and we are all experiencing different levels of exhaustion," she said.

“It’s important to remember all the reasons we have been working so hard to keep ourselves, loved ones and community healthy. Whether it’s to be able to enjoy celebrations together sooner, to protect our healthcare workers who are coping with burnout, or to help keep our schools and favorite businesses open, we have so many reasons to pull together to save lives.”

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Previously called 'Level 3,' the new 'Level Orange' includes the following capacity restrictions:

• 25 percent or 50 people at restaurants, places of worship and non-critical manufacturing
• Offices and retail: 25 percent
• 25 percent or 25 people at gyms/fitness centers (groups of up to 10 outdoors), personal services and limited health care settings
• 25 percent or 50 people, whichever is fewer, with space calculator at indoor events
• 25 percent or 75 people, whichever is fewer with space calculator at outdoor events
• 25 percent or 10 people at outdoor guided services
• Virtual or outdoors in groups of less than 10 at group sports and camps

While personal gatherings will continue to be limited to 10 people from no more than two households —with face coverings and social distancing required indoors and when within 6 feet of others — many public health officials are urging residents to avoid all gatherings.