John Scarffe, Gilpin County. On Tuesday, September 8, 2020, Colorado State Governor Jared Polis announced the approval of Gilpin County’s request to move into the Protect Your Neighbor stage as set forth by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This allows the opening of table games at casinos in Gilpin County and will bring back to work hundreds of employees, according to a news release. 

This opening is subject to compliance with the suppression plan and local containment measures prepared by Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht and approved by the Gilpin County Board of Health. Gilpin County is one of only three counties in the state to be approved for this transition. 

Gilpin County Commissioner Ron Engels said, “We are very glad that Gilpin County residents have observed all the state and local public health orders so far. It has been their concern for their health and the health of all our neighbors that has allowed Gilpin to qualify for Protect Our Neighbor status. 

“We are also pleased that our new safety level will allow our casinos to offer table games and valet service again.”  The Protect Your Neighbor stage allows retail businesses to operate at 50 percent capacity with activities not to exceed 500 people in a given location. Social distancing and mask ordinances will still be in effect.

According to the Gilpin County website, Gilpin County requested a variance from PHO 20-28 Section II.A, to allow for the opening of table games at casinos in Gilpin County, subject to compliance with the suppression plan and local containment measures listed below. The number of COVID-19 cases in Gilpin County has remained low with a total of eighteen confirmed probable cases. 

Of these cases, only one was hospitalized. Gilpin Ambulance Authority has responded to a very low number of calls with COVID-like symptoms. Containment measures include GCPH in collaboration with Gilpin Ambulance Authority offers testing every Tuesday to any symptomatic resident in Gilpin County. 

GCPH has two employees currently conducting case investigations and contact tracing with 24 volunteers from the Gilpin County Public Health Advisory Board and Gilpin Ambulance Authority trained to help with contact tracing if necessary. Gilpin Ambulance Authority, Timberline, Black Hawk and Central City Fire departments and law enforcement have the capacity and are prepared to respond to an increase in COVID related calls if necessary. 

This protocol is included because 85 percent of the population in the Gilpin County Jail is gaming related. First responders will follow their respective organization’s protection protocols.

Gilpin County Office of Emergency Management and Gilpin County Public Health have been working diligently to identify, locate and purchase Personal Protective Equipment to ensure the response agencies in Gilpin County are adequately protected. Casinos are logging visitors to the casino and their contact information to assist with contact tracing efforts.

Please go to GilpinCounty.org for more information about the variance request and suppression plan.