Broomfield Monitoring Data, Exploring Options As Level Orange Restrictions Take Effect

Press release from the City and County of Broomfield:

November 7, 2020

The State of Colorado has moved the City and County of Broomfield into Safer at Home Level Orange in an effort to reduce the alarming spread of COVID-19 in Broomfield, the metro region, and the state. This change took effect at 8 a.m. November 6, 2020, with the following restrictions.

• Gatherings are limited to 10 people or less and from no more than 2 households max.
• Retail, office-based businesses limited to 25% capacity.
• Personal services and gyms/fitness centers are limited to 25% capacity, or up to 25 people per room, whichever is fewer.
• Indoor restaurant seating, places of worship, and indoor events are limited to 25% capacity or 50 people per room, whichever is fewer.
• The Broomfield Community Center, Paul Derda Recreation Center, and Broomfield Library are limited to 25% capacity or 25 people per room. Please see B-REx.com for more information on hours and appointments.

In response to questions and the heightened level of concern among the community, Broomfield will host a Community Telephone Town Hall on Monday, November 9 at 7 p.m. Call 855.695.3744 the night of to participate or to leave a message with your questions.

Additionally, as the state, region, and community reach all-time high cases, positivity rates, and hospitalizations, Broomfield is implementing several mitigation strategies as listed below.

• Reverse the Trend Campaign across all channels and through targeted outreach
• Increased community testing of residents by almost 100 people in the past two weeks, and adding a second testing day in December
• Amplifying Governor's new messaging to:
• wear a mask
• keep 6 feet of safe distance and treat everyone like they have COVID-19
• interact only with people in your household through November

Still, Broomfield’s daily case counts continue to rise with similar trends reported across the metro region. In the past two weeks, case rates per 100,000 have increased from 204 to 431 with a positivity rate of 7.1%. The cumulative incidence rate increased by 116% between October 21 and November 4.

“The numbers are devastating,” said Broomfield Public Health Director Jason Vahling. “We must work together to change our behaviors to save the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors, free up critical hospital beds, and support our local businesses. I understand COVID fatigue, I feel it too, but now is the time to act. We must reverse the trend immediately - the urgency can not be overstated.”

Vahling and Broomfield’s Public Health Team is recommending the City and County of Broomfield continue to closely monitor the data, the impact of the mitigation strategies during the next two weeks, and prepare to take further action. However, they warn that If Broomfield stays on this same trajectory, it will be at 930 cases in two weeks on November 23, prompting the city and county to move to some iteration of Stay-at-Home restrictions.

Please visit Broomfield.org/COVID for a full list of capacity restrictions, what you can do to Reverse the Trend, and to submit questions or view frequently asked questions.

This press release was produced by the City and County of Broomfield. The views expressed are the author's own.