State's Coronavirus Dial Set To End: Boulder County Issues Plan

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Colorado's state public health agency is set to end the Dial 3.0 framework Thursday and allow local governments to decide whether they will continue with the system. Boulder County will issue a similar framework, officials announced Monday night.

If current case incidences do not exceed 300 cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rates do not exceed 7.5 percent before Friday, Boulder County will move to the less-restrictive Level Blue for 30 days, officials said. If the county exceeds those rates, it will continue operating under Level Yellow restrictions.

“We are working in close partnership with the state and our metro partners to ensure restrictions gradually ease and allow individuals and businesses to have guidance when the state’s dial expires,” said Lexi Nolen, Boulder County Public Health interim executive director.

“In Boulder County, we are making great progress in vaccination. Over 53 percent of the eligible population has received at least one course of the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination, in combination with protective measures, such as distancing, mask wearing and continued testing when needed, will help us ease into normalcy.”

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If current metrics continue, Boulder County businesses will operate at Level Blue capacities effective Friday. The level would allow indoor seated events and all outdoor events to operate with 6 feet of distancing between people of different households. The 5-Star Program in Boulder County will continue in any capacity-restricted level.

For any gathering between Friday and May 15 that exceeds 500 attendees — such as an indoor or outdoor event or activity — businesses or organizers must contact Boulder County Public Health at least 14 days before the event and submit a plan to the county (Covidbiz@bouldercounty.org) to ensure adequate COVID-19 mitigation and prevention measures will be in place, public health officials said.

Level Clear

If new hospital admissions remain low, Boulder County will enter 'Level Clear' May 16. The new level would no longer require capacity restrictions, but may encourage them, officials said. Masks may still be required under state or local order, and if the state continues any orders, those state restrictions will apply in Boulder County.

To remain at Level Clear, new hospital admissions for COVID-19 must stay below an average of two per day per 100,000 residents for seven consecutive days over a 14-day period. If that rate is exceeded, the county will move back levels.

“Remaining at Level Clear will require all of us to remain vigilant and continue following safety guidelines in addition to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, when it is available to you,” Nolen said.

“Masks are still required in all public indoor place and we recommend wearing masks outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained.”