Douglas County Restaurants, Gyms, Places Of Worship Can Reopen

DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO — The Board of Douglas County Commissioners announced that restaurants, gyms, places of worship and Park Meadows mall can reopen in limited capacities immediately. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved the county's request Friday to partially reopen.

The businesses are allowed to reopen if they follow the following guidelines:

• Allow no more than 50 percent of their posted capacity;
• Ensure at least 28 square feet of space per person;
• Allow no more than 175 people in the same building at the same time;
• Post signs at entrances that tell people not to enter if they are sick; and
• Ensure that all staff wear face coverings, and urge customers to wear face coverings.

Gyms and exercise studios:

• Occupancy limited to 1 person per 120 square feet;
• Groups limited to 10 or 50 percent of occupancy, whichever is less.

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In a letter to county commissioners, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said that, particularly with Park Meadows, "it is critical that the indoor common areas be well-managed at all times such that no gatherings are occurring and instead customers are moving from one destination to the next, and admitted into each confined indoor retail space as permitted based on 50% occupancy of that confined indoor space."

Douglas County submitted the variance request earlier this month after confirming "lower disease rate parameters and [the] proactive development of actionable measures," the Board of Douglas County Commissioners said.

The county has sufficient hospital capacity and a good COVID-19 tracking system, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.

The state said the variance will be rescinded if:

• There is a 20 percent increase in positive coronavirus cases in Douglas County in a three-day rolling average over a two-week period;
• There is a large increase in hospitalizations over a two-week period;
• The county can't trace new cases within 24 hours; or
• There are more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period.

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