Boulder Leader

Boulder County issued the following announcement on Nov. 12.

Like most of the state, new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 are continuing to climb in Boulder County. To help protect more residents, businesses, and health care workers, Boulder County Public Health announced today that the Board of Health approved Public Health Order 2020-10 which will go into effect Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12:01 a.m. and end on Dec. 14, unless extended.

The goal of the order is to protect individuals when they’re in the community by reducing opportunities for gathering, which increases the likelihood of transmission. The focus is specifically on areas where there has been spread of the virus while trying to minimize further impact on local businesses.

“Most of our businesses, communities, and schools are doing exactly what we need to do to reduce the spread of this disease. But when we don’t all take this seriously it impacts everyone — from those who have lost loved ones, to the ability to keep kids in school, to our businesses being able to continue to operate, and certainly our emotional, physical, and mental health,” said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director. “We are at a critical point. If new cases do not decline, the state may move us to the Stay at Home level. It comes down to all of us taking personal responsibility to stay home when we’re sick; following the quarantine and isolation instructions for the required length, even if we feel well; spending time with only our own household members; and always wearing a mask and keeping social distance when we’re around others.”

Beginning Saturday, the following requirements will apply to every person while within Boulder County, in addition to the Safer at Home Level Orange: High Risk requirements:

Household Mixing Limited

• Personal gatherings (private or public) are limited to 2 households with no more than 10 people

Indoor Event Size Limited

• Limited to 25% capacity with up to 25 people (reduction from 50 people limit)
• May not have more than one room/designated activity/area to increase the capacity for attendees at the event beyond the 25-person limit
• Separate events may occur in separate rooms in the same venue, but each room/designated activity/area must have separate exits, entrances, and restrooms to prevent intermingling between groups
• Requirements for outdoor events and sponsored gatherings remain the same as outlined in Safer at Home Level Orange

No Spectators at Adult, High-School Level, and Professional Sporting Events

• No spectators allowed at any adult sporting events, high school sport/game, including those sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), or professional league game, including CU football

Limited Households at Restaurants

• Indoor dining is limited to one household per table
• Outdoor dining is limited to 10 people from 2 households per table

Strong Recommendation to Work from Home

• All businesses, including critical businesses, are strongly recommended to have all employees start or continue working from home, to the extent possible.

“In the last month alone, we have lost 14 of our Boulder County neighbors, friends, and loved ones to this virus. Our hospitalizations are rising significantly, along with the very concerning rapid increase in new cases. Some of our schools have had to close and I continue to hear stories of business owners in tears because they cannot make ends meet, even now, without being at the Stay at Home level. We can prevent the spread of this disease, but it takes everyone – not just most people - to be diligent, especially when there are such high levels of infection across our entire community. Please take this seriously; we are in this together and we can succeed together, but it takes all of us.”

According to CDPHE’s dashboard, new cases of COVID-19 among Boulder County residents in the past two weeks is 556.9 per 100,000; Stay at Home begins at 350 cases per 100,000 population. The five-day rolling average of daily cases among county residents is 182.2 cases per day. As of today, 85 people with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized in Boulder County.

While personal gatherings will continue to be allowed for up to 10 people from no more than two households public health officials urge residents to avoid all gatherings for the time being.

Original source can be found here.