Angela Simental, Boulder County Public Health. Boulder County will be providing a similar framework to the state’s dial for 30 days, from April 16 to May 16, 2021, with some limited modifications. The Dial 3.0 framework issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will expire on April 15, and counties across Colorado can issue their own guidance, moving to one less restrictive level.

On Monday, April 12, the Boulder County Board of Health approved the Public Health Order to allow a dial framework in the county, aligning with other counties in the metro area.

If current case incidences do not exceed 300 cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rates do not exceed 7.5% before April 16, Boulder County will move to Level Blue and remain on this less protective level for 30 days. Boulder County will not move levels during this 30-day phase, starting on April 16.

If metrics exceed the current numbers before April 16, the County will continue operating in Level Yellow.

“We are working in close partnership with the state and our metro partners to ensure restrictions gradually ease and allow individuals and businesses to have guidance when the state’s dial expires,” said Lexi Nolen, Boulder County Public Health interim executive director. “In Boulder County, we are making great progress in vaccination. Over 53 percent of the eligible population has received at least one course of the Covid-19 vaccine. Vaccination, in combination with protective measures, such as distancing, mask wearing and continued testing when needed, will help us ease into normalcy.”

If current metrics continue, Boulder County businesses will also operate at Level Blue capacities, starting on April 16, which allow indoor seated events and all outdoor events to operate with 6 feet of distancing between people of different households. The Public Health Order permits the 5-Star Program in Boulder County to continue while in any capacity-restricted level.

For any gathering between April 16 and May 15 exceeding 500 attendees, such as an indoor or outdoor event or activity, businesses or organizers must contact Boulder County Public Health at least 14 days in advance of the event and submit a plan to the County (Covidbiz@bouldercounty.org) to ensure adequate Covid-19 mitigation and prevention measures will be in place.

Level Clear, May 16 - August 16 (90 days)

On May 16, if new hospital admissions remain low, Boulder County will enter Level Clear for 90 days, which will be an observation period under the Public Health Order. To remain at Level Clear, new hospital admissions for Covid-19 must stay below an average of 2 per day per 100,000 residents for seven consecutive days as observed over a 14-day period. Hospitalization rates for Boulder County and across the metro region may be viewed here.

Under Level Clear, local capacity restrictions and mitigation are no longer required, but may be encouraged. Masks may still be required under state or local order, and if the state continues any orders, those state restrictions will apply in Boulder County.

If new hospital admissions exceed an average of two hospital admissions per 100,000 people for seven consecutive days over a 14-day period, Boulder County will move back levels and apply level restrictions according to the hospital admissions rate.  

“Remaining at Level Clear will require all of us to remain vigilant and continue following safety guidelines in addition to getting the Covid-19 vaccine, when it is available to you,” Nolen added. “Masks are still required in all public indoor places and we recommend wearing masks outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained.”

Anyone with questions regarding this order should contact the Boulder County Call Center at 720-776-0822 or view the Covid-19 information on BCPH’s website at BoCo.org/COVID-19.

Summary of the Boulder County Public Health Order. April 16 - May 16 (30 days):

If current case incidences do not exceed 300 cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rates do not exceed 7.5%, before April 16, Boulder County will move to Level Blue from April 16 to May 16.

If current metrics continue, Boulder County businesses will also operate at Level Blue capacities.

Boulder County will not move levels during this 30-day phase.

If positivity or case counts enter level orange before April 16, Boulder County will continue operating in Level Yellow.

Local mask order is still in effect.

Level Clear, Observation Period, May 16 - August 16 (90 days):

Based on hospital admission rate of County residents, Boulder County will move to Level Clear.

Hospitalizations must stay at 0-2 hospital admissions per 100,000 residents for seven consecutive days over a 14-day period.

Level Clear does not have any capacity restrictions or mandatory mitigation requirements for businesses or gatherings.

If hospital admissions exceed the rate over seven consecutive days over a 14-day period, Boulder County will move to a more protective level and apply level restrictions according to the hospitalization rate.  

Masks may still be required under state or local order, and if the state continues any orders, those state restrictions will apply to Boulder County.

(Originally published in the April 15, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)