NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
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Starting today, Boulder County will move into Level Blue with limited modifications for 30 days and remain in this level until May 16.
As stated on April 12, the county would move to a modified Level Blue if case incidences did not exceed 300 cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rates did not exceed 7.5% before April 16.
As of April 15, metrics show that case incidences are at 134.5 per 100,000 residents and positivity rates at 4.5%, allowing the county to move to a less restrictive level.
“Moving to a modified Level Blue does not mean full reopening. We adopted a slightly modified version of the state’s dial framework to ease into recovery, taking data into account to ensure restrictions gradually ease and allow individuals and business to have guidance consistent with the State’s Dial that we have been operating under up until this point,” said Lexi Nolen, Boulder County Public Health acting executive director.
Boulder County Public Health also released a Public Health Order, outlining restrictions under different levels, including Level Blue.
Boulder County businesses can now operate at Level Blue capacities, which allows indoor seated events and all outdoor events to operate with 6-feet of distancing between people of different households. Indoor unseated events are capped at 50% capacity up to 175 people. Restaurants and gyms may now operate with six feet of distancing between parties up to 100% capacity. Bars can open at 25% capacity and last call is at 2 a.m. The Public Health Order permits the 5-Star Program in Boulder County to continue while in any capacity-restricted level.
For any gathering between April 16 and May 15 up to 500 individuals, such as an indoor or outdoor event or activity, businesses or organizers must contact Boulder County Public Health ([email protected]) at least 14 days in advance of the event and submit a plan to the county to ensure adequate COVID-19 mitigation and prevention measures will be in place.
Masks are still required in all public indoor places, and BCPH recommends wearing masks outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained.
Over 56% of the population of eligible Boulder County residents (16+) have received at least one course of the COVID-9 vaccine. Most older adults are vaccinated, and 92% of the population over 70 years old has received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, and 87% have received a full course. 80% of people 60-69 years old have received at least a partial course, and over 62% of 50-59 years old have received at least a partial course.
Overall, cases are decreasing in the county. In the past week, cases among the 18-22-year-old age group decreased by 48.6%, and there were only 13 cases among people 65+.
“Boulder County is among Colorado counties with high vaccination rates. Around 3,700 eligible Boulder County residents are being vaccinated daily right now,” Nolen added. “It takes all of us to end this pandemic, and Boulder County residents have been doing their part to follow safety guidelines and seek out a vaccine when it was available to them. This is making a big difference as we ease into recovery.”
The Dial 3.0 framework issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) expired on April 15 at 11:59 p.m. Boulder County Public Health issued Public Health Order 2021-03 adopting the state dial and moving Boulder County into Level Blue in partnership with other metro counties who have issued or are expected to issue similar orders.
The state issued a new Public Health Order 20-38 with limited COVID-19 restrictions relating to masking requirements and social distancing requirements indoors. However, Boulder County Public Health’s Local Order covers all of the requirements contained in the state order with the exception that outdoor, ticketed and seated event venues in excess of 30,000 square feet require CDPHE approval, schools and child care must continue to follow case and outbreaks in schools and childcare guidance, and schools that are learning entirely remotely may not have in-person extracurricular activities.
The state will continue to require hospitals to report COVID-19 admissions and hospital bed capacity.
Anyone with questions regarding Level Blue capacities can contact the Boulder County Call Center at 720-776-0822 or view the COVID-19 information on BCPH’s website at BoCo.org/COVID-19.
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