Arapahoe County Applies For 5-Star Certification Program

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — Arapahoe County has applied for a variance that, if approved, would allow the county to begin its 5-Star Recovery Partner Program, officials announced Wednesday.

The program will allow businesses — those that prove they have enhanced COVID-19 protocols — to operate under a higher capacity cap and fewer restrictions.

Douglas County has already been approved for the program, officials announced Wednesday.

To be eligible for the program, a county needs to prove it's seen a two-week sustained decline in cases, a positivity percentage lower than 10 percent or "demonstrably improving over the past two weeks," fewer than 90 percent of intensive care unit beds in use, and steady or declining regional hospitalizations, public health officials said.

After achieving the required metrics, the county submitted its variance application to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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"As Arapahoe County’s position changes on the dial, program participants will continue to operate with capacity limits that are one level above the overall county position," the county said in a news release.

"Approval for the variance is contingent upon the County’s COVID-19 numbers continuing the sustained decline they have recently shown."

An approval for the variance could come as early as next week, officials said.

>> More information about the program can be found here.