Denver Coronavirus Restrictions: What Will Change Friday?

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

The city will shift Friday from the more-restrictive Level Yellow to a variation of the framework's Level Blue.

Here's what you can expect, beginning Friday:

• 75 percent capacity at offices
• 75 percent capacity for retail businesses
• 100 percent capacity for gyms, recreation centers and pools, with six-foot distancing between non-household members
• 100 percent capacity for restaurants, with 6 feet of distancing between parties and a group size limit of 10
• 25 percent capacity for bars that do not serve food, not to exceed 75 people
• Alcohol sales at bars/restaurants allowed until 2 a.m.
• Indoor unseated events at 50 percent capacity, not to exceed 175 people per room
• Indoor seated events at 100 percent capacity, with six-foot distancing between groups of up to 10 individuals (indoor events with over 500 people must consult with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment)
• Outdoor seated and unseated events with fewer than 5000 attendees at 100 percent capacity, with a written mitigation plan that facilitates social distancing between parties.
• Proposed events with 5000 or more attendees must consult with Denver Department of Public Health and Environment before the event can occur.

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Masks are no longer required in outdoor public settings in Denver, public health officials announced Wednesday. Masks will still be required in indoor public spaces and on public transportation.

The city's Five Star Program, which allows loosened restrictions for businesses that have proven they have enhanced public health protocols, will continue; however, restaurants, gyms, recreation centers and pools are not afforded extra capacity because they will be allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity with six-foot distancing.

Under the program, indoor events will be allowed at 50 percent capacity, not to exceed 500 people. All other five star certified businesses can allow up to 50 additional people in each setting beyond the limits.

The new mask order and Level Blue requirements are set to expire in 30 days, but will be re-evaluated for possible extension closer to their expiration dates.

Public health officials from across Denver's metro area consulted on their new plan for replacing the state's Dial 3.0, but decided to move forward with a variation of the dial. Jefferson, Arapahoe and Adams counties will also operate under Level Blue beginning Friday; however Douglas County commissioners voted to opt out of the dial system.

Colorado's coronavirus rates have gone up in April, the latest data shows. Between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, 1,367 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in our state.

More than half of cases in our state are variants, public health officials said.

All Colorado residents ages 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. More information about how to make a vaccination appointment in Colorado can be found here.