Denver and Front Range Move Down to Level Orange

Governor Jared Polis announced via social media last week that all Colorado countries at Level Red would be moved down to Level Orange in one week’s time. His statement on Twitter reads as follows:

“In reviewing the data, Colorado has been in a sustained decline for 13 days, and only 73% of ICU beds statewide are in use. In light of this and based on the data, I am asking CDPHE to move counties in Red on the dial to Orange, effective Monday, January 4th, 2021.”

The announcement was met with both joy and opposition, as some felt that this decision came too soon after the holidays, while others celebrated being able to reopen their businesses. Level Orange is the third-highest on the emergency dial and comes with increased capacity limits at many local businesses, including a return to indoor dining at restaurants.

Level Orange capacity limits include:

• 25 percent or 50 people, whichever is fewer for indoor dining
• 25 percent or 25 people, whichever is fewer at gyms and fitness businesses
• 10 p.m. on-premises last call
• 25 percent capacity at offices
• 50 percent capacity remains for retail businesses

The news came as a surprise to health officials across the state of Colorado, as many of them learned of the change through social media along with the public.

“We’re trying to tell everybody at the same time,” Polis says when asked why local health officials weren’t informed sooner. “I mean, once you start picking favorites obviously the word gets out, and then even more people are offended that you didn’t share it with them. So we generally try to be transparent and communicative with the general public.”

Polis sited improving metrics in lifting restrictions for 33 counties including Denver and the entire Front Range. While hospitalizations within Colorado have seen a decrease, the transmission of the Coronavirus still remains high. Public health officials have even warned of a new more contagious strain of the virus appearing in California, Colorado, and Florida. The state still does not know how any potential gatherings during the holiday season will affect case trajectory.