Boulder County Moves To Level Blue: What To Know

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Colorado public health officials are giving local governments a lot more control over their restrictions beginning Friday, but Boulder County will continue with a variation of the state's Dial 3.0 framework.

The county shifted to the less-restrictive Level Blue Friday, and will remain in the level until May 16, public health officials said.

Boulder County coronavirus case rates have declined over the past week, which has allowed the county to shift to the new level, public health officials said. Over the past week, cases among those ages 18 to 22 decreased by 48.6 percent, and there were only 13 cases among people ages 65 and older, according to Boulder County Public Health.

Restaurants and gyms can now operate with six feet of distancing between parties up to 100 percent capacity. Bars can open at 25 percent capacity and last call is at 2 a.m.

The new level 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 percent capacity up to 175 people.

Event organizers or businesses who are planning any gathering of up to 500 people — such as an indoor or outdoor event or activity — must contact Boulder County Public Health at least 14 days before the event and submit a plan for preventing the spread of the virus.

Masks are still required in all public indoor places, and public health officials recommend wearing masks outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained.

“Moving to a modified Level Blue does not mean full reopening," said Lexi Nolen, Boulder County Public Health acting executive director, in a statement.

"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.”

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The 5-Star Program in Boulder County will continue while in any capacity-restricted level, public health officials said.

Here's a look at the percent of Boulder County residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of Thursday:

• 56 percent of residents ages 16 and older
• 92 percent of people ages 70 and older have received at least one dose, and 87 percent of that age category are fully immunized
• 80 percent of people ages 60 to 69
• 62 percent of those ages 50 to 59

“Boulder County is among Colorado counties with high vaccination rates," Nolan's statement read. "Around 3,700 eligible Boulder County residents are being vaccinated daily right now."

“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.”

Here's a list of other counties that shifted to Level Blue Friday:

• Broomfield (modified)
• Gunnison (modified)
• Denver
• Jefferson
• Larimer
• Arapahoe
• Adams
• Archuletta
• La Plata

Anyone with questions about Level Blue capacities in Boulder County can call 720-776-0822 or visit the county's COVID-19 information webpage.

>> Those who are planning large events should email Covidbiz@bouldercounty.org to submit their proposals.