CDPHE approves Denver’s reopening requests

The City of Denver begins to reopen as their request for portions of the Safer at Home Order has been approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Similarly, Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) has approved for street closures along Larimer Street and Glenarm Place so restaurants can provide physical distancing space for returning customers.

Within the requests made by the CDPHE included museums and Four Mile Park, restaurants, the Cherry Creek Mall, gyms, recreation centers, indoor pools, and horse competitions at the National Western Complex. The requests were approved with some amendments. The CDPHE stated that locations should not exceed more than 50 people gathered in a confined indoor space at any given time, and not to exceed 125 people in an outdoor space.

According to The Mile High City press release, the approved variances for the City and County of Denver include: 

• Museums may operate at 50% occupancy with up to 50 people per room and not to exceed 125 people in an outdoor space. Museums can open under this variance after submitting their reopening plan to the city for review and approval 
• Restaurants may operate at 50% occupancy with up to 50 people in a confined indoor space (as opposed to the Safer at Home statewide limitation of 50 people for the entire restaurant) 
• The Cherry Creek Mall may open the indoor mall, and stores within Cherry Creek Mall may operate at 50% occupancy   
• Gyms, recreation centers and indoor pools may operate at 50% occupancy with up to 50 people in a confined space 
• Horse competitions at the National Western Complex can occur with activities limited to 50 people and no spectator shows  

The variances were approved by CDPHE based on the city’s current prevalence of COVID-19. The city also needed to demonstrate that it has a strong public health surveillance system, sufficient hospital capacity, and appropriate thresholds for rolling back the variance if conditions worsen. 

CDPHE’s approval of the city’s variances takes effect immediately. 

Eighty-five food establishments have now been approved to participate in the Temporary Outdoor Patio Expansion Program. 

The first street closures have also been approved for Larimer Street between 14th and 15th streets in Larimer Square and on Glenarm Place between 15th and 17th streets in the Denver Pavilions. The street closures will allow multiple establishments to expand their outdoor service area into the roadway.  Businesses interested in temporarily expanding their outdoor serving area, including moving into sidewalks or streets, can apply at this website.