Littleton Coronavirus Restrictions: What Will Change Friday?

LITTLETON, CO — Colorado public health officials are giving local governments a lot more control over their restrictions beginning Friday, but Arapahoe and Jefferson counties will continue with a variation of the state's Dial 3.0 framework. Douglas County, on the other hand, has opted out of the dial system.

Arapahoe County residents won't see many changes to restrictions beginning Friday, as the county is already in Level Blue. Jefferson County, however, is in Level Yellow, and will switch to Level Blue capacity restrictions:

• 100 percent indoors at restaurants, with 6 feet of spacing between groups; last call is 2 a.m.
• Bars can operate at 25 percent capacity or 75 people, whichever is fewer; last call is 2 a.m.
• 75 percent at offices and retail
• 100 percent at gyms/fitness centers with 6 feet of distancing
• 50 percent personal services and limited health care settings
• 50 person capacity per activity for group sports and camps

Everyone must continue to wear masks in indoor public spaces when they can't ensure 6 feet of social distancing, public health officials said.

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The Level Blue restrictions fall under Jeffco Public Health and Tri-County Health's new public health orders, which will replace Colorado's Dial 3.0 Friday. But Douglas County commissioners voted Tuesday to opt out of Tri-County's order. The commissioners decided that businesses such as bars should be allowed to open at full capacity.

The Tri-County Health Department worked with other public health officials from across Denver's metro area to come up with a plan that "simplifies the guidance and eases restrictions on individuals and businesses," said John Douglas, executive Director of the Tri-County Health Department, in a statement released Saturday.

"As more and more of our residents are protected by one of the safe and highly effective COVID-19 vaccines now available, we are hopeful that we will be successful in our race between the emerging variant strains of virus and vaccination, and that we will be back to full re-opening in the near future.

"However, as the agency responsible for protecting public health in our counties, we will monitor our progress and should conditions worsen, TCHD may need to tighten restrictions if hospitalizations begin to increase again."

The Board of Douglas County Commissioners said its decision to opt out of the public health order is also based on the latest coronavirus numbers.

"Douglas County will remain guided by accurate public health data, including high vaccination rates of vulnerable populations, coupled with low hospitalizations and deaths," the commissioners said in a statement.

"These science-driven metrics balanced against job losses, business closures, and mental health consequences require that we exercise our local control authority on behalf of the people of Douglas County. We trust our citizens and businesses to think and act for themselves to protect their lives and livelihoods.

"In lieu of further orders, we will continue to encourage strong public health recommendations, good hygiene, and the choice to be vaccinated. Our Board will remain nimble and continue to monitor COVID-19 data trends daily, with the intent to collaborate with the State and Tri-County Health Department on prudent, science-based responses to those trends which best serve our citizens."

Level Clear

From May 16 to August 15, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties will move to the new "Level Clear," which will allow businesses to operate at 100 percent capacity with no mitigation requirements, although indoor mask requirements may still apply, public health officials said.

Tri-County Health and Jeffco Public Health will closely monitor hospitalizations during Level Clear. If hospitalization rates surge, the county may need to apply capacity limits, officials said.

"It's too soon to completely abandon all COVID-19 transmission prevention measures," said Dr. Dawn Comstock, executive director of Jefferson County Public Health, in a statement.

"Jeffco residents who are not yet vaccinated are still at risk and should continue to Be COVID Smart. However, we can now chart a sound path forward combining these proven COVID-19 mitigation strategies, our own local Jeffco data and a deep knowledge of our community's unique needs.

"We're confident this collaborative approach across the Denver Metro Area, in tandem with a unified race to get more people vaccinated, will help us avoid a fourth surge during this critical time. If we can work together and be patient just a bit longer, we may now only be about one month away from the finish line."