Boulder Leader

Boulder County issued the following announcement on Nov. 18.

In response to the ongoing increase in residents across the county testing positive for COVID-19, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will move Boulder County to the new “Red Level: Severe Risk” on the state Dial this Friday, Nov. 20.

“New cases are continuing to rise rapidly in Boulder County. This move on the dial is an important step that needed to happen to stop this virus from continuing to overwhelm our communities,” said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director.

Through the end of day on Nov. 15, the five-day rolling average daily case count in Boulder County was 220.6 cases per day compared to 146 one week ago. This is higher than at any other time in the pandemic. The current two-week cumulative incidence is 758.9 per 100,000; more than two times the threshold for “Red Level: Severe Risk.”

The “Red Level: Severe Risk” prohibits personal gatherings between members of different households, indoor events, and indoor dining at restaurants. Restaurants may offer curbside, takeout, delivery services, and in-person outdoor dining to tables with a single household until 10 p.m. All sales for on-premises alcohol consumption must end at 8 p.m. Takeout sales for alcohol ends at 10 p.m.

The order also reduces or eliminates indoor capacity for most business sectors and strongly recommends remote work for all workers when possible. Individuals at risk of severe Illness from COVID-19 are strongly recommended to remain at home as much as possible.

Requirements for houses of worship in the “Red Level” remain at 25% capacity up to 50 people (using space calculator if unseated). Outdoor church services may continue as long as six feet of social distancing is maintained between non-household members at all times.

At “Red Level,” childcare providers may continue to provide care per standard ratios. For schools in this Level, in-person learning is suggested for grades K-5, in-person, hybrid, or remote is suggested for middle school grades; and hybrid or remote is suggested for high school. Boulder County Public Health will continue to support both school districts in their efforts to provide in-person and remote options as appropriate.

Residents should review the Colorado Public Health Order and the CDPHE quick reference chart for specific details about each sector. Boulder County Public Health staff will do their best to answer questions about the new Colorado requirements. Residents can contact the Public Health call center at 720-776-0822.

“Let’s keep each other safe by following these requirements and support our local economy by ordering for curbside pick-up or delivery from our local businesses, or purchasing gift cards now that can be used in the future,” said Zayach.

Boulder County Public Health epidemiologists also want to remind anyone who tests positive for or has symptoms of COVID-19 to:

• Stay home and separate. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or feels sick should stay home and separate from others, such as in their own room and bathroom (see full isolation requirements) and ask everyone they’ve been in close contact with to also stay home (see full quarantine requirements). Close contact is living in the same household or being within 6 feet for a combined total of 15 minutes within a 24-hour period, regardless of whether masks were worn.
• Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or feels sick should notify everyone they’ve had close contact with two days before their symptoms started to the first ten days after their symptoms began OR two days before they got tested through the ten days after they got tested. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for the secure Exposure Notification app to be notified of, or notify others of possible exposure.
• Stay home. Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who was sick or tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home for two weeks starting two days before their symptoms started through the first ten days of having symptoms (See full quarantine requirements).

The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can spread to others from people who have the virus but don’t have symptoms. It can also take more than seven days for the virus to be detectable by a swab PCR test.

As of Tuesday, Nov. 17, 91 people were hospitalized in Boulder County hospitals for confirmed COVID-19. Currently, 1,378 people are hospitalized for confirmed COVID-19 across Colorado compared with 1,116 people a week ago. This is the highest number of COVID-related hospitalizations we have had in Colorado to date.

To date, 108 Boulder County residents with COVID-19 have died; 71% have been among long-term care facility residents. Since Oct. 1, 27 residents have died, compared to 9 residents with COVID passing away for the entire period of July-September.

Residents with questions about isolation or quarantine can contact CO Help at 877-462-2911. Residents who would like help with food, health care, mental health, housing, child care, safety, or financial or legal assistance are encouraged to visit www.boco.org/COVID-19Resources.

Summary of requirements in Boulder County under the Severe Risk level

• No personal gatherings of members of different households
• Non-critical office-based businesses may allow 10% of posted occupancy to work in-person
• Both non-critical and critical retail may operate at 50% posted occupancy and should offer enhanced options for curbside pickup, delivery, and dedicated service hours for senior and at-risk individuals
• Gyms and recreation centers may operate at 10% capacity not to exceed 10 people indoors, excluding staff per room, and may operate with 10 or fewer individuals, excluding staff, outdoors.
• Non-critical manufacturing may operate at 25% posted occupancy limit not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less, per room
• Personal services may operate at 25% posted occupancy limit, not to exceed 25 people per room, whichever is less
• Limited healthcare may operate at 25% posted occupancy not to exceed 25 people per room
• Restaurants are closed for in-person indoor dining but may offer curbside, takeout, and delivery services. Restaurants may offer outdoor in-person dining for a single household per table. All alcohol sales for on-premises consumption must end at 8 p.m. Takeout sales for alcohol ends at 10 p.m.
• Non-critical field services are closed
• Indoor events are closed
• Organized sports and day camps are closed for indoor settings; sports and camps may operate outdoors with no more than 10 participants

The order defines individuals at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to include those who:

• Are 65 years and older
• Have cancer
• Have chronic kidney disease
• Have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Are immunocompromised (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Have a body mass index of 30 or higher
• Have serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Have Sickle cell disease
• Have Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Are pregnant
• Smoke
• Are determined to be high risk by a licensed healthcare provider

Original source can be found here.