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Release Date: March 25, 2021

Boulder County COVID Update 3.25.21

Reminder that we will have the Boulder County Public Health Cross-Industry Update next week, on Thursday, April 1st, at 1:00 pm - http://bit.ly/BOCOIndustry0401. There was no session today due to Spring Break, and I apologize if you logged onto a webinar! Do not hesitate to email your questions to corine.waldau@boulderchamber.com or covidbiz@bouldercounty.org. 

 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • CDPHE released the ninth amended public health order, and a summary of business-relevant changes are below.  Changes impact many industries and add additional benefits for 5 star certified businesses.
  • Vaccine distribution for groups 1B.3 and 1B.4 are open.  More information on those groups and resources are below.  Six community sites are opening statewide and information on those sites can be found at Where can I get vaccinated? | Colorado COVID-19 Updates.
  • 5 Star certified businesses in Boulder County may now operate in Level Blue, which have revised benefits under the new public health order.  BOCO will be adding checklists for outdoor events as early as next week.  More information below, including the application link, but do not hesitate to email your questions to corine.waldau@boulderchamber.com.
  • Boulder County continues to be in YELLOW, with increasing average cases recently. For more information on the Dial, go to COVID-19 dial | Colorado COVID-19 Updates.  For more information on capacities and level restrictions in YELLOW, go to COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates. 

INDUSTRY SUPPORT SESSION SCHEDULE

Our weekly sessions are on Thursdays at 1:00 pm.   

Cross-Industry Support Session – Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 pm – CANCELLED DUE TO SPRING BREAK

Cross-Industry Support Session – Thursday, April 1 at 1:00 pm – register at http://bit.ly/BOCOIndustry0401

 

PREVIOUS RECORDINGS

3/18 Cross-Industry Session (English): https://youtu.be/J3jQ3VWt5ZA

3/18 Cross-Industry Session (Spanish):  https://youtu.be/q4RPV916Ao4

 

All previous recordings can be found at Boulder Chamber - YouTube

All previous Spanish recordings can be found at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt0Et7VAC9IbWSxrqKJZdrFaOiCJfIN3V

 

UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER – 3/24 – DIAL 3.0

NINTH Amended Public Health Order 20-36: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NNGzlC_fzTo6lU1WK3YcexMk4ZYnCTCq/view

REMINDER: Check out all the order guidance by industry sector - Guidance by sector | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

 

Summary of changes for the NINTH Amended PHO 20-36: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WbEKAoJl9AYXK-DgmsDLvUL8QxL6rNAK/view

GENERAL CHANGES

  • Section I.C: modified recommendation that Individuals at Risk of Severe Disease from COVID-19 be encouraged to remain home if they are unvaccinated, and made conforming amendments throughout the PHO
  • Section I.F: removed restriction that public transit should only be used for Necessary Activities
  • Section II.A.1: added provision allowing CDPHE to move a county to a more restrictive Dial level if county hospitalizations contribute to a hospital or hospital system exceeding 85% capacity
  • Section II.A.2 and 3: removed the application process for Level Green/Protect Our Neighbors
  • Section II.B.1: revised Level Green/Protect Our Neighbors metrics from eight to three, including hospitalizations, disease incidence rate, and percent positivity
  • Section II.B.2: revised Level Green/Protect Our Neighbors to remove restrictions except for specified sectors or local restrictions, sectors remaining restricted include Bars, Smoking lounges, Indoor events, Organized Sports, and Camps
  • Section II.B.2, II.C.2.a, II.D.2.a, and II.E.2.a: removed indoor personal gather restrictions in Levels Blue and Yellow, indoor gatherings should follow the CDC guidelines

LEVEL BLUE CHANGES (BOCO 5 Star Certified Businesses Only)

  • Section II.C.2.b: Offices in Level Blue may operate at 75% capacity
  • Section II.C.2.c: Retail in Level Blue may operate at 75% capacity
  • Section II.C.2.d: Manufacturing in Level Blue may operate at 75% capacity
  • Section II.C.2.h: Restaurants in Level Blue may operate at 100% capacity with 6 feet distancing (5 Star must still take “reservations”)
  • Section II.C.2.l: Outdoor Events in Level Blue may operate in full, subject to local limits
  • Section II.C.2.m: Recreation in Level Blue may operate at 100% with 6 feet distancing (5 Star must still take “reservations”)
  • Section II.C.2.o: Outdoor Guided Activities in Level Blue may operate in full, subject to local limits
  • Section II.C.2.s: Bars in Level Blue that do not serve food may operate at 25% not to exceed 75 people
  • Section III.A.1.a: authorized Bars that do not serve food to operate in Level Blue

LEVEL ORANGE CHANGES

  • Section V: authorized outdoor site-specific variances in Level Orange, approved variances remain in effect until the PHO expires or is rescinded
  • Appendix M.II.A: authorized outdoor site-specific variances in Level Orange

5 STAR BUSINESS CHANGES

See full explanation below

 

****Please note that despite capacity increases with the new public health order that was released for some industries, distancing requirements are still in place within the order.  Tables at restaurants, equipment at gyms, desks at offices, etc. should still be distanced at least 6 feet apart. The best place to get your information is within the guidance for your sector and not to rely simply on the capacity charts…

 

Restaurants - https://covid19.colorado.gov/restaurants-food-services

Indoor Events - https://covid19.colorado.gov/indoor-events

Outdoor Events - https://covid19.colorado.gov/outdoor-events

Personal Recreation - https://covid19.colorado.gov/recreation

Personal Services - https://covid19.colorado.gov/personal-services

Limited Healthcare - https://covid19.colorado.gov/limited-health-care

Retail - https://covid19.colorado.gov/retail

Manufacturing - https://covid19.colorado.gov/non-critical-manufacturing

Offices - https://covid19.colorado.gov/office-based-businesses

Organized Sports - https://covid19.colorado.gov/organized-sports  

Outdoor Recreation - https://covid19.colorado.gov/outdoor-recreation

Field Services and Real Estate – https://covid19.colorado.gov/field-services-and-real

Grocery Stores - https://covid19.colorado.gov/grocery-stores

Places of Worship - https://covid19.colorado.gov/worship-guidance

 

BOULDER COUNTY 5 STAR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
APPLY TODAY AND OPERATE IN BLUE! 5 Star certified businesses in Boulder County, which is currently in Level Yellow, may now operate with LEVEL BLUE allowances.  Those allowances can be found at the following site: COVID-19 dial dashboard | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

 

Up-to-date information on the Boulder County 5 Star Certification website, including the list of currently certified businesses, can be found at the following website - http://bit.ly/BOCO5STAR. 

  • NOW LIVE! 5 Star Business Application Form (English, Spanish)
  • NOW LIVE! Multi-Tenant Application (English) – for businesses that wish to certify more than one licensed facility under the same roof (example – hotel that wishes to certify indoor event space, spa and licensed restaurant)   
  • 2/5 5 Star Certification Recorded Session (English): https://youtu.be/WZGsx9eyJmY

DIAL 3.0 Public Health Order Impacts on 5 Star Certification

Level Blue Clarifications

Level Blue now allows for greater occupancy in all 5 Star sectors and eliminates the need for some, depending on a county’s dial level and how they’re operating in Level Blue.

 

Level Blue counties operating in Level Blue

Counties in Level Blue do not have the ability to operate 5 Star with Level Green allowances. They continue to be limited to the allowances in Level Blue, however, businesses that are not indoor/outdoor events, gyms and fitness centers, or restaurants, and that are not relegated to a capacity percentage only, are permitted to operate with an additional 50 people added to their person cap. 

 

For example, offices are now permitted to operate at 75% capacity, which is the maximum capacity in that setting, however, limited health care settings can operate at 50% up to 100 people, whichever is less. This applies to counties in Level Blue only. Counties in Level Yellow operating in Level Blue are limited to the allowances outlined in the capacity chart for Level Blue.

 

Additionally, Indoor Events are permitted to operate at 50% capacity up to 500 people, whichever is less. This adds an additional 275 people on the person cap for indoor seated events, and an additional 325 people for indoor unseated events.

 

Level Yellow counties operating in Level Blue (CURRENT BOULDER COUNTY LEVEL)

Counties in Level Yellow that meet the metric requirements are permitted to operate 5 Star with Level Blue allowances.

 

Other Dial Level Clarifications

Counties in levels Orange and Red that meet the metric requirements for those respective levels are permitted to operate 5 Star in the next less restrictive dial level (Red can operate in Orange, Orange can operate in Yellow). Read the full list of current capacity restrictions for each level here. 

 

Sector Clarifications

Linked below are the current 5 Star State Certification Program mitigation strategy checklists by sector with additional clarifications

General Business: Counties in Level Blue or Level Yellow operating in Blue with certified businesses that fall under this category should work to ensure that these businesses are following the allowances for their specific business or industry. 

 

Counties in Level Blue with businesses certified under this category that are not indoor or outdoor events, gyms and fitness centers, or restaurants, and that are not relegated to a capacity percentage only, are permitted to operate with an additional 50 people added to their person cap. For example, offices are now permitted to operate at 75% capacity, which is the maximum capacity in that setting, however, limited health care settings can operate at 50% up to 100 people, whichever is less. This applies to counties in Level Blue only. Counties in Level Yellow allowing business to operate in Level Blue (BOULDER COUNTY’S CURRENT STATUS) are limited to the allowances outlined in the capacity chart for Level Blue.

 

Gyms & Fitness: Counties in Level Blue with certified gyms and fitness facilities can operate at 100% capacity with 6ft distancing between parties. Reservations are still required.

 

Sports Facilities: Counties in Level Blue with certified sports facilities should follow the Level Blue sector guidelines and allowances for Gyms & Fitness, permitting 100% capacity with 6ft distancing between parties. 

 

Restaurants: Counties in Level Blue with certified restaurants are now permitted to operate at 100% capacity using a 6ft distance between parties. Only bars that operate like restaurants are permitted to operate with these allowances. Bars that do not serve food in accordance with the Public Health Order are not eligible for certification at any dial level. 

 

Personal Services: There were no changes to the allowances for personal services at any dial level, but an additional 50 people are permitted 

 

Indoor Events: There were no changes to the allowances for indoor events in levels Red, Orange, or Yellow. When the County is in Level Blue, the total person capacity was expanded from 175 (indoor unseated) and 225 (indoor seated) to 500 (indoor seated or unseated).

 

Outdoor Events: There were no changes to the allowances for outdoor events in levels Red, Orange, or Yellow. In Level Blue, state regulations were lifted. 5 Star administrative committees in Level Blue or operating in Level Blue should work with their local public health agencies to determine the allowances for outdoor events.

 

XL Indoor & Outdoor Event Venues: XL Indoor and Outdoor Events were absorbed by Dial 3.0 and are no longer applicable. Large event venue allowances and guidance will further devolve to the counties in mid-April when the state plans to devolve the dial to the counties.

 

VACCINE UPDATES

State of Colorado Vaccine Information: For Coloradans | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

Boulder County Vaccine Update Information: COVID-19 Vaccines - Boulder County

 

List of Vaccine Providers and Community Vaccination Sites: Where can I get vaccinated? | Colorado COVID-19 Updates (NOTE – Loveland Community Site just opened on 3/24)

Frontline Employer Vaccine Connection Survey: http://bit.ly/FrontlineEmployerVaccine (This form is for eligible businesses/entities representing "Frontline Essential Workers" who need assistance connecting with a COVID-19 vaccine provider or making a COVID-19 vaccination plan for their employees or members)

Phase 1B.3 began on March 5th for vaccine distribution in Colorado and now includes the following groups (there are changes!):

Phase 1B.4 began on Friday, March 19th and includes the following:

  • People age 50 and older.
  • Frontline workers in the following fields:
    • Higher education: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current educators who work in close contact with many people especially indoors, including all student-facing staff in community colleges and colleges. Student-facing staff includes instructors, professors, vocational educators and staff providing safety and other support services offered inside the school.
    • Food/restaurant services: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment, who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors, including but not limited to restaurant cooks, dishwashers, servers, and other workers in restaurant settings; and food pantry/assistance workers.
    • Manufacturing: The intent of this classification is to prioritize workers in manufacturing settings who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment and workers who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors and in places with poor ventilation.
    • US postal service: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who work for the US postal service in positions where they cannot maintain physical distance at work and work in close contact with many people, especially indoors. This includes post office clerks and mail sorters.
    • Public transit and specialized transportation: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers in public transit and who have specialized transportation staff who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment, workers who work in close contact with many people especially indoors including but not limited to bus drivers, specialized transportation staff who work in our tunnels, specialized transportation staff such as air traffic controllers, train conductors, pilots, and airline stewards.
    • Public health: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers in governmental public health agencies with public facing duties and heightened risk of exposure. This includes public health and environment staff, including inspectors, engaged in direct public health service delivery.
    • Human service workers: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who cannot maintain physical distance at their place of employment in the course of their work, such as those who work in close contact with other people, especially indoors. This includes but is not limited to social workers, community health workers, those who work in client homes, in community locations, and at human services work locations, and others who provide direct or in-person services to elderly and disabled populations, at domestic violence advocacy organizations, or in-person resource providers.
    • Faith leaders: The intent of this classification is to prioritize those who in the course of leading faith services cannot easily maintain physical distance and must come into close contact with other people indoors. This includes current faith leaders who must enter hospitals or other care facilities to perform last rites, who officiate life rites such as weddings and baptisms, and who lead worship services.
    • Direct care providers for Coloradans experiencing homelessness: The intent of this classification is to prioritize workers who work in close contact with many other people, especially indoors, including but not limited to those who work and provide direct services in shelters for people experiencing homelessness.
    • Journalists: The intent of this classification is to prioritize journalists who in the course of their work cannot easily maintain physical distance and come into contact with the public in the course of their work while conducting interviews or covering live events, especially indoors.
  • Continuity of local government
  • Continuation of operations for state government
  • People age 16 to 49 with one of the following higher risk conditions: The intent of this classification is to vaccinate Coloradans who have risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. It includes Coloradans with one condition listed in 1B.3 or asthma (moderate-to-severe), Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain), Cystic fibrosis, Hypertension or high blood pressure, Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines, Neurologic conditions, such as dementia, Liver disease, Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues), Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder). 
  • Adults who received a placebo during a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.

Further clarification of frontline essential workers and these other categories in 1B.4 can be found on the following site: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates.

 

List of Vaccine Providers and Community Vaccination Sites: Where can I get vaccinated? | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

Frontline Employer Survey: http://bit.ly/FrontlineEmployerVaccine

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE, PLEASE CALL: 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926)
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Answers available in multiple languages.

 

STEP UP BOULDER COUNTY CAMPAIGN

#StepUpBoulderCounty

Join the #StepUpColorado campaign! Download an easy-to-use social media kit encouraging customer compliance with public health guidelines by wearing masks and keeping physical distance to slow the spread of COVID-19, including a new sub-campaign specifically for Boulder County. View and Download the Social Media Kit (scroll down halfway to the Boulder County content)

 

RESOURCE SIGNS

Other General Best Practices ENGLISH  - https://bit.ly/genericEN

Other General Best Practices SPANISH - https://bit.ly/genericSPAN    

 

PUBLIC BCPH SESSIONS

https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/covid-19-community-updates/

When: every other Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. (updates will begin at 3:40)

Where: Virtually via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89944708819

(Spanish interpretation available). Zoom capacity is limited to 500 participants.

 

OUTBREAK / SICK EMPLOYEE RESOURCES

 

EMPLOYEE SYMPTOM SCREENING

The symptom screen sheet says, “Exclude staff until they are fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours and 10 days have passed since their first symptom unless they have a clear alternative diagnosis from a medical provider.”  In general, BCPH advises…

 

1 or more major symptoms:

Fever/chills/rigor

New loss of taste or smell

New cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

 

Or

 

2 or more low risk/minor symptoms:

Sore throat

Runny nose/congestion

Muscle or body aches

Fatigue

Headache

Nausea / vomiting/ diarrhea

 

Symptom screening form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s4rLEibiFR6AIVbu7X-_B0VmrkOlKqjR/view

 

TESTING RESOURCES

  • Drive-Up Testing Site at Stazio Ballfields: Gerald Stazio Softball Fields, 2445 Stazio Dr, Boulder. Take Arapahoe Rd. (Valmont Rd. will be closed) to 63rd St; turn north onto 63rd and follow the road to Stazio Drive; turn left onto Stazio Drive and follow signs for testing.
  • Testing at Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont: The Boulder County free testing site is now at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont . Testing is available for anyone who would like to be tested, and individuals do not have to have symptoms to be tested. Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Rd, Longmont. Pre-registration is highly recommended to reduce wait times and speed up the return of results. Go to the Mako Medical website, or download the flyer with a code you can scan. Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 7 days per week.
  • Drive-Through Testing in Lyons & Nederland: available through the end of the year - https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/testing/
  • CovidCheck Colorado: Home | COVIDCheck Colorado

 

REPORTING CONCERNS (VIOLATIONS)

  • If a gathering is in progress and needs to be disbursed, contact local non-emergency dispatch
  • Boulder: 303-441-3333
  • Longmont: 303-651-8501
  • On CU Campus: 303-492-6666
  • Unincorporated Boulder County, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Jamestown, Lyons, Nederland, Niwot, Superior, Ward: 303-441-4444
  • All other concerns/violations – report to Call Center for BCPH enforcement follow-up - 720-776-0822 
  • You can also report online here using the BCPH form

 

BCPH CALL CENTER

For further questions, please use the following information.

COVID-19 Call Center

720-776-0822 

COVIDbiz@bouldercounty.org

Monday – Friday

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

www.boco.org/covid-19

 

Do not hesitate to contact us with questions.

 

Corine Waldau

Senior Director of Economic Vitality

Cell: 303-915-1166 | corine.waldau@boulderchamber.com  

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