Arapahoe County Requests To Loosen Public Health Orders

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners submitted a request Wednesday to the state asking for variance from the public health orders for certain industries.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has established a review process that can loosen guidelines if a county has a comprehensive plan in place for reducing the spread of the coronavirus. The county also has to have a declining trend in daily case numbers.

Arapahoe County has "encouraging trends, ample hospital capacity, and a robust suppression plan for containing the spread of COVID-19," commissioners said.

The board has asked that houses of worship, gyms and restaurants be allowed to operate at 50 percent of the fire code capacity, subject to strict social distancing and sanitation measures. The commissioners have also asked to open indoor malls, with restrictions similar to Jefferson and Douglas counties. A variance will allow the county to implement its own reopening plans in the timeframe that best meets the needs of its communities, commissioners said.

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“This request is designed to expand our local economy’s ability to recover from the pandemic in a responsible manner,” Commissioner Nancy N. Sharpe said. “We will continue to remain vigilant, implementing recommended public health practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within Arapahoe County.”

Although Arapahoe County has one of the highest case numbers in the state, it has seen a declining trend in daily case numbers since hitting a peak in early May, distributed proportionally to the population in municipalities and unincorporated areas across the county. Nearly 25 percent of Arapahoe County cases are from a long-term care facility, and 67 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the county are from these facilities. Arapahoe County has implemented local measures to contain and manage the virus, including increased testing and contact tracing in partnership with the Tri-County Health Department.