Increasing numbers of residents with COVID-19 illness may delay moving to next phase

Boulder County, CO — The statewide Stay-at-Home Order is set to expire on Sunday, April 26 and Governor Polis has directed local public health officials to implement data-informed strategies at the local level that best meets the needs of local communities. Boulder County Public Health, Broomfield Public Health and Environment, Jefferson County Public Health, Denver Public Health and Environment, and Tri-County Health Department are working together to develop those strategies.

“While we want to minimize confusion for our residents, the next phase of protecting the community could look different for different areas, based on the number of COVID-19 cases in that specific area,” said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director. “In some parts of the state COVID-19 cases are not increasing and it makes sense for them to move to the Governor’s Safer at Home phase, but in densely populated counties in the metro area, moving to the next phase too soon could cause additional illness and death, and even greater impacts on our economy.”

We are studying current trends and working with our local business community to prepare clear guidance for each sector outlined in the Governor’s Safer at Home phase. We are also reviewing the need to extend the Stay-At-Home order to May 8, 2020 for jurisdictions that are still experiencing high numbers of people sick with COVID-19, while allowing non-essential businesses to begin curbside delivery/pick-up. A decision will be made by Sunday, April 26 about what steps will be taken to begin to slowly reopen our local businesses.

Regardless of whether the Stay-At-Home orders are extended, we must all continue to follow social distancing guidelines, stay at home as much as possible, wear a face covering, and practicing abundant personal hygiene and cleanliness to keep our communities healthy and economically viable.

Updates about next steps will be shared by press release, as well as on the Boulder County Public Health Facebook and Twitter social media pages and COVID-19 website at www.boco.org/covid-19.

-BoulderCountyHealth.org-